Conference

PAUSE TO THINK - MOVE TO CREATE

Jun 11

-

Jun 12, 2026

Helsinki, Finland

How deliberate thinking fuels work that remains creative, meaningful, and culturally responsible - even under rapid production cycles.

Event partner |

No items found.

More pics to view here

No items found.

More pics to view here

No items found.

More pics to view here

Join us for inspiring talks, critical conversations, and fresh perspectives on shaping thoughtful design in accelerated times.

Under the theme Pause to Think - Move to Create, we challenge the assumption that speed must compromise substance. Because while execution may accelerate, the thinking behind truly valuable ideas should never be compressed.

As global change becomes more chaotic and media noise more overwhelming, designers are called to act as translators - connecting emotions, cultures, and contexts to create clarity and resonance. Together, we will discuss how to balance disruption with timelessness, and how to maintain emotional depth in a world of constant stimuli.

Finally, we confront one of today’s greatest creative challenges: originality in times of excess. In a globalised landscape saturated with trends and content, how do we create work that stands apart? How do we remain authentic, relevant, and distinct?

Register now and be part of the dialogue that redefines creative responsibility.

‍

8.45 am

Check-in at reception in entrance hall

9 am

Welcome coffee on 2nd floor

‍

9.30 am

OPENING

Sylvia Vitale Rotta

epda President, France

‍

WELCOME

Mandi Alaterä

SVP of Marketing and Commercial Excellence, Stora Enso, Finland

‍

TALK

Pancho Tolkinsky - part 1

Cognitive Science Educator, Spain

‍

TALK

David Speed

Artist & Podcast Host, United Kingdom

‍

‍

11.30 am

Networking Break & Coffee

‍

‍

11.30 am

TALK

Delphine Conzelmann and Jean Jacques Schaffner

Managing Director and Owner & Creative Director, JJSSCC, Switzerland

‍

TALK

Paula Pozza

Founder & Creative Director, Studio Zak, Italy / Brazil

‍

‍

1.30 pm

Lunch Break: Restaurat on lower floor

‍

‍

2.45 pm

TOUR in Katajanokanlaituri

Antto Kauhanen

Sales & Business Development Manager, Stora Enso, Finland

‍

TALK

Eveliina Juuri

Packaging Designer, Stora Enso, Finland

‍

TALK

‍Sanna-Kaisa Niikko

Chief Marketing Officer, Marimekko, Finland

‍

TALK

‍Piëtke Visser

Creative Director, Kuudes Oy, Finland

‍

‍

4.50 pm

Networking Break & Coffee

‍

‍

5.20 pm

TALK

Javier Jaén

Graphic Desiger & Illustrator, Spain

‍

TALK

Pancho Tolchinsky - part 2

Cognitive Science Educator, Spain

‍

6.50 pm

ROUND-UP

Bea Suarez Lopéz

epda Board Member Events, Spain

‍

7 pm

Conferences closes.

‍

End

We reserve the right to make changes.

25-02-2025

‍

‍

Get to know our Speakers!
We will continuously update this page.

‍

‍

Tristan Horx

Futurist & Keynote Speaker, The Future Lab, Germany

Tristan Horx could be described as a new generation of futurists, if he didn’t personally call for the end of the classic generational models. The speaker and author deals with the topics of societal change and is researching what will follow Gen X, Y, and Z. He has been a lecturer at SRH Hochschule Heidelberg since 2018 and a columnist at Kronen Zeitung since 2019. His German- or English-language presentations are about developments in the fields of mobility, digitalization, and the old bogey, globalization. As an anthropologist, he sees his job as finding the bridge between creativity and economy within macro-societal questions.

Pancho Tolchinsky

Cognitive Science Educator, Spain

Pancho Tolchinsky is a cognitive science educator whose work explores how meaning emerges through the body. He trained in mathematics, completed a PhD in AI, and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Yahoo! Research Barcelona. He also worked as a photographer and director of a school in Colombia. His current work focuses on how design and mind shape one another. He co-directs the More postgraduate program in brand design with Mucho and teaches in the design program at EINA, Barcelona.

David Speed

Artist & Podcast Host, United Kingdom

David Speed is a London-based artist, most known for his signature neon pink artworks. He rose to prominence while painting the streets during the pandemic and has quickly become one of the most recognized creators in the UK’s contemporary street art scene. David has created work for clients such as Shaquille O’Neal, Fortnum & Mason, Nobu, and MTV. Using the brightest pigment available, his artwork centers around themes of identity, connection, and untold stories. He is the host of the #1 podcast, Creative Rebels, which champions creativity by sharing the stories of experts within the creative industries. He also works as a mentor to several young artists.

Delphine Conzelmann

Managing Director, JJSSCC, Switzerland

Delphine Conzelmann (PhD) is Managing Director of jjsscc and works at the intersection of design, strategy, and cultural analysis. Growing up in a design agency environment, she became familiar with creative processes and client relations early on, developing a lasting sensitivity for visual language and communication. She initially pursued an academic path, earning a doctorate in medieval history and teaching at the University of Basel, Switzerland. Alongside her academic work, she was active as a freelance journalist and essayist, focusing on cultural, historical, and societal questions. In early 2025, she joined the family-led agency jjsscc, where her work centers on organizational development, communication consulting, and knowledge transfer. Her perspective combines empirical analysis with design philosophy, exploring how visual languages can create visibility, coherence, and meaning beyond rigid corporate design systems. At jjsscc, she develops brand strategies and visual frameworks, particularly for cultural institutions, healthcare organizations, NGOs, and mission-driven clients.

Jean Jacques Schaffner

Owner & Creative Director, JJSSCC, Switzerland

Jean Jacques Schaffner is a Swiss designer, creative director, and one of the long-standing voices in European communication design. Educated in Basel and Paris, his formative years were shaped by a Bauhaus-oriented foundation, classical fine arts training, and advanced studies in graphic design, complemented by work in photography and television music direction. In 1976, he co-founded Designersfactory Schaffner & Conzelmann, establishing a practice dedicated to branding and communication design for cultural institutions, healthcare organizations, NGOs, and value-driven regional players. His work spans nearly five decades and includes thousands of projects across identity, visual systems, and strategic communication. Schaffner is a co-founder of epda and served as its President from 2000 to 2023, actively shaping European design discourse through conferences, juries, and professional exchange. Today, he works with his design team, jjsscc, a studio agency founded in 2016 together with his longtime partner in work and life, Silvana Conzelmann. More than 50 of the studio’s projects have received international design awards. In 2026, the life’s work of jjsscc will be honored with a special exhibition at the Red Dot Design Museum.

Paula Pozza

Founder & Creative Director, Studio Zak, Italy / Brazil

Paula Pozza is the Founder and Creative Director of Studio Zak, an award-winning branding and packaging design studio based in Brazil and Italy. Known for blending Brazilian flair with Italian finesse, Paula transforms packaging into bold, playful, and highly distinctive experiences that tell a story at first glance. Her studio’s illustrative approach combines fun and personality with strategic thinking, creating designs that resonate with audiences around the globe.

Sanna-Kaisa Niikko

Chief Marketing Officer, Marimekko, Finland

Sanna-Kaisa Niikko, Chief Marketing Officer, has had a long career at Marimekko. Before her current position, she served as Global Creative Brand Marketing Director, leading Marimekko’s visual communications, social media, community engagement, public relations, and brand collaborations. She originally joined Marimekko in 2005 and has held numerous positions in Marimekko’s marketing and sales organizations, both in Finland and internationally. In addition to her role at Marimekko, Sanna-Kaisa serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Finnish Textile and Fashion Association and as a board member of the Confederation of Finnish Industries.

Piëtke Visser

Creative Director, Kuudes, Finland

Piëtke Visser is a South African–born visual designer, creative director, and award-winning visual storyteller based in Helsinki. A conceptual thinker at heart, she believes deeply in playfulness, empathy, and an open culture of collaboration. Piëtke is the Creative Director at Kuudes Oy, an insight-driven design consultancy, and a partner at Lokal, home to Finnish art, craft, and design. She also founded Agency Forest Fruit in 2017. In her work, Piëtke strives to understand people and organizations from the inside out, translating their ideas and ambitions into memorable, human-centered design solutions and visual narratives. Inspired by exploring, daydreaming, and conversations with people who have plans and purpose, she believes that ideas—whether remarkable or slightly silly—have the power to reflect, challenge, and gently reshape the way things are done.

Javier Jaén

Graphic Designer & Illustrator, estudio Javier Jaén, Spain

Javier Jaén (Barcelona, 1983) studied graphic design and fine arts in Barcelona, New York, and Budapest. His professional activity has focused on editorial illustration, book covers, audiovisual projects, advertising, cultural communication, and the creation of his own work. He translates stories and concepts into images using symbolic and playful language. He has worked for The New York Times, The New Yorker, Time, The Washington Post, Harvard University, National Geographic, Greenpeace, Penguin Random House, Vueling, UNESCO, Camper, Banco Sabadell, Louis Vuitton, Netflix, Warner, Centro Botín, Centro Dramático Nacional, Zara, Microsoft, and El Deseo, among others. His work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Print Magazine, Junceda Award, Gráffica Award, Laus, D&AD, The Society of Publication Designers , Premios Feroz, and Society for News Design. He has participated in exhibitions in New York, London, Mexico, El Salvador, Tallinn, Seoul, Rotterdam, Paris, and Rome. Since 2015, he has been a member of AGI (Alliance Graphique Internationale). In 2020, he was named by Forbes as one of the 100 most creative Spaniards. He has been a professor at the European Institute of Design, Elisava, BAU, IDEP, and often gives workshops and lectures at various international art and design schools. He has not yet written a child, planted a book, or given birth to a tree.

You can find all venues on a map here.

UPM Head Office

Alvar Aallon katu 1, Helsinki

‍

‍

The UPM Head Office, Biofore House, is located in the city center of Helsinki, only a five-minute walk from the railway station.

‍

‍

‍

‍

No items found.

Stora Enso Head Office

Katajanokanlaituri 4, Helsinki

‍

‍

Stora Enso’s new head office is the largest mass timber building in Finland and a landmark of sustainable, low-carbon construction.

This historic site, once a bustling shipyard, has been reimagined into a beacon of modern, circular design. Woven into Helsinki’s harbor and coastline, this architectural masterpiece not only highlights Finnish craft but embodies our deep commitment to renewable materials.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

No items found.

PASSIO - Connect & Network

Kalevankatu 13, Helsinki

‍

‍

The idea of Passio was conceived in 2012 in Savonlinna, where the founders, Jussi Hukkanen and Jesse Vottonen, were inspired by the region’s vibrant food and brewery culture. In 2014, they brought Passio to life, combining modern Nordic cuisine, classic French influences, and a laid-back atmosphere — without forgetting the element of surprise. Their foundation is built on simple, carefully selected ingredients, thoughtfully curated wines, and refined skills both in the kitchen and in the dining room. Each course is a gift. While the experience is exceptional, they want you to come as you are — just as they are.

Now it is 2026 — twelve years have passed. Their principles remain unchanged.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

No items found.

NOKKA - Relax & Dine

Kanavaranta 7 F, Helsinki

‍

‍

Guide Michelin: A huge anchor and propeller mark out this harbourside warehouse and, inside, three high-ceilinged rooms juxtapose brick with varnished wood. An on-view kitchen allows you to watch wonderful, sustainably sourced ingredients being prepared in a rustic style. There is a strongly Finnish heart to the cooking, which includes classic dishes like freshly made blini topped with crème fraîche, pickled red onions and vendace roe. Friendly, professional service adds to the experience.

‍

‍

‍

‍

No items found.

UUNISAARI - Unwind

Pohjoinen Uunisaari 2, Helsinki

‍

Here you can enjoy atmospheric and relaxing moments away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, in a peaceful island setting. They offer a wonderful environment to enjoy a great meal indoors or outside on the terrace, and you can unwind even further in the sauna.

‍

‍

‍

No items found.

BULEVARDI - Accommodation

Bulevardi 28, Helsinki

epda group booking:

Booking via epda Event Registration (universe)
DEADLINE APRIL 8!!
‍

Northern Comfort
1 Queen Bed, 25 qm room with city view

including breakfast and sauna

11 - 13 June 2026

single: 158 EUR
double: 178 EUR

‍

***
‍

individual booking:

Booking via epda Event Registration (universe)
DEADLINE APRIL 8!!
‍

Northern Comfort
1 Queen Bed, 25 qm room with city view

including breakfast and sauna

10 - 14 June 2026

single: 178 EUR
double: 198 EUR

‍

You can book via
- the website: www.laplandhotels.com
- email to: bulevardi@laplandhotels.com
- phone at: 00358 9 5252 1111

Use the booking code: ALL_EPDACONF

‍

‍

No items found.

KLAUS K - Accommodation

Bulevardi 2-4, Helsinki

‍individual booking:

DEADLINE May 11th

‍

Comfort room
160 - 180 cm Bed, 15 - 20 qm room

including breakfast

11 - 13 June 2026

single: 158 EUR
double: 178 EUR

‍

Superior room
2x 90cm Bed, 21 - 26qm room

including breakfast

11 - 13 June 2026

single: 173 EUR
double: 193 EUR

‍

Please book following this LINK.

ALLOT / epda_CONF

‍

No items found.

CONFERENCE FEES

‍

‍EARLY-BIRD: 1 March to 8 April 2026

1st representative of a member agency: 390 €
2nd representative of a member agency: 195 €

1st representative of a non-member agency: 585 €
2nd representative of a non-member agency: 290 €

Young design agency (owners below 35 years): 195€

1st industry representative: 650 €
2nd industry representative: 325 €

‍

REGULAR: 9 April to 10 June 2026

1st representative of a member agency: 450 €
2nd representative of a member agency: 225 €

1st representative of a non-member agency: 675 €
2nd representative of a non-member agency: 335 €

Young design agency (owners below 35 years): 225 €

1s tindustry representative: 750 €
2nd industry representative: 375 €

special offer:
Finnish agencies: 195 €
students: 85 €

‍

EVENING PROGRAMME

EPDA NETWORK & CONNECT: 11 June 2026
2-course Dinner including beverage: 70 €

EPDA RELAX & DINE: 12 June 2026
3-course Menu including beverage: 95 €
‍

‍

SATURDAY

Trip to Uunisaari: 13 June 2026:
‍

Ferry: 5 €
Sauna: 30 € (cheaper if more than 12 pax)
Lunch: 50 €

‍

Registering for an EPDA event is easy! Simply click on "Register here" to access our online booking service. Once you submit your booking form, we will receive an email to validate your registration. After approval and payment, your conference ticket will be issued immediately. You can edit, transfer, or cancel your booking up to 7 days before the event.

‍

Note:

Early-Bird Conference Fees are available until 8th April 2026.

‍

‍
‍

ACCOMMODATION

Allotment Booking - until May 11th

We have agreed on preferential rates with Lapland Hotel Bulevardi and Klaus K Hotel. You can book directly with these hotels using a special booking code.
‍

EPDA Group Booking - until April 8th

In addition, we have organised a group booking at an even lower rate, available only until April, 8. If you want to take advantage of this offer, you must book via the epda Registration form (Universe).

‍

Check out information in the section LOCATIONS.

‍

Event partner