Nearly 300 design professionals from over 30 countries gathered in Almería, Spain, for this year's C Next Designers convention, hosted by surface design brand Cosentino. The multi-day industry event took place in Cantoria in October and marked the third edition of the annual gathering focused on emerging trends and innovations in interior design.
The convention featured a comprehensive program of roundtables, panels, and keynote speeches held at multiple venues, including Cosentino's headquarters, the Cabogata Beach Hotel, and the PITA innovation park. Renowned creative professionals and design brands participated in the event, including representatives from Dornbracht, Expormim, Vibia, and Gaggenau. Notable speakers included Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis and Iker Ochotorena, founder of architecture studio OOAA.
"Almería has become these days the European epicenter of the interior design industry thanks to Cosentino," the company stated. The convention was carefully structured around various discussion formats, with Sabine Marcelis delivering the keynote speech during Monday's session, which was primarily held at Cosentino's headquarters in Cantoria.
One of the event's highlights was a focused discussion on luxury residential design, held at the PITA innovation park and moderated by Dezeen's editorial director Max Fraser. The panel featured insights from Ochotorena alongside fellow participants Andreea Cebud, founder of C'est Design, Sascha Bialoian, head of global channel management at Dornbracht, and interior designer Raz Melame.
Beyond the formal presentations, this year's event showcased a series of exhibits at the Cabogata Beach Hotel in El Toyo, curated by participating brands. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in workshops designed to showcase local crafts, adding a regional cultural dimension to the international gathering.
The timing of C Next Designers coincided with Cosentino's launch of its latest collection, Éclos. This new line features mineral surfaces specifically designed for kitchen and bathroom countertops, composed of more than 50 percent recycled materials. The collection is crafted using the brand's innovative Inlayr technology, a manufacturing process that layers materials to create a natural appearance while ensuring heat resistance.
Cosentino, a family-owned company specializing in surfaces for architecture and design, has seen significant success with its European editions of C Next Designers. Building on this momentum, the company has expanded the event format to include the Middle East region, demonstrating the growing global interest in design innovation and industry collaboration.
