Ars Futura Cultura Sessions
The Ars Futura Cultura events aims to provide an additional possibility for award winners from different countries and disciplines to connect and network with each other. There will be a two sessions of Ars Futura Cultura events which aims to bring award winners together.

The Ars Futura Cultura Events will be held at “Ristorante Pizzeria Funiculare” with excellent lake view as well as great gourmet food. The idea is that we eat together, drink together, befriend each other, discuss ideas and opportunities.

It is a very good idea to join the Ars Futura Cultura sessions, especially if you would stay 1 day longer for the Exhibition. The Gala-Night and Award Ceremony prepares a great basis for award winning designers to come together and celebrate, the Exhibition brings these wonderful people again together, but as you would all know, the very best connections and friendships are formed on a fine dinner table, and the Ars Futura Cultura meeting brings awarded designers, artists, architects and company representatives together in a super relax dining environment to help them establish long-term friendships and connections while enjoing their food and the "bella vista" of the Como Lake.

What happens in Ars Futura Cultura Meetings?
Ars Futura Cultura meeting is an opportunity to meet designers, artists, architects and brands in a structured way that is both formal and causal at the same time. AFC meetings employ a facilitator and a mediator, who will introduce everyone attending to the event to everyone else. A’ Design Award top management will also be present during the event and therefore a great occasion for you to communicate your specific needs and requests as an award-winning designer. Finally AFC will also have a speaker who will explain award-winners how to get most out of their award-status, covering topics such as services and benefits for winners and how award-winning designers could utilise the award to their advantage. Here is what we will be doing:

• Befriending: Personal instructions, who comes from which country, works where and does what job, business card exchange. Facilitator tries to connect different people for collaboration and cooperation opportunities. Exchanging contacts.
  
• Partnering: Introduction to World Design Consortium, WDC Tenders and WDC Partnership. Distribution of WDC Posters. How can WDC benefit you? Going over WDC Annual. How to cooperate and collaborate with other award-winner designers, artists, architects and brands.
• Benefiting: What can A’ Design Award do for you? We will be noting your feature, functionality and service requests. Presentation of winner services and benefits and how to get the most out of your award-status. Going over the “What to do next - guidelines for winners Manual”. Listening to the ideas, input and feedback of participants to serve them better.
• Cooperation: Organisation of further events and happenings for benefiting award-winner designers. 40 x 40 Exhibition. Organising an exhibition in your country. Becoming a WDC Country Lead. Discussion and meeting with A’ Design Award management.

Pro-Tip: Remember to bring about 50 more business cards with you if you are going to attend Ars Futura Cultura meetings. There will be a facilitator present during the events that will introduce you to each other and help exchange contacts.

Detail of the Events in 2022 are as follows:

Post-Gala Dinner / Winners' Event with Pre-Registration

Post-Gala Dinner: at 19.45
Right after the busy Exhibition and the Gala-Night (Exhibition Vernissage is the Day after Gala Ceremony), the Ars Futura Cultura post-exhibition session is the perfect time to come together with other award winning designers, architects and brands, join this dinner to relax and enjoy a fine evening with other like-minded people. The A’ Design Award staff, as well as the award coordinator will be present during the event and will explain initiatives, as well as provide tips or answer to questions for PR and Publicity. The main focus of all the events will be about Prime Clubs, and how the winners could benefit from them and the secondary aim of the Ars Futura Cultura event is to help winners connect with each other, to create international, long-lasting bonds. The Ars Futura Cultura events will also bring board members of the Prime Clubs together. The award coordinator will also be present during this meeting. This is a highly appreciated event, those who joined last year were indeed quite happy for both the atmosphere and friendly environment. If you wish to join a single event, this is the event to join. Everyone will be present at this event. No formalities, no dress code, just cheers.

Menu for Post-Exhibition Dinner :
There are two menu options. 1) First menu includes Filetto Griglia (beef-steak), polenta, vegetables, lasagna, coffee, water and limoncello. Second menu (vegetarian) includes Risotto con Funghi Porcini (risotto with porcini mushrooms), caprese, focaccia, coffee, water and limoncello. Each menu has been designed to provide a fine italian dining experience with a focus on local cousine and specialities, in general we allow guests who have allergies to order out of menu. The award coordinator also promises to offer a good Italian wine to all participating award winners from his own expense.

Location :
We have chosen the Ristorante Pizzeria Funiculare for its excellent lake view and superb food. Address: Ristorante Pizzeria Funiculare. Via Lungo Lario Trieste, 62, 22100, Como, Italy. 

Space Availability :
12 people max; we will have a single very large table so that we could connect and talk.

How to Register :
Space is limited, we advise to pre-register right now at this moment. Alternatively you could try to register during Gala-Night (at Support Desk) or at Exhibition but this event is usually filled fast. To register, book a space from this page, or alternatively book your space during exhibition or the gala-night and award ceremony. This event is limited to 60 people max, therefore reservation is required. Deadline for online registration is on May 15, afterwards you can try to register during Gala or Exhibition at the Support Desks if there is space left. Event tickets are not refundable before or after the event, and A' Design Award Credits cannot be used towards purchase for attending these events.

What Actually Happens During This Event :
First of all, winners will depart from the Exhibition Venue and will walk to the Restaurant all together, following the AFC Facilitator who is tasked with introducing everyone to everyone, as well as to moderate the discussions. Once we reach the restaurant: [1]. Winners will be seated to the long table reserved for them. [2]. Food orders are given. [3]. Winners will be introduced to each other on a personal level, a special paper will be passed from the beginning of the table till the end of table where winners will be asked to provide their Name, Country / City, Profession, E-Mail address. If you fill this paper as a winner, we will later send you an email with all the names and contacts noted by other winners, so that everyone who meet each other during the event could later easily connect with other participants. [4]. While the contacts paper is being filled and food being consumed, simultaneously, AFC Facilitator will start personal introductions by asking individual winners the following questions: Who are you?, Where are you from?, What do you do? while asking questions, depending on where the winner is seated, the coordinator will kindly drag the winner to the other end of the table, especially to introduce the winner to everyone that is farther away from their seating position, [5]. AFC Facilitator will also ask other winners to listen and keep silent during the introduction so that everyone listens to everyone introducing themselves. [6]. Winners should remember to bring many business cards to the event, everyone should have at least 50 cards ready to give out so that you could exchange cards in the event, indeed during the event the AFC Facilitator will ask you to handover your cards and give everyone in the table one of your cards. [7]. Once everyone is introduced to everyone, the AFC Facilitator will propose collaboration ideas between winners, and underline importance of Prime Clubs and World Design Consortium. [8]. Winners will be given a very short lecture on how to use A' Design Award Status, Prime Clubs and WDC to their advantage, for establishing authority, for prestige, for finding and convincing clients, customers and consumers. [9]. Award Coordinator will make a short speech about services and benefits provided to winners and will later ask feedback and inputs of participants, listen to their needs, and answers eventual questions. [10]. In the end of the event there will be discussions about World Design Hubs, 40 x 40 Exhibitions and organization of A' Design Award events and exhibitions in your country, [11]. Finally, once the night is over, the aim is that you made many new connections, get introduced to people, and learn how to effectively use A' Design Award to your advantage and get involved in further initiatives to drive more value from your success. [12]. We also plan to handout World Design Consortium advertising collateral and marketing material during this dinner, especially based on availability, we will give framed WDC Member posters to participating designers.

Is it worth it? :
We think, absolutely. Make sure to extend your stay.

Collaborative Dinner / Winners' Event with Pre-Registration

Collaborative Dinner: 18.45
If you are staying long (or staying for an extra day) in Como, this is a great time for you to join us. This event will focus on Prime Clubs and will also cover topics such as PR and Publicity. This is the last opportunity to connect with other award winning designers, artists and architects. Talks and discussions will focus on international collaborations and business opportunities. This is more an insider meeting, it will be more causal than other meetings and the environment will be more direct and friendly. We will also take your feedbacks during this meeting to improve the A’ Design Awards. In the previous editions, we had several good ideas and initiatives that helped our award winners gain further publicity and visibility and we hope in this meeting we would also sparkle new ideas. The award coordinator will also be present during this meeting. This is truly a great event to reconnect, it is mostly joined by high-profile and veteran winners with networking in mind. If you will stay longer we suggest you to join this event as well. No formalities, no dress code, just cheers.

Menu for Collaborative Dinner:
Any Pizza or Pasta of your choice plus a drink of your choice including beer or a glass of wine, followed by a desert of your choice as well as coffee and it costs 35 euro / person.

Location:
We have chosen the Ristorante Pizzeria Funiculare for its excellent lake view and superb food. Address: Ristorante Pizzeria Funiculare. Via Lungo Lario Trieste, 62, 22100, Como, Italy. 

Space Availability:
12 people max; we will have a single very large table so that we could connect and talk.

How to Register:
Space is limited, we advise to pre-register. Alternatively you could register during Gala-Night (at Support Desk) or during Exhibition. To register, book a space from this page, or alternatively book your space during exhibtion, or the gala-night and award ceremony. Each event is limited to 60 people max, therefore reservation is required. Deadline for online registration is on April 15, afterwards you can register during Gala or Exhibition at the Support Desks if there is space. Event tickets are not refundable before or after the event, and A' Design Award Credits cannot be used towards purchase for attending these events.

What Actually Happens During This Event :
Basically, you meet with the same winners who were present in the Post Exhibition Dinner and Happy Lunch, but this time, there is usually less people, so you have more opportunities to talk and connect intensively. This event will focus heavily on discussing on what can we do for you. Winners tend to drink a lot during this particular event.

Is it worth it? :
Only if you are staying longer or if you want to have opportunity talk further with organizers, then this event is great for establishing strong connection with not only other participants but also the organizers.

Happy Lunch / Public Event with Pre-Registration

Happy Lunch: 13.30
This is designed especially for designers to connect, meet and discuss and is very open for both young designers as well as professional and experienced designers as well as company representatives, unlike other dinner and meeting options, it has a budget friendly participation fee. It could be a good opportunity if you are around the lake at lunch time, you can meet and connect further with the designers and prospects you exchanged cards during exhibition and gala-night. The award coordinator will not be able to join this meeting, however many staff members will join. This will be a happy event, if you are at Como, and have nothing more important to do, you should come to this meeting for sure.

Menu for Happy Lunch:
Any Pizza of your choice, drinks and extras are on you and it costs 30 euro / person.

Space Availability:
20 people max; we will have several tables to cluster winners to help them connect and talk.

How to Register:
Space is not limited, however pre-registration is required, we advise to preregister now. Alternatively you could register during Gala-Night (at Support Desk) or at Exhibition. To register, book a space from this page, or book your space during the exhibition or gala-night and award ceremony. Deadline for online registration is on April 15, afterwards you can register during Gala or Exhibition at the Support Desks. Event tickets are not refundable before or after the event, and A' Design Award Credits cannot be used towards purchase for attending these events.

What Actually Happens During This Event :
Basically, you meet with the same winners who were present in the Post Exhibition Dinner, but this time, there is usually less people, so you have more opportunities to talk and connect intensively. This event will focus heavily on discussing on what can we do for you.

Is it worth it? :
If you are staying longer, and if you already participated to Post Gala Dinner, it is a good idea to pass by this event to connect once again with your new friends and to strengthen your connections.

VIP Lunch / Exclusive Event with Pre-Registration

VIP Lunch: July 1 - Monday / Two Days After Exhibition Vernissage at 13.30
This is designed for business minded individuals, like CEOs, company owners and designers and architects who run their own studios to meet and connect, it has a very high participation fee to ensure only those who value deeper networking possibilities join. The award coordinator will be present during this meeting. A' Design Award and Competition reserve right to invite a few designers (such as past Designer of the Year winners) or those who we would consider strategically relevant (such as ambassadors, press members, head of design associations or other people who could create a value to all participants of the competition) free of charge to this meeting, invitations for such people have already been sent. The fee for this event has especially been set-up high so that we have less people in this meeting who could talk more freely and easily with each other. It is possible that majority of the participants on the table will indeed be invitees. The participant profile is neither guaranteed nor implied, remember to bring business cards as well as several small gifts from your culture to exchange during this meeting.

Pre-screening:
The VIP lunch could be relevant for those who have Enterprise, Government, Media or Agency account type, and we do not suggest it for other account types. Participation in this lunch is subject to a pre-screening. If you wish to come and book a space but your application is not accepted, your fees will be refunded.

Menu for VIP Lunch:
À la carte option where you can choose anything you wish from the Menu of the Restaurant except for wine and drinks.

Space Availability:
3 people max, including the board members who confirm their participation in advance; we will have a single small table so that we could talk more intimately.

Location:
We have chosen a very good restaurant with both meat, fish and vegetable based options available, we will communicate its location to you after your booking is confirmed.

How to Register:
Space is extremely limited and pre-registration is absolutely required, we advise to preregister as early as possible. You cannot register during Gala-Night or Exhibition. To register, book a space from this page. Deadline for online registration is on April 15, we will not accept registration for this event during Gala-Night or Exhibition as we wish to prescreen the participants to this event. In case the space is fully booked, we will refund your booking order.

Is it worth it? :
If you have an important idea, you will have the opportunity to discuss with organizers, you might potentially get great consultancy and feedback by the organizers for the price of one overpriced lunch at a really expensive restaurant. If you have the means, this is worth the price, you will be in good company.

Which package do we suggest?
We sincerely suggest the "Full Networking Package" if you are at Como during all these three days since it allows you to connect the same people on many occassions, each time improving your familarity as well as friendship by providing you time and opportunity to talk, connect and share ideas.

Address for Events 1, 2 and 3
We are no longer publishing venue addresses online, we will most likely change the event venues each year. Please make sure to leave your Mobile Phone Number and E-Mail to Laura Sfiligoi by contacting us now at welcome desk during gala-night and award-ceremony. Photos below are from previous years. We will inform you new venue addresses via e-mail or phone.

Top 10 Reasons to Join the Ars Futura Cultura Event:

1. Thought Leaders. Gain actionable intelligence and design insights from design experts, award winning designers, architects and managers. Connect with people who matters.
2. Personal 1:1 Time. Perfect time to discuss opportunities, new initiatives, to connect with industry leaders and to discover ways to extend your reach.
3. PR Insights. Discuss and leard how other designers, managers and architects engage in public relations, get insights and best practices from leaders.
4. World Practitioners. Learn from the successes and experiences of design oriented brands, associations, award winning designers and enterprises.
5. Party, Romance and Relaxation. The meeting is great to connect, network, relax and enjoy yourself, you deserve this meeting, you deserve to enjoy the best view, and drink the best wine with the best of people.
6. Future Forecasting. Get insights on future trends and news by exchanging ideas, learn about how design scape is changing and how to make it work for yourself.
7. Insiders. Connect with A' Design Award staff, get answers to your questions, learn future possibilities, network with past laureates and jury members.
8. Make Change. Propose your ideas to give you a better service, make your demands, express your needs, get listened to, make an improvement.
9. Plan Ahead. Learn about future initiatives that other participants or designers are thinking to join, discover new ways of making business.
10. Rise on Giants, Engage Designers. Designers could connect with large enterprises while enterprises could reach out to designers, making foundations for future collaboration.