Learning from mistakes to keep on creating. For one day, IDarte’s Glassroom filled with new perspectives thanks to a visit from Filip Claes, a lecturer at Thomas More University (Belgium).
Under the title “Failing”, the 1st- and 2nd-year students of Barne Diseinua joined the lecturer in a shared reflection on mistakes within creative processes. Throughout the session they explored one central idea: that failures are not defeat, but necessary steps along the path of design, opportunities to learn and improve.
Encounters like this one help students understand design from a different perspective: realising that the process matters as much as the result, and that mistakes too hold great value in creative work.
This experience was made possible by the Erasmus+ programme, which brings international teachers and viewpoints to our school without students having to travel. Eskerrik asko, Filip, for reminding us that failing is just another way of learning.
The project developed by Raquel Peñaranda as her Final Degree Project in Interior Design at IDarte proposes a new way of understanding common spaces within collective housing. Beyond being mere transit areas, the proposal seeks to turn them into places designed for sharing, connecting and building community.
The project is located in the La Merced building in Arrasate-Mondragón and has been developed in collaboration with ISEA as part of a KSIgune grant. The intervention puts forward an intergenerational cohousing model capable of responding to different ways of living and coexisting, taking into account the needs of people of different ages and profiles.
The proposal is based on a modular system inspired by wooden cubes, which makes it possible to create flexible, dynamic spaces that adapt to a range of uses. Through natural materials, accessible pathways and a warm, sustainable atmosphere, the project focuses on wellbeing, inclusion and the relationships between people.
Beyond its architectural and functional dimension, the work reflects on the social role of design and on how spaces can influence the way we live together and relate to one another.
To learn more about the project’s design and development process, IDarte has recorded a special podcast episode with Raquel Peñaranda. The conversation explores the origin of the proposal, the experience of working on a real project and the decisions that shaped the development of the work.
In November, second-year students from the Illustration programme visited the Aroztegi Hall in Bergara to see the exhibition of Fernando Baptista, an internationally recognised scientific illustrator. The exhibition was organised by the Laboratorium museum.
During the visit, students were able to immerse themselves in the professional field of scientific illustration, reflecting on creative processes and learning about the development of professional work. As part of their studies, students create an infographic based on the Green Belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz, so the exhibition gave them the opportunity to understand how a professional scientific infographic is developed and produced.
The visit concluded at the K3 printing house, where students experienced another real context of industrial graphic production. They were able to learn about the process through which digital work becomes a printed product.
It was an enriching experience that allowed students to better understand the professional world and the realities of the sector.
From 19 to 23 January, third-year Interior Design students enrolled in the Home Staging course took part in the refurbishment of the library at Arriagako Haritza Public School in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
This initiative was launched in response to a broader need identified within the public school system and emerged from the collaboration between the teaching teams of both institutions. The primary aim was to transform the library into a more attractive, functional space tailored to the real needs of its students. The project sought to encourage greater use of the library and to turn it into an inspiring environment for reading and learning. An initial meeting with the school allowed to gain first-hand insight into its expectations and specific requirements.
During the design phase, the students were divided into four groups, each developing a distinct proposal. This approach enabled the school to assess a range of solutions before selecting the option that best aligned with its objectives. It also ensured a broad and diverse exploration of potential interventions.
After several weeks of development and the formal presentation of the proposals, one proposal was ultimately selected for its strong visual concept and practical effectiveness. The selected concept draws inspiration from the universe and outer space, incorporating elements such as rockets, planets and galaxies. Blue color serves as the project’s unifying thread, creating a calm atmosphere that supports concentration while giving the space a stronger sense of character and personality. The proposal also prioritised sustainability through the reuse of existing furniture, which was reorganised and adapted with paint and targeted interventions to enhance both its functionality and visual appeal.
During the implementation week, the IDarte students once again worked in coordinated teams, each responsible for specific tasks: door painting, carpentry work, interventions in the main library room and the redesign of the access corridor. The school’s own pupils also took part in creating some of the decorative elements, further reinforcing the collaborative nature of the project.
This project provided a valuable opportunity to engage with a real commission, addressing every stage of the process, from initial concept development to final execution. At the same time, it allowed the students to collaborate with the school community and to contribute to the creation of a thoughtfully designed, stimulating space where children can grow, imagine and learn.
In the 67th edition of ZINEBI, the International Festival of Documentary and Short Film of Bilbao, inaugurated on November 21, the Euskadi Public School of Art and Design (IDarte) plays an active role in the creation of the official short opening film for the Beautiful Docks documentary section.
The project was initiated by screenwriter and director Pedro Rivero, head of ZINEBI’s Animation Lab (ZAL), who invited animator, director, and producer Sonia Estévez to lead the creation. For the development process, Estévez worked closely with second-year students from IDarte’s Animation program, involving them in a creative and professionally enriching experience.
he animation piece is conceived as a poetic reflection on the value of archives and the passage of time. Throughout the various stages of the project, students Estefanía Quilchano, Kamila Rodríguez, and Sofía Velasco constructed a handcrafted scale model: an immersive space that invites the viewer in through a rustic, heavy door—symbolizing access to other realities and shared memory.
The work was created using Stop Motion techniques, with additional use of Pixilation. Stop Motion involves frame-by-frame animation using physical objects, while Pixilation employs real people to create a staggered or mechanical movement effect. Together, these techniques bring a textured, organic aesthetic to the piece, evoking artistic gesture and the traces of time.
IDarte’s Photography program also contributed to the project. Students Ane Machicote, Garoa Zubikaray, Lucía Flores, and Jone Carbajosa generously shared their photographic work, which, together with a visual archive provided by artist Gorka Salmerón, served as the visual foundation for the animation—enhancing its atmosphere and depth.
IDarte extends its heartfelt thanks to Estefanía, Sofía, and Kamila for their dedication and artistic sensitivity, and to Sonia Estévez for her creative leadership and for involving the school in this inspiring project blending education, creativity, and visual experimentation.
On Friday, October 10th, we celebrated a very special day at IDarte: a session dedicated to sharing experiences related to the Final Degree Project (TFE) in Interior Design. The idea originated from one of our students and soon evolved into an initiative that brought together different generations in a space for learning and dialogue.
Throughout the morning, three graduates from last school year, Julia García Jorrillo, Maitane Monasterio Rodríguez and Jone Jarit Irizar, returned to IDarte to share firsthand how they experienced the TFE process: from the early stages of research and conceptual development to the final presentation before the project committee.
Their presentations sparked great interest among third- and fourth-year students, who were able to ask questions and compare their own concerns with the experiences of those who had recently completed the same stage. For those starting their Final Project this year, the talks provided a realistic and motivating perspective; for third-year students, it was a valuable opportunity to begin looking ahead to their final school year with greater clarity and confidence.
A coffee break was arranged, which turned out to be one of the most enriching moments of the day. In a relaxed atmosphere, students engaged in informal conversations, asked questions, and shared their thoughts more freely. Meanwhile, a selection of last year’s projects was exhibited in the coffee area, allowing participants to explore different examples and appreciate the diversity of approaches that a Final Degree Project in Interior Design can take.
The experience proved to be highly rewarding for both the guest speakers and the attending students. The event strengthened the sense of community and support that defines our school, creating a space where knowledge sharing goes beyond the classroom and thrives through collaboration and lived experience. This reaffirmed that exchanging experiences is one of the most meaningful ways to learn and to inspire the next generations of interior designers currently studying at IDarte.
