RUFA takes part in ARF! Festival 2026 with live sketching sessions and talks dedicated to comics and illustration. Admission is free.
From 29 to 31 May 2026, RUFA will take part in the 12th edition of ARF! Festival del Fumetto, one of the most important events dedicated to the world of comics, illustration and contemporary visual culture.
For this new edition, ARF! becomes a city-wide festival spanning several locations across Rome — from Testaccio to Garbatella and Piazza Navona — with a programme entirely free of charge.
RUFA will be present with two activities involving students and lecturers from the BA programme in Graphic Design – Comics and Illustration: live sketching sessions open to the public and a talk dedicated to graphic design for comics and illustration.
Live Sketching powered by RUFA
From 29 to 31 May, at Casetta Rossa in Garbatella, RUFA students will take centre stage in a series of live sketching sessions, during which visitors will be able to observe the creative process, drawing techniques and the visual construction of illustrated works in real time. The students will also be available to talk about their educational path and answer any questions from the public.
The artists involved will be: Annalisa Borgo, Maria Furlotti, Elena Musto, Leonardo Mannelli, Cécile Barailler, Elisa Pierro.
Talk powered by RUFA – “GRAPHIC BEGINS”
with Giulio Fermetti and Claudio Spuri
On 30 May at 4:30 pm, at Moby Dick in Garbatella, the RUFA-powered talk entitled:
GRAPHIC BEGINS.
Essential graphic design for illustration and comics
An event designed for those who dream of working in the world of comics and illustration and wish to approach graphic design as a tool for presenting and promoting their work.
Through examples, experiences and reflections on contemporary visual language, the talk will explore the fundamental principles of graphic composition: grid systems, typography management, reading hierarchies and essential tools for creating effective, readable and professional layouts.
The session will be led by RUFA lecturers:
Giulio Fermetti
A professional graphic designer since 1989, he mainly works in editorial design and brand identity. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with newspapers, magazines and book publishers, combining professional practice with teaching. Since 2018, he has been teaching Graphic Design and Computer Graphics at RUFA.
Claudio Spuri
Art Director and Graphic Designer, he develops Communication Design projects ranging from editorial design and exhibition design to illustration and unconventional communication. Since 2008, he has been teaching visual communication at both public and private academies.
Following the talk, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the live sketching sessions will continue.
With its participation in ARF!, RUFA renews its dialogue with the contemporary comics and illustration scene, showcasing the work of its students and creating opportunities for direct exchange between education, professional practice and visual culture.