hrough April 22, the Valmiera Museum is hosting the exhibition «Rokas un pavedieni» (Hands and Threads), marking the 80th anniversary of the folk applied arts studio Valmiera, featuring both traditional and contemporary works. The exhibition’s scenography and graphic design concept was created by the design and communication studio Ausme.

David Sim’s influential book Soft City presents a compelling vision for cities that prioritise comfort, connection, and liveability through thoughtful, small-scale design.

Keta Gutmane has managed to create one of the bestsellers in Latvian design in recent years — her wet-look dresses can be found in the wardrobes of local fashionistas, as well as on international stages and red carpets. In the Nice Touch section, fashion designer Keta Gutmane talks about her approach to gaining popularity.

Creative producer Patriks Kirkils is the founder and director of Bourzma, a platform for sustainable fashion and youth culture with the aim to promote a circular approach to fashion and encourage young designers to share their creative vision with a wider audience. In the Nice Touch section, Patriks talks about a virtual space for developing ideas.

Photographer Arūnas Baltėnas’ book P—S. From Monday to Sunday is dedicated to representatives of various professions in Lithuania. The design of the publication, created by Alexey Murashko, highlights the documentary power of photography and focuses on the heroes of the stories, creating a structured visual rhythm.

One of designer Ieva Kalēja’s missions is to foster the development of the design industry in Latvia and promote our design abroad. In the Nice Touch section, Ieva talks about an element that unites her everyday life, her greatest passion, and her travel experiences.

European Design Association has included designer Rihards Funts in the Glorious 42 council that brings together leading creative minds to promote innovation and strengthen the implementation of sustainable change across Europe. In the Nice Touch section, Rihards talks about a device that is useful both in everyday life and at work.

The Flipster chair by children’s soft furniture brand Wigiwama combines several functions — it transforms from a comfortable lounger into a small bed, serving as a great solution for sleepovers. Just recently, Flipster won the German Design Award 2026.

In her works, photographer Iveta Gabaliņa often explores the relationship between environment and people, focusing on presence and reflection. In the Nice Touch section, Iveta talks about a habit that allows her to escape from everyday «noise».

The exhibition Chestnut and the Universe will reveal the wide range of the author’s work — from bright, internationally recognised illustrations to personal, spiritual paintings in which contemporary visual language is intertwined with motifs from Christian tradition.

In mid-January, furniture design brand Kanttari participated in the prestigious interior design fair Maison&Objet in Paris, where they presented the Orion bar cabinet, created in collaboration with glass artist Artis Nīmanis.

Artist and designer Aleksandrs Breže creates his conceptually multi-layered works in both the digital environment and material reality, thus expanding the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship. In the Nice Touch section, he talks about how to overcome a creative block.