Three students from LABASAD showcase their talent at OFFF Barcelona 2025, participating in the exhibition “The Next of Us”

From 8 to 10 May, LABASAD shone at OFFF Barcelona 2025 as an Educational Sponsor, actively participating in one of the world’s most significant events in art, creativity, and digital design. With over 5,000 attendees from 85 countries, this edition turned Barcelona into the global epicentre of visual innovation. Within this context, our stand established itself as one of the most acclaimed and busiest spaces for visitors.

One of the most outstanding initiatives we were privileged to take part in was the project The Next of Us (NXT), a carefully curated exhibition showcasing works from students selected by the leading design schools in Barcelona. This platform not only displayed the creations of the next generation of emerging talents but also offered pitching sessions, providing students with the opportunity to present themselves and connect directly with the professional design community.

In this initiative, three LABASAD students, Paddy Collins, Laura Molina and Martina Morató, represented the school with their final Master’s projects, demonstrating the remarkable talent being nurtured in our virtual classrooms.

Paddy Collins, a student on the Online Master’s in Motion Graphics, presented a piece notable for its deep conceptual weight and flawless technical execution: The Circle of Everything. This abstract animation reflects on life, death, and rebirth through the metaphor of a continuous cycle. With an immersive aesthetic and an emotionally charged narrative rhythm, the work invites viewers to contemplate the circular nature of human existence and everything around us: relationships, ideas, even objects.

The project excels in the coherence between content and form. It not only addresses circularity thematically but also reflects this concept throughout the creative process: Paddy used his own resources, wrote the script, designed, animated, and selected his father as the voice-over narrator, reinforcing the intimate and emotional character of the piece.

The Circle of Everything is more than an impeccable technical exercise; it is a piece that engages with a broader cultural conversation about how we understand endings and new beginnings. It encourages us to find meaning “not only in permanence but in the continuous movement of existence.”

Paddy comments emotionally: “Being selected as one of LABASAD’s students for OFFF was an incredible honour. It was a fantastic opportunity to present my project as part of The Next of Us and see my work exhibited alongside such inspiring talents. It was thrilling and nerve-wracking at the same time, but ultimately, a very rewarding experience that allowed me to meet amazing people and see astonishing work.”

Laura Molina presented Pao Lamp, a 3D animation project developed within LABASAD’s Máster Online en Motion Graphics con After Effects y Cinema 4D in Spanish. Her proposal is based on the “Pao” lamp, designed by Naoto Fukasawa and inspired by traditional Mongolian tents, renowned for casting a warm, welcoming light in the darkness.

The animation transposes this idea to a desert setting, featuring a photorealistic aesthetic, natural lighting, and a warm colour palette. The visual narrative unfolds at a slow, immersive pace, designed to highlight the serenity and elegance of the original design.

Laura shares her experience: “Participating in The Next of Us and a renowned festival like OFFF, surrounded by so many professionals I admire, made me feel proud, inspired, and motivated to keep exploring and growing as a professional. Beyond visibility, the most valuable aspect has been the confidence this experience has given me: it reaffirmed that I want to keep creating, believe in my ideas, and take them seriously as part of my professional journey.”

Martina Morató, a student on the Máster Online en Diseño WEB y APP: UX/UI in Spanish, presented CanTothom, an application designed to promote social inclusion and strengthen bonds between migrants and local communities. Its approach is based on establishing reciprocal relationships that benefit all parties through exchange and collaboration.

The primary aim of the app is to connect people and communities by facilitating access to key resources such as support tools, job offers, useful information, and cultural events. All of this is provided through a clear, intuitive, and user-friendly interface that integrates all services into a single accessible platform.

CanTothom fosters mutual learning among diverse cultures and experiences, actively contributing to building a stronger, more cohesive, and inclusive society, where each individual can find their place and participate actively in community life.

Martina expresses that “it has been a very positive experience, and I am grateful to the school for the opportunity to enter the professional design scene.”

During the preparation of their presentations, the students benefited from mentorship by Júlia Solans, a renowned illustrator and graphic designer, and instructor in the Máster Online en Dirección de Arte en Comunicación and the Máster Online en Ilustración Editorial y Publicitaria in Spanish.

Júlia not only helped them structure their presentations with precision but also provided tools to gain confidence, manage nerves, sell their projects, and defend their ideas in public. “Júlia was fantastic. She helped perfect my presentation and remove the boring parts (which is difficult to do alone). She shared advice on how to connect with the audience and helped us find the ‘why’ behind what we were presenting,” Paddy remarks.

Undoubtedly, initiatives like The Next of Us and events of OFFF’s calibre are the perfect springboard for young designers to make the leap onto the international stage, transforming ideas into projects that not only impress but also inspire and create real impact.

At LABASAD, we will continue supporting, training, and celebrating the talent of our students, who are destined to transform the visual and social world through design.