ESDESIGN takes part in BRUT! 2026 with two alumni projects and talks by lecturers at DHub Barcelona
ESDESIGN, Higher School of Design in Barcelona, part of Planeta Formación y Universidades, took part today in BRUT!, a young talent event held at Disseny Hub Barcelona. The school's teaching staff and students participated with two talks by industry professionals and two projects developed by students.
Laia Ferrán, motion designer, ESDESIGN alumni and lecturer on the Master's in Motion Graphics, opened the event with a quote from Albert Einstein that sums up her working philosophy: nothing happens until something moves. Her talk focused on refining movement and exploring the nuances that bring each animation to life.
Ferrán recalled that, when she began her studies, motion design barely existed as a recognised discipline. It was during her Master's at ESDESIGN, where she now teaches, that she discovered a new way of expressing herself through movement. She encouraged students to work with passion and to say yes to everything that inspires them.
Her main piece of advice was to share their work. She explained that some of the key opportunities in her career came from posting on social media the projects she was most proud of.
Borja Martínez, founder of the Lo Siento studio and lecturer on the Master in Branding and Creative Brand Communication, highlighted the importance of embracing the creative process, accepting mistakes and developing ideas "slowly and deliberately".
He presented the handcrafted typefaces he creates in his studio using materials such as wax, food, injected gel and wood. He also showcased many projects produced by his studio, including The World is on FALLA, his project for the Fallas de València. He detailed the entire process, from ideation to installation alongside the pyrotechnics team, which incorporates gunpowder into the large-format letters that are burned during the cremà, the final act of the Fallas, when monuments across the city are set alight.
Tàpies x Mugaritz: art and gastronomy in a tasting menu
Anna López del Mazo, alumni of the Master's in Art Direction and Design at ESDESIGN, presented Tàpies x Mugaritz, a project that seeks to amplify the legacy of artist Antoni Tàpies through the Mugaritz restaurant. The proposal creates a dialogue between art and gastronomy, translating Tàpies' universe into a sensory experience: a tasting menu produced entirely by hand. The project was recognised this year with a Laus Bronze Award.
ECHO: a platform that puts the voice back in the spotlight
Almudena Escribano and Belén Muñoz, alumnis of the Master's in Multidevice UX/UI Design, presented ECHO, an app born from a reflection on image culture and digital validation. Its starting point is the idea that an appearance of authenticity no longer guarantees that something is authentic. In response, ECHO proposes a platform that removes images, filters and any element that could alter communication on social media, putting the focus entirely back on the voice.
The winner of BRUT! will be announced tomorrow. BRUT! is the festival Blanc!'s platform where design students from different schools present their final projects to the public, fellow students and industry professionals. It takes place at Disseny Hub Barcelona, in Plaça de les Glòries, and serves as a showcase for young talent and a meeting point between education and industry.
