Bernat Klein Foundation Symposium Supported by Future Island–Island, Belfast School of Art and Creative Scotland
The Bernat Klein Foundation Symposium, The Colour of Everyday, brings together designers, researchers, industry, makers, students and island communities to explore the role of colour in shaping culture, creativity and sustainable futures. Inspired by the legacy of Bernat Klein one of the twentieth century’s most influential textile designers, colourists and artists the symposium invites participants to consider how colour connects landscape, material, heritage and innovation.
Conference Themes
The event is structured around four interconnected themes:
- Colour in education – exploring how colour theory, material experimentation and creative pedagogy shape learning.
- Colour of tomorrow – imagining future applications of colour in sustainable design, technology and material innovation.
- Colour of history & heritage – examining how colour expresses cultural identity, memory and place.
- Creative colour & sustainable making – showcasing practices that connect colour with ecological responsibility, craft and regenerative materials.
These themes reflect Klein’s multidisciplinary approach to design, where colour becomes a bridge between art, industry, environment and lived experience.
About the Bernat Klein Foundation
The Bernat Klein Foundation is a Scottish charity dedicated to preserving, researching and promoting the creative and cultural legacy of Bernat Klein (1922–2014). Through exhibitions, publications, symposia, fellowships and heritage initiatives, the Foundation supports new research and creative practice inspired by Klein’s pioneering work in textile design and colour innovation. Since its launch, the Foundation has played a leading role in expanding public engagement with Klein’s archive and ensuring that his ideas continue to inform contemporary debates in design, textiles, sustainability and architecture.
Future Island-Island: Shared Values and Collaboration
The Future Island–Island (FII) Project shares many of the Foundation’s values, with a focus on design‑led innovation, cultural heritage, sustainability and community engagement. Working with Rathlin island and island communities, the project explores how creative practice, local knowledge and collaborative research can contribute to resilient and sustainable futures.
The symposium provides a unique opportunity to bring these conversations together linking Klein’s legacy with contemporary island‑based research, material culture and environmental stewardship.
Why This Symposium Matters
The Colour of Everyday creates a space where historical design archives and contemporary sustainability challenges can speak to one another. By situating new research, creative practice and community‑based projects alongside Klein’s enduring influence, the event fosters dialogue across disciplines and generations. It highlights how colour rooted in landscape, material and culture can inspire new approaches to creative resilience, sustainable making and place‑based innovation.
Key Dates
- Call for Papers Opens: June 2026
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 4 September 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: 18 September 2026
- Final Presentation Upload: 20 November 2026
- Selected papers/presentations will be Published as a collection following the Symposium
- Symposium Date: 28 November 2026
The Colour of Everyday
Submit an Abstract
Please download and complete the abstract submission form below.
Step 1: Download the submission form
Download the Word document and complete all sections, including:
- Title of paper
- Author name(s)
- Abstract (300–500 words)
- 4–6 keywords
- Corresponding author details
- Preferred format: Presentation or Poster
Step 2: Save your completed form
Please save your file using this format:
SURNAME_Firstname_BKF_FII2026_ABSTRACT.docx
Step 3: Upload your completed form
Upload your completed Word document using this submission link.
Submission deadline: 4 September 2026
Please note: submissions should be made using the Word doc provided. If you have any difficulty downloading or uploading the file, please contact g.colhoun@ulster.ac.uk.