Design in Wartime: Exploring the Role of Design in Times of War
On 19 June 2026, the international exhibition and conference “Design in Wartime” were opened at the Spichlerz Gallery of the University of Agriculture in Kraków. The event was jointly organised by Lviv Polytechnic National University, TU Wien, and the University of Agriculture in Kraków.
Opening remarks were delivered by Prof. Andrzej Sechman, Vice-Rector of the University of Agriculture in Kraków, Prof. Yuriy Dyba, Director of the Institute of Architecture and Design at Lviv Polytechnic, Vice Consul Valentyna Kuzmin of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Kraków, and Martin Gärtner, Consul General of the Republic of Austria in Kraków.
The conference featured presentations on the impact of war on cultural heritage, architecture, and design. Exhibition curators Prof. Bohdan Cherkes and Prof. Viktor Shtets opened the academic programme with keynote contributions on contemporary design challenges in wartime.
The exhibition showcased projects developed by students of Lviv Polytechnic and TU Wien. The works focused on supporting war-affected communities, temporary housing solutions for internally displaced persons, the use of art therapy, and innovative concepts for Ukraine’s future reconstruction.
The presented projects are the result of many years of cooperation between Ukrainian and Austrian higher education institutions and have previously been exhibited in Lviv, Stockholm, Kuala Lumpur, and at Berlin Design Week 2026.
We sincerely thank all partners for their continued commitment to international academic cooperation and support for Ukraine’s educational and scientific institutions.
Pictures were provided by the organizers.
