OFFF Barcelona: 25 Years of artistic evolution and neighborhood

Over the past two and a half many years, OFFF Barcelona has turn into greater than only a competition; it is a artistic establishment, a cultural motion, and a gathering place for designers, artists, and technologists who push the boundaries of creativity.

Based on the daybreak of the web’s golden age, OFFF has advanced alongside shifting applied sciences, artistic disciplines, and viewers expectations whereas staying true to its roots as an area for connection and experimentation.

As OFFF celebrates its twenty fifth anniversary, we spoke to founder Pep Salazar about its origins, evolution, and the competition’s ever-expanding position within the artistic world.

From a digital playground to a world phenomenon

OFFF was conceived at a time when the web was simply starting to reshape artistic work. What began as an internet hub for Flash animation lovers shortly turned a dwell occasion that will ultimately turn into a cornerstone of the worldwide design neighborhood.

“OFFF was born simply in the intervening time when the web and international connectivity began for a lot of the world,” Salazar remembers. “This was an enormous and curious second as we started to attach with a lot of individuals through web sites, so we determined to launch an internet site to search out Flash animators lovers and be a part of collectively on-line – probably the most modern pondering on the time!”

It quickly turned clear that this neighborhood of creators wished to bodily meet different like-minded individuals, so it was ultimately constructed right into a dwell occasion. And the timing could not have been higher!

Barcelona was present process a cultural transformation, and OFFF discovered itself on the centre of it.

Salazar says: “It was a fantastic second for Barcelona and its cultural establishments that had been in search of modern codecs and narratives. We will say it was the fitting place on the proper time; we simply wished to fulfill and share, and that is nonetheless the spirit at OFFF.”

What Salazar did not think about was that OFFF would turn into a world artistic establishment.

“I used to be shocked 12 months after 12 months, watching how this concept was turning into knowledgeable occasion and pondering on a regular basis, how we will make this organically higher for many who attend,” he explains. “There have been large challenges: connecting with the neighborhood, being interested by what’s going on in digital and visible design, and, in fact, administration.”

That dedication to evolution is a part of what has saved OFFF related. It has at all times been on the crossroads of design, artwork, and expertise, balancing artistic disciplines in a manner that displays the altering trade.

“It’s a crossroads between creativity, digital instruments, expertise, pondering and sweetness – design is throughout, digital is throughout, artwork is throughout,” says Salazar. “I feel over time we’ve tipped the stability to incorporate extra movement and shifting photographs whereas nonetheless staying true to our graphics and illustration roots, however… AI is right here now… so let’s reassess the stability in just a few years! Might be enjoyable.”

OFFF’s position in shaping artistic traits

Throughout its historical past, OFFF has been on the forefront of main shifts in design, branding, movement, and interactive expertise.

“Net growth, typography, branding, movement and VFX. I keep in mind a chat {that a} speaker (do not keep in mind who) talked about one thing we now name Social Networks.,” Salazar remembers. “It was round 2007… we need to at all times be on the forefront of the social adjustments throughout the artistic trade.”

However OFFF can also be an area the place sudden connections spark new artistic ventures. One in all Salazar’s favorite tales is in regards to the likelihood assembly of two digital pioneers in Portugal.

“I keep in mind Chris Milk and Aaron Koblin met at OFFF Oeiras, Portugal, in 2008. They did not know one another personally, so we launched them to one another. They kinda fell in love instantly, and some years later, the primary interactive music video utilizing Google Earth expertise and a novel narrative got here to life and ‘The Wilderness Downtown’ from Arcade Fireplace was born. They’re nonetheless companions in some multiverse platforms and creating nice stuff collectively. I am completely happy to say that OFFF was the matchmaker.”

Curation, neighborhood & the OFFF expertise

OFFF is understood for boundary-pushing audio system and experiences; staying forward of the curve is not any small feat. So, how does Salazar strategy curating the lineup?

He says: “I be taught from different audio system, I be taught from different curators, and I sustain with what’s taking place with the studios and creatives.

“There’s at all times danger in making a lineup, at all times doubts about if it may meet expectations… however we’ve a fantastic community of companions and associates that assist us to be in first place.”

Greater than only a convention, OFFF thrives on neighborhood and power by a mixture of wonderful content material, press protection, attendees, and a starvation to share, meet and be taught. “All of that is in (principally) sunny Barcelona, the place you could be a part of the best neighborhood, get pleasure from being open air, grabbing a drink, a chunk to eat and having fun with your self,” Salazar provides.

Because the artistic panorama shifts, OFFF has remained agile, adapting to every part from distant collaboration to AI integration.

“We constructed a metaverse (earlier than MZ) to leap by the pandemic 12 months. We had been working remotely till 2020 after we determined to maneuver to a bodily workplace, and now we’re integrating some AI performances into our administration methods to make every part extra correct and perceive the occasions by which we dwell,” he explains.

That flexibility has allowed OFFF to develop throughout a number of cities throughout the globe whereas sustaining its Barcelona flagship as a cultural melting pot. Salazar provides, “Assembly native audiences, artists and creators, and companions has made us open and resilient to completely different cultures.

“This can be a reward. I at all times strive to absorb all of this tradition and infuse it into our international occasion in Barcelona yearly.”

Challenges, AI & staying human

With OFFF celebrating 25 years, what is the greatest problem for the following decade? “Being human, distinctive and sincere,” in line with Salazar. “There are many small impartial festivals round – principally locals – however being international and remaining impartial is our greatest problem.”

And whereas AI is shaking up the artistic world, Salazar is assured that OFFF will stay on the forefront. He says: “OFFF is already responding by inviting the brand new youngsters working with AI.

“AI is a device, the identical as Flash – now out of date – and shifting photographs over the online are a part of our lives greater than ever. Little doubt it may be enjoyable to look at it, and once more, it’s a pleasure to be within the first row to know, see, and share what and the way AI is reworking our lives.”

What’s Subsequent for OFFF?

This 12 months’s competition goes greater than ever, with 100+ actions over three days.

Salazar says: “We’re increasing how we use the venue. Utilizing the ‘moat’ fashion water in entrance of the constructing, we are going to construct a platform over the water to create a brand new and larger design market.”
For these attending, anticipate the sudden.

Wanting even additional into the way forward for OFFF, we requested Salazar what he anticipated the 2040 model of the competition would appear like.

“I’m a boomer, and we’re a bit exhausting to vary…So, I need to see it as it’s right this moment! However, in actuality, I hope OFFF continues to be getting in 2040, and I feel it will likely be probably the most superior design convention as a result of it is about understanding day-to-day creation, and OFFF is at all times one step forward.”