Artist-2-Artist: Trends, Foresight & Culture

In this special trend workshop, Philip Fimmano will share insights from the fashion and interiors world that can help creatives in the arts anticipate change and socio-cultural shifts. During these challenging times, Philip will also unpack how we can use intuition and hope as tools for storytelling, connecting and reimagining the future.

The session upends the idea that trends are passing fads, instead exploring them as long-term phenomena embedded in society and anthropology. Topics range from the rediscovery of one’s inner child and analogue thinking to the impact of technology on amplifying all that is human-centred and handmade. Venice is also reinterpreted as a fresh source of ideas for costume and décor.

Illustrating the connections between culture, design and the performing arts, Philip will invite audiences to find inspiration beyond their usual sectors, with time for questions and discussion.

Participants are welcome to stay for light refreshments and drinks after the session.

Proposed Learning Outcomes

Understand trend forecasting through a socio-cultural lens; recognise longer-term cultural shifts; explore intuition and hope in creative practice; connect fashion, textiles, set and costume design with other artforms; identify new sources of creative inspiration.

Philip Fimmano is an Australian-born, Paris-based analyst and consultant at Trend Union, working in research and strategy for international companies in fashion, textiles, interiors and lifestyle. 

As a curator, he has produced exhibitions for museums and cultural institutions including the Arnhem Fashion Biennale, Lille Métropole 2020 International Design Capital, 21_21 Design SIGHT in Tokyo and Artipelag in Stockholm. In 2011, Philip co-founded Talking Textiles with Li Edelkoort, an initiative promoting awareness and innovation in textiles through touring exhibitions, publications, a design prize and free educational programmes. 

He is co-author of A Labour of Love (2020) and Inner Child: Playing with Design (2026), and co-founder of the World Hope Forum, an online platform for creative community building and sustainable practice. Philip serves on the boards of New York Textile Month, F.I.T.’s Textile Department, the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, Xtant festival in Mallorca and the Rupa Foundation in Mumbai.

Websites:
XTANT
Textile Month New York
Lidewij Edelkoort

Who is this for?

Artists and creative workers across design, performance, visual arts, fashion, costume, set design, direction, writing, film, music and communications.

Image: A House For Essex - ROSE Builders

Artist-2-Artist is Brand X's program of peer-to-peer training for artists and creatives to build the practical skills required to work as a freelance multidisciplinary professional. The program aims to foster self-reliance and self-determination for the sector by skill-sharing technical knowledge in different fields of the creative industry.

Did you know Artist Pass Holders get free or discounted access to all Artist-2-Artist workshops?

The Brand X Artist Pass is an annual subscription program designed for artists and arts organisations, giving you access to an array of exclusive benefits - including complimentary entry to all Artist-2-Artist in-person and on demand workshops.

An individual Artist Pass is just $20 a year, less than the cost of a single workshop!

• Train: Town Hall Station 2-minute walk.

• Light Rail: 2-5 minute walk from light rail platforms

• Metro: Gadigal Station is a 1 minute walk from the Bathurst Street exit/entrance

• Bus: 5 minute walk from Elizabeth Street, Stand C and D

• Car: Wilson Parking, 14 Wilmot St, Sydney or Meriton Suite Parking, 100 Bathurst St, Sydney

Register for a building tour:

Email programs@brandx.org at least 4 days before the event to organise a tour of City of Sydney Creative Studios. We’ll meet you 30 minute before the session starts and show you our Performance, Music, Digital and Visual Arts spaces.

We welcome all visitors to City of Sydney Creative Studios.

If you have access requirements, please add your accessibility requirements during the booking process. This includes booking companion card tickets. 

A Brand X team member may be in touch to ensure we understand your requirements. If you require an interpreter, or would like to contact someone about access, please email Dean Nash (Accessibility Coordinator) at access@brandx.org.au.

Community tickets:

We offer free tickets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people experiencing financial hardship. To access these tickets please email marketing@brandx.org.au for a no questions asked spot (unless sold out).

Want to cancel your ticket? Please email us at programs@brandx.org no less than 24 hours prior to workshop commencement. We can refund your tickets minus transaction fees of 1.75% + 30c.

This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and the City of Sydney Creative Studios.