Four ESDESIGN student projects take part in the 2026 Ibero-American Design Biennial, with two receiving awards
ESDESIGN, the Higher School of Design of Barcelona, part of Planeta Formación y Universidades, has taken part in the Ibero-American Design Biennial (BID) for the first time, with four student projects selected for the bid_est | Young Ibero-American Design Talents exhibition. All four projects, developed as part of the Master's in Product Design and Digital Modelling, were selected from among the 50 finalist projects and exhibited at the Central de Diseño at Matadero Madrid. In addition, CleanFlow and ATL-ION received awards and special mentions in the Design for Sustainability and Ecological Transition and Design for Resilience categories.
The school's participation also included the presentation of projects in the Ráfagas space and a talk by Óscar Guayabero, ESDESIGN lecturer and coordinator of the school's cross-disciplinary Design Thinking workshop, at the FABid26 academic forum.
A meeting to reflect on the present and future of design
The Ibero-American Design Biennial (BID) is one of the leading events in the design sector in Spain and Latin America. Held every two years in Madrid, it brings together professionals, companies and design schools from 22 countries to promote the exchange of knowledge and collaboration. Its programme includes bid_est, a section dedicated to emerging talent, where educational institutions from across Ibero-America showcase undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
The 2026 edition took place from 2 to 7 November at the Central de Diseño at Matadero Madrid, under the theme Mapping Futures. The programme featured exhibitions and academic activities, including the FABid26 Academic Forum. A total of 108 projects from 53 educational institutions across Latin America, Spain and Portugal were submitted for this edition, with 50 selected for the exhibition.
Four ESDESIGN projects selected for the bid_est exhibition, two of them receiving awards
The selected projects address challenges related to sustainability, resilience and inclusion:
CleanFlow, by Sebastián Rojas Esquivel, is a modular river-cleaning system that harnesses the energy of the current to collect floating waste and transport it to the riverbanks, without requiring external energy sources. Its adaptable, low-maintenance design aims to reduce water pollution and promote the recovery of recyclable materials. The project received the Special Award for Design for Sustainability and the Ecological Transition, as well as a Special Mention for Design for Resilience.
ATL-ION, by María Leonor Díaz Barroso and Eduardo Romo Alpuche, is an atmospheric moisture harvesting system that converts water vapour from the air into drinking water through a process combining ionisation and solar energy. Designed to operate autonomously, it aims to improve access to water in rural communities and regions affected by water scarcity. It received the Design for Resilience Award and a Special Mention for Design for Sustainability and the Ecological Transition.
NOVA, by Martha Núñez and Jeison Argueta, is a school furniture system comprising a desk and chair, designed to meet the postural and sensory needs of neurodivergent children, particularly those with ASD and ADHD. It incorporates features such as an angled surface, a rotating footrest and a wobble seat to encourage controlled movement, concentration and well-being in the classroom.
BOUNDLESS, by Iván Alejandro Hernández Álvarez and Fátima Franco Lugo, is a modular system of sports products designed to enable people with visual impairments to exercise independently. It incorporates tactile markers, Braille, colour coding and functional textures to guide users and promote a more accessible and inclusive sporting experience.
The projects also featured in the Ráfagas space, where students present their proposals through short presentations. CleanFlow and ATL-ION were presented on 2 November, while NOVA was presented on 6 November. These sessions provide an opportunity to share the methodologies, challenges addressed and solutions developed by young designers from across Ibero-American countries.
ESDESIGN also takes part in the FABid26 Academic Forum
The school also took part in the FABid26 Academic Forum, held on 5 November, with a contribution from Óscar Guayabero, ESDESIGN lecturer and coordinator of the school's cross-disciplinary Design Thinking workshop.
Guayabero presented the paper "Educating for Mars, designing for Earth: a teaching methodology for training designers for a world in transition", as part of the Teaching strand and the thematic area of Design for Resilience. His contribution provided an opportunity to share the school's methodological approach to educating designers capable of responding to the challenges of a changing world.
The forum brings together research and experiences from Ibero-American universities and higher education institutions to share methodologies and new perspectives on design research and education.
Design as a tool for addressing real-world challenges
ESDESIGN's participation in BID 2026 highlights the work of its students and teaching staff, as well as their ability to connect creativity, innovation and knowledge with real-world needs.
The selection of four projects for the bid_est exhibition and the recognition received by CleanFlow and ATL-ION reflect the school's commitment to an educational approach focused on sustainability, inclusion and resilience.
