With its extensive programme, international collaborations, and reach far beyond the city limits, Design Month Graz is a highlight of the event year and at the same time a dynamic driving force for urban space. It brings people together, stimulates debate, revitalises neighbourhoods, and creates visibility for those who, with creativity, courage and commitment, are helping to shape our future. In our city, design is far more than mere aesthetics. It is a means of expression, of dialogue – and an opportunity to consciously and responsibly shape our world. As a UNESCO City of Design, we have committed ourselves not only to showcasing the potential of design, but also to making it tangible in everyday life.

Graz is a city that is constantly evolving while always remaining open to new perspectives, to diversity, and to dialogue between ideas and disciplines. This is precisely what defines its special quality: Graz thinks urban, international, and future-oriented. Nowhere is this more tangible than during Design Month Graz. My thanks go to Creative Industries Styria as well as to the »City of Design« department of the City of Graz for their support and their passion for promoting creativity and design in our city.

Günter Riegler
City Councillor for Economic Affairs and Culture