Paradiso is here to bring intimacy and rawness to otherwise “overwhelming” design events

Cram into staid exhibition halls with bad acoustics and listen to the same old names presenting the same old deck – if you’ve been to one big design event, you’ve been to them all, right? Well, Paradiso, a new creative festival in Yucatán, Mexico, is aiming to upturn some of these tired cliches. Billed as a “creative retreat like no other”, the five-day experience hopes to offer visitors some respite from the grind of deadlines, notifications and endless productivity. Instead, it focuses heavily on human connection, the serendipity of unplanned conversations, and rediscovering your creative spark.

Paradiso founder Héctor Ayuso is taking a risk with this project, because he believes, lately, most people are looking for something very different from design events. “Creative festivals have shifted dramatically,” he tells It’s Nice That. In the last few years, he says the tried-and-tested formula of passive talks, “overwhelming” schedules, big names “too often the same ones” doing polished talks, followed by awkward networking drinks, just isn’t cutting it any more. Mass burnout and a global reset in the pandemic “have made creatives prioritise experiences that feel more human, meaningful, craving intimacy, connection and real engagement,” Héctor says. “The focus has moved from ‘how many talks can we cram in’ to ‘how can we genuinely connect with other peers?’ Festivals must evolve to reflect this, becoming spaces to recharge, have fun, and not just to consume.”

Héctor isn’t saying all design events are completely broken, far from it. But he does pose the provocation: they could be so much more. “Why not rethink, as curators, how and why we do things. Break some rules. Why not just serve people truthful, honest, unexpected, more innovative and risky experiences? The creative industry doesn’t need bigger stages and/or impressive setups; it needs spaces where ideas can breathe, where conversations go beyond ‘what do you do?’”

Film below by Codea Studio for Paradiso

A great concept, but how will this play out in reality? Firstly, the festival is small with just 100 tickets, and intends to blur the lines between attendee and speaker wherever possible. Not that it’s about the names (as Héctor as already urged) but the line-up (also a banned term) is incredible. All these people will partake in a programme designed around energising mornings exploring the beautiful surroundings of Mérida – snorkeling, walks to cenotes, ruins, beaches and local markets, and lots more. The setting has been purposely chosen because, Héctor says, it’s a city that moves at its own pace, invites reflection and connection, is rich with history, culture and creativity, and where life feels tangible. Also, it’s not that easy to get to – “it requires effort… but change happens when you step out of your routines. Going to Paradiso isn’t just about showing up, it’s about making a commitment to yourself.”