Dear friends,
There is something inherently cinematic about watching the world blur past a train window. Last year, the Copenhagen-based think tank 21st Europe unveiled Starline, a bold vision for high-speed travel across the continent. Today, this vision is taking shape in the real world through European Sleeper, which is currently establishing a new network of overnight routes that make the 'slow journey' feel like the only way to travel.
The numbers speak for themselves. Taking the train instead of flying is the most climate-conscious choice a creative can make: taking a night train from Amsterdam to Berlin produces 92% less CO₂ than flying the same route. There’s also the logistical poetry of it: you fall asleep in one city and wake up in another, effectively turning your travel time into a hotel stay and saving a full day of 'transit fatigue'.
The Creative's Commute
If you're planning your 2026 festival circuit, the sleeper train is your best ally. Heading to Us by Night in Antwerp from Prague, Dresden or Berlin? The 18:00 departure gets you into Antwerp by 08:45 — just a 15-minute stroll from the venue — all for under €60. To Berlin: If you're planning to attend Hatch Conference (starting in around 200 days), booking your rail ticket early often means paying half the price of a flight ticket.
For those of you who like to crunch the numbers, Eco Passenger is an invaluable tool for comparing the environmental impact of your journey. And if you're rushing to an event in London at the last minute this week, Trainline remains the gold standard for navigating the UK's complex rail network.
If you're interested in finding out which conferences are taking place in around 100 days' time, I've compiled a The 100-Day Horizon to help you start planning and perhaps secure a ticket at the early bird price.
Happy Neon Monday,
Thomas
AGENDA
Tuesday 10 March, 7-9.30pm · London, UK
With Veronika Burian, co-founder TypeTogether. The evening will also feature a talk by Richard Ardagh about his book Type Archived, followed by a brief presentation by Theo Hersey about The Typography Workshop.
12 March, from 1 pm to 5:30 pm, at VodafoneZiggo kantoor Utrecht, Utrecht:
Human Centered Design Festival | Thema: Transities
12 - 18 Mar · Austin, USA
South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual event that features a combination of film, interactive media and music festivals and conferences, all organised in one place.
26 - 27 March, Prague, Czech Republic
Immerse yourself in a world of groundbreaking visual creations, inspiring lectures and thought-provoking discussions. A must-visit for creatives and anyone seeking inspiration and originality. Speakers include Private Island, Lucas Gutierrez, Will MacNeil and Andstudio.
26 March, from 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm, at St Bride Foundation, London:
TypoCircle Presents: Book Club! Rejane, Richard, Nigel and Henrik in convo
31 March, Breda, Netherlands
Voices in Type Assembly is the international closing conference of the Characters project. Voices in Type. In this project, Graphic Matters explores how typography can function as a cultural, social and political force, together with Vocal Type and Civilisation.
31 March, Ostend, Belgium
The first edition of UBN FOCUS took place during The Crystal Ship, Ostend's renowned contemporary street art festival on the Belgian coast. UBN FOCUS brings together four of UBN's favourite discoveries: These are Lydia Roberts, Bráulio Amado, Isabel and Helen, and SO-ME.
Sponsored
Filter Upcoming Conferences & Festivals
Filter on continent
Asia
Europe
North America
South America
Oceania
Africa
Middle East
Online
The 100-Day Horizon
Looking to secure an early bird discount? Here are a few standout events happening in roughly 100 days (mid-June) that are well worth the booking
Event | Location | Dates | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
Paris 🇫🇷 | 30 May | Typography & Graphic Design | |
Berlin 🇩🇪 | 9 - 12 Jun | Digital experiences | |
Birmingham 🇬🇧 | 10 - 12 Jun | Graphic design, illustration, digital, product, and beyond. | |
Edinburgh 🇬🇧 | 10 - 11 Jun | UX Design | |
Frankfurt 🇩🇪 | 11 - 12 Jun | Mix of design, creativity, and visual storytelling | |
Bielefeld 🇩🇪 | 12 Jun | Corporate and brand identity | |
New York City 🇺🇸 | 12 Jun | Innovation and UX | |
Brisbane 🇦🇺 | 17 - 19 Jun | Melting pot of ideas, creativity, and inspiration. | |
Bristol 🇬🇧 | 19 Jun | Practical design and front end topics. | |
San Francisco 🇺🇸 | 23 - 25 Jun | Figma | |
Hamburg 🇩🇪 | 26 Jun | Product Design |
Open calls
If you life in Tokyo, this open call could be for you? Design Matters is looking for talks or workshops in the design areas: product, UX/UI, game, content, brand, service, motion, front-end, visual, and future. No fee. Submit here. Deadline 31 March.
