Data:forma 2026 – report on the exhibition opening - Information Architecture as an Academic Discipline

The opening of the first edition of the Data:forma 2026 poster exhibition is now behind us. The event demonstrated the diverse ways in which data, information and their visual representations can be interpreted.

A total of 273 entries were submitted for this year’s edition. From these, the jury selected 20 posters to be displayed in print, along with 28 additional works shown on screens. The scale of the submissions, the standard of the designs and their international character confirmed that the theme of information visualisation has attracted considerable interest within the design community.

The international scope of the review

Entries were received from over 20 countries, including Poland, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Finland, Ecuador, Mexico, Hungary, Slovenia, Japan, Romania, Armenia, Serbia, Turkey, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, South Korea, Denmark, the United States and Iran.

Such a wide range of contributors allowed us to see just how many forms information can take — from concise visual messages to original, experimental interpretations of data.

Acknowledgements to the authors

We would like to thank everyone who submitted their posters for the Data:forma 2026 review. We appreciate the boldness of the designs, the diversity of approaches, the originality of the ideas and the commitment to a creative interpretation of the theme.

Jury przeglądu

We would like to extend our special thanks to the members of the jury, who devoted their time, attention and expertise to assessing the entries and selecting the projects presented at this year’s review.

W skład jury weszli:

Dr Tomasz Sadowski
University of the National Education Commission in Kraków, Institute of Information Sciences
Dr Nikodem Pręgowski, Professor at UMK
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Faculty of Fine Arts, Institute of Visual Arts and Art Conservation, Department of Graphic Design
Dr Patrycja Longawa, Professor at WSIiZ
University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów, College of Media and Social Communication, Department of Graphic Design
Dr Peter Javorik, Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts
Jan Matejko
Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, Faculty of Industrial Design, Department of Visual Communication Design
Dr Bartosz Mamak
WIT Academy in Warsaw, Graphic Design course

We would also like to thank the members of the judging panel representing the Information Architects’ Research Society:

Zuza Kucharczyk
Dominika Czuchra
Karalina Zhehzdryn

Dziękujemy za świeże spojrzenie, zaangażowanie oraz udział w procesie oceny prac.

Podziękowania dla sponsorów i osób wspierających

Jesteśmy wdzięczni sponsorom oraz osobom wspierającym realizację wydarzenia. Dzięki ich zaangażowaniu możliwe było przygotowanie wystawy w formie, która pozwoliła właściwie wyeksponować wybrane projekty.

Szczególne podziękowania kierujemy do:

Wdzięcznopis
Izabela Kaczmarska
Jakub Markowski

Thank you for your trust, kindness and practical organisational support.

Organisational support

We would like to extend our special thanks to Dr Bożena Jaskowska for her significant organisational assistance, support with administrative matters, patience and commitment to the preparation of the event, including her help with arranging the catering.

A big thank you to all the participants

We would like to thank everyone who joined us at the opening — for coming along, for the conversations, for your thoughtfulness, and for celebrating the first edition of the review with us.

Data:forma 2026 pokazała, że dane mogą być nie tylko analizowane, ale także oglądane, interpretowane, odczuwane i przeżywane.

Thank you for taking part in the event; we’re already thinking about our next activities.