Highlights from Northern Design Festival 2026
From bespoke typography and industry talks to hands-on workshops and heritage tours, Northern Design Festival 2026 brought together designers from across the UK to explore the stories, traditions and experiences that shape creative practice
From bespoke typography and industry talks to hands-on workshops and heritage tours, Northern Design Festival 2026 brought together designers from across the UK to explore the stories, traditions and experiences that shape creative practice
The Northern Design Festival returned to Lancaster from 13–15 May 2026 for its third and most successful edition to date. Hosted at Kanteena, a community events space housed within a former brewery, the three-day festival welcomed designers, studios and emerging talent from across the UK for a programme of talks, workshops and discussions centred around this year's theme: Heritage .
Drawing attendees from locations stretching from Teesside to Brighton, the festival once again demonstrated its ability to bring together a diverse and engaged creative community.
This year's theme, Heritage, explored the ways in which our backgrounds, cultures, experiences and traditions influence the work we create. The programme encouraged attendees to reflect on the stories, skills and perspectives passed through generations, while considering how these influences continue to shape contemporary creative practice.
To bring the theme to life, NDF partnered with type foundry F37 to create a bespoke typeface, Lancer. The name carries a deliberate dual meaning, referencing Lancaster's medieval history while also nodding to the origins of the term "freelancer" - a knight who was not bound to a single lord. Throughout the festival, designers interpreted the typeface in their own ways, from motion graphics and visual identities to even a 3D-printed lance, creating a collaborative expression of the Heritage theme.
Across the three days, the festival brought together an impressive mix of speakers from across the design industry. Discussions explored everything from typography, branding and heritage to the realities of running a creative business, with contributions from F37, Red Setter with Wolff Olins, SEA, Creative Review, the Design Council, The Engine Room and more.
Alongside the talks, attendees took part in hands-on workshops spanning screen printing, letterpress and speciality print techniques, creating opportunities to learn, experiment and connect with fellow creatives.
The final day shifted towards participation and local engagement, featuring heritage tours of Lancaster, an art fair and a range of creative activities organised by Short Supply, Process Events and Graphic Design is Not Dead.
"My biggest reflection from this year- even as NDF has grown in numbers, the intimacy and close knit feeling of the festival is still so strong. No egos, just a group of people passionate about creativity and connection." Niamh Cartwright, NDF Co-director
" When organising free events, you never really know who’s going to show up. Expanding into a new venue this year definitely came with its anxieties, and at times it was difficult to simply trust the process. But, this became our most successful festival edition to date. " Toni Arbova, NDF Co-director
