Cotton received two major honors this year for our work with Eternal Research, winning a Wood Pencil in the “Use of AI and Technology” category, notably, the only award given in the category, and a Graphite Pencil for “Brand Identity Refresh, Small Team (<10 People),” the highest distinction awarded there this year. 

Judges included Teemu Suviala (Global Chief Creative Officer of Landor), Akiko Sekimoto (Graphic Designer & Creative Director at HIDAMARI), Shannon Jager (Design Director at OpenAI), Gilles Deleris (Founder & Executive Director of W Conran Design), Melissa Baillache (Executive Creative Director of Koto), Tina Touli (Creative Director at Tina Touli Design), Chon Hin Au (Graphic Designer & Creative Director at Untitled Macao), and Becky Wixon (Head of Strategy of Maison Mercury Jones).

These awards are especially meaningful because they recognize both conceptual ambition and executional craft. Huge thanks to Eternal Research for trusting us to build something ambitious and deeply considered together.

Cotton awarded two D&AD pencils, including highest honor for small-team brand refresh

Talia Cotton will take the stage as a keynote speaker at Interface Québec 2026, a leading gathering for creatives and technologists shaping the future of digital culture. Held May 26–28 in Québec City, the three-day event brings together a global community of designers, developers, marketers, and innovators for a dynamic program of talks, workshops, and shared experiences.

Rooted in the legacy of Web à Québec, Interface has quickly established itself as a vital platform for exchange across disciplines, exploring topics ranging from design and communication to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The 2026 edition will feature a wide-ranging lineup of speakers from Québec and beyond, including leaders from organizations such as Chantal Cox of 

, alongside independent creatives and industry voices shaping contemporary practice.

As a keynote speaker, Talia will present on the evolving role of design as a connective system—one that bridges identity, culture, and technology in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Drawing from her work at Cotton Design, her talk will explore how designers can create expressive, adaptive frameworks that move beyond static branding to support storytelling, interaction, and long-term resonance.

Joining a program of over 60 talks and daily community programming, Talia’s keynote contributes to Interface’s mission of fostering meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and experimentation, offering new perspectives on how design can shape both industry and culture at large.

Talia Cotton Announced as a Keynote Speaker at Interface Québec 2026

Talia Cotton is delighted to judge for the prestigious D&AD Awards, joining an international panel of leading creatives to evaluate outstanding work across design and advertising. Recognized globally for celebrating excellence and setting industry benchmarks, the awards bring together top voices to identify and honor the most innovative ideas of the year. Cotton’s participation reflects her continued contribution to the field and her perspective on thoughtful, concept-driven design.

Talia Cotton joins D&AD as Judge, Writing for Design

Cotton won the Silver Cube for Eternal Research, under the Brand/Communication Design - Innovation category and Merit for Branding Systems/Identities - Digital category.

The One Club for Creativity Awards are widely regarded within the creative industry as one of the most prestigious honors in design and advertising, known especially for recognizing work that pushes conceptual, craft, and artistic boundaries rather than simply commercial success.

Rooted in the intricacy of Victorian ornamentation yet powered by advanced generative code, Eternal Research balances precision with experimentation—an homage to old-world elegance paired with a love for innovation. The system reflects the company’s belief that music-making is both a meticulous and exploratory act: deliberate and slow, yet expressive and experimental.

Winners are celebrated at Capitale in New York City. 

Cotton Wins Silver Cube at the ADC 105th Annual Awards for Eternal Research

Talia Cotton will join the stage at FITC Toronto 2026, one of the leading gatherings for digital creators working across design, technology, and creative innovation. Taking place April 27–28 in Toronto, this year’s conference marks FITC’s 25th anniversary and centers on the theme of “rebirth,” inviting speakers and attendees to reflect on foundational creative principles in an era shaped by rapid technological change.

Bringing together a diverse lineup of internationally recognized artists, designers, and technologists, including 

, FITC continues its legacy of fostering dialogue at the intersection of creativity and emerging tools. The two-day program spans talks, discussions, and community-driven programming designed to inspire and challenge practitioners across disciplines.

Talia’s presentation will explore the evolving role of design as both a system and a storytelling medium—bridging identity, technology, and cultural context. Drawing from her work at Cotton Design, she will reflect on how designers can move beyond surface-level aesthetics to build adaptive, expressive systems that respond to a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

As part of a program that celebrates experimentation, craft, and critical thinking, Talia’s talk contributes to a broader conversation about what it means to create with intention today—and how revisiting core principles can unlock new possibilities for the future of design.

Talia Cotton to Speak at FITC Toronto 2026

Talia Cotton will speak at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture as part of its Design and Illustration Speaker Series, joining a longstanding program that brings leading voices in design and creative practice to engage directly with students. Based in Philadelphia and part of Temple University, Tyler is recognized for its interdisciplinary approach across art, architecture, and design, fostering a dynamic environment for emerging creatives.

Hosted for students across graphic and interactive design disciplines, the talk continues Tyler’s commitment to connecting its academic community with practitioners working at the forefront of contemporary design. The speaker series regularly features a range of designers, artists, and educators whose work spans visual identity, digital systems, and experimental media—offering students insight into both industry and evolving creative methodologies.

In her presentation, Talia will share insights into her practice at Cotton, focusing on the intersection of branding, technology, and data-driven design. Drawing from her experience building identities through custom code and adaptive systems, she will explore how designers can move beyond static outputs to create work that evolves, responds, and communicates across contexts.

As both a practitioner and educator, Talia’s talk reflects an ongoing dialogue between professional practice and the classroom—encouraging students to think critically about authorship, systems, and the expanding role of design today.

Cotton awarded two D&AD pencils, including highest honor for small-team brand refresh

Talia Cotton Announced as a Keynote Speaker at Interface Québec 2026