Some events simply happen. Others leave a mark.
Expomebel 2026 was one of the latter.
This year marked the 20th edition of the exhibition — not just as a milestone, but as a natural continuation of a platform that brings together ideas, people, and directions. From March 31 to April 3, Inter Expo Center in Sofia became a meeting point for the entire sector — with over 240 exhibitors from Bulgaria and abroad, hundreds of brands, and thousands of visitors connected to furniture manufacturing and interior design.
Together with the parallel Technomebel exhibition, the event once again demonstrated the true scale of the industry — from materials and technologies to completed interior solutions and emerging market directions.
For us at Love 2 Design, this was not just another date in the calendar, but a space for meetings, conversations, and new perspectives.
Expomebel once again showed how design moves beyond projects and into the real world — into materials, forms, technologies, and above all, into dialogue. Between studios, manufacturers, architects, clients. Between experience and curiosity.
And it is exactly this dialogue that brought us there once again.
Where we met
You could find us at booth A2, Hall 3.
Not just as a presence, but as an open invitation to connect.
We designed the space as a meeting point — with a clear, calm atmosphere that encourages natural conversation. Soft lighting, natural materials, and details that don’t dominate, but leave space for the people within it.
A central feature was the installation above the table — an element that drew attention while setting the tone. We aimed for a balance between recognizability and lightness, between form and feeling — the same balance we pursue in our work.
The meeting area quickly became the natural center of the stand — a place where conversations start easily and often last longer than expected.
More than one presence
This year, it felt like we were present in more than one place. Alongside our own stand, we were also involved in creating additional spaces within the exhibition.
Each project had its own specifics, but the approach remained the same — attention to detail and a search for solutions that respond to context and client needs.
The Design Heartbeat 2026: when conversation matters more than presentation
As part of the exhibition, we also hosted our own event:
The Design Heartbeat 2026 — a one-hour gathering that brought together designers, studios, partners, clients, and anyone interested in how design actually happens today.
It wasn’t a lecture.
It wasn’t a presentation.
It was a conversation — one that didn’t avoid the difficult questions.
We explored topics that many in the industry feel, but rarely articulate openly:
– Where is the line between aesthetics and functionality?
– What really stands behind “world-class design”?
– How is recognition achieved, and what role do competitions play?
– How is automation changing the way we work?
The format was dynamic — focused on real examples, practical perspectives, and exchange.
What happened during the event
The session unfolded through several short, focused segments:
Aesthetics vs. functionality
A debate that will likely never be settled.
Suzan Pars and Emil Lichev took opposing sides — not to deliver a final answer, but to reveal how delicate the balance really is.
Design and recognition
Vasil Velchev shared first-hand experience as both a designer and a long-time jury member in international competitions — offering practical insights, real criteria, and less mythology.
Technology in practice
Dimitar Radev from ITS introduced AutoLayout.pro — a SketchUp tool that automates documentation, increases efficiency, and frees up time for the actual creative work.
With a live demonstration and a clear, practical focus.
And as is often the case, the most valuable moments happened beyond the sessions — in the questions, the conversations that followed, and the different perspectives in the room.
What we take with us
After every event like this, one thing becomes clear: design is not just an outcome.
It is a process shaped by the people within it — through ideas, shared experience, and well-placed questions.
Expomebel 2026 gave us exactly that — new perspectives, conversations that continue beyond the exhibition, and topics we will keep exploring.
To everyone we met — thank you.
Some conversations end at the exhibition. Others are just beginning.
