On October 11-12, Lviv hosted the grand youth forum "Dizarium" - the most significant design event of the year. At !FESTrepublic, designers, illustrators, product specialists, researchers, managers, and educators gathered to discuss the evolving professions and the role of design in a country at war and in recovery.
This year, over 9,000 participants registered for the event, including:
- men - 1800
- women - 7200
- internally displaced persons - 500
- people with disabilities - 10
The main theme of "Dizarium" this year was identity: personal, professional, and cultural. Participants discussed design not just as an industry but as a mindset that combines creativity with responsibility.
In addition to lectures, workshops, and discussions, this year saw the introduction of new formats. For the first time, a design battle took place, where UX/UI specialists solved real problems live. The program also featured "ironic conversations" - candid stories of professional failures that became growth points, alongside morning workouts from the BetterMe team.
In the middle of the venue, a joint episode of two podcasts - "Chumaki" and "What’s the Challenge?" was recorded. Meanwhile, the Creative Practice team was producing its own special season "Creative Practice on Creative Practices," where Dizarium speakers shared their thoughts on identity. Additionally, the Dysarium Market operated on-site - a curated market featuring over 30 top Ukrainian brands shaping the country's contemporary visual culture. Attendees could meet JUL, Gushka, Tsvite Teren, Players Get Ready, Poetry Home, 13PERFUMES, lyhytskiy, WHY ME, ArtHuss, and more.
The event was implemented by the design space Pixlab from the network TVORY! as part of the title "Lviv - Youth Capital of Europe 2025" in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the Department of Sports, Youth, and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration, and the Lviv City Council, with support from the Emotion Holding "!FEST" and financial backing from KredoBank. The conference is co-organized by CASES, a super app for creative industries. The event also enjoys support from MacPaw, WIX, Excited!, ELEKS, Headway, Qubstudio, Uklon, and others.
