The history

ZGRAF is an international exhibition of graphic design and visual communications, held triennially in Zagreb, Croatia from 1975. The organiser of the exhibition is ULUPUH – the Croatian Association of Artists of Applied Art.
In the past ten exhibitions brought together designers, theoreticians and critics with the intention of discussing fundamental problems and the position of design in contemporary society.
Some of the themes Zgraf covered in the past thirty-six years range from the importance of design as a profession (Zgraf 1), the relationship between graphic design and art (Zgraf 3), the importance of education – arguing in favour of establishing a school of design (Zgraf 5), design and new digital technologies (Zgraf 8), the social responsibility of design especially in advertising (Zgraf 9), to a place for addressing and discussing local and global – meeting point for multiculturalism (Zgraf 10).
As an open selected exhibition Zgraf presents global examples of works in the field of graphic design and thus offers a wide perspective of the global design scene. In this way it also evaluates the work of local designers within an international framework. Zgraf also aims to offer a place for discussion on contemporary design practices and their role in the complex and contradictory daily cultural life.

Concept

The international triennial exhibition of graphic design and visual communications Zgraf is made up of two main parts. The first is a review exhibition of selected works in the field of graphic design and visual communications, and the second is a thematic exhibition presenting selected works designed to a specific exhibition theme.
Except for the main exhibition Zgraf programme also includes smaller exhibitions, lectures, workshops and presentations.

> Zgraf rules and regulations