Month: June 2024

Imagine a city where every child’s voice is heard, where their ideas shape the spaces they play, learn, and grow in. This vision came to life at the Mikser Festival through the innovative “Designathon workshop: How to improve the space for free time using circular design?” workshop, part of the Next Gen Design program at Mikser Festival, Belgrade.

On the 25th of May, for three and a half hours at Dorcol Platz, the youngest residents of Belgrade, children between the ages of 12 and 15, gathered to rethink urban spaces using circular design principles. Our mission was clear: to empower children to envision their ideal spaces for free time in the city. The big question we posed: What would cities look like if children had a say in their creation?

With over one billion children living in urban areas worldwide, it’s crucial to understand their perspective. How do they navigate the lack of green spaces, traffic congestion, pollution, and the isolation of high-rise living? Our workshop aimed to uncover these insights and more.

A Journey of Creativity and Innovation

The Designathon workshop was a blend of guided conversation, hands-on design, and creative problem-solving. Children designed 3D models of their ideal spaces, recorded videos presenting the challenges they face, and explored the concept of circular design.

Using the Designathon method, rooted in design thinking and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, participants tackled environmental challenges through prototyping. Equipped with recycled materials, plaster, diverse paper types, and various glues, pens, and tools, they worked in small teams or individually to bring their visions to life.

As explained by Tijana Jovanović Petrović the mentor of the Next Gen Kids workshop,

“All the spaces in the city are either designed for adults or for very young children. So, we wanted to ask young people what they think and which spaces in their area can be improved to better suit their interests and needs for spending free time. We used the Designathon method for this. First, the children reflected on the topic of free time and how they currently spend it. They then researched how circular design could be applied to create spaces that follow its principles. This process allowed them to consider the needs of their surroundings and think about how their local areas could be improved.”

This transformative experience was brought to life by the KidHub team from Belgrade, who are champions of creative learning aimed at solving environmental and social challenges. Led by Tijana Jovanović Petrović, an expert in co-creative educational initiatives, the team guided children through the process of designing sustainable solutions for their communities.

The Designathon workshop at Mikser Festival is more than just an event—it is a movement. A movement towards cities that reflect the needs and dreams of their youngest residents. A movement that empowers the next generation to take an active role in creating a better world.

Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved with the Next Gen Design Project. Together, let us build a future where every child has a place to thrive and nourish creativity.

On May 24, 2024, the Mikser Festival in Belgrade played host to the first out of five engaging and transformative Next Gen master class. On this specific occasion the topic was Circular Design and the class was led by the Professor Jelena Matić from the Faculty of Forestry in Serbia. The event brought together 16 passionate, young designers both local and international for an afternoon of learning, innovation, and sustainable design practice.

A Dive into Circular Design

The objective of the master class was clear: to introduce the fundamental principles and practical applications of circular design, providing participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to implement sustainable practices into their future designs. The session was structured into four comprehensive parts, ensuring a balanced mix of theory and practice.

Session 1: Unpacking Circular Design

Professor Matić introduced the ten principles of circular design through a succinct lecture followed by a stimulating discussion. Topics included the selection and use of materials, circularity, easy disassembly, quality, and durability, among others. Participants shared real-world examples and exchanged ideas, enriching the learning experience with practical insights.

If you are interested into the Circular Design Principles and want to implement them into your designs follow here

Session 2: Tackling Real-World Challenges

The next session made young designers dive into real-world challenges, such as the massive waste of wooden chopsticks and leftover materials from laminate flooring production. Divided into groups, participants brainstormed innovative and sustainable solutions, applying their newly acquired knowledge to practical scenarios. The collaborative problem-solving exercise fostered critical thinking and creativity, leaving participants better equipped to handle sustainability challenges.

Session 3: Presentations and Reflections

The final session allowed each group to present their solutions, highlighting key features and principles. Constructive feedback from Professor Matić and peers provided valuable insights, enhancing the overall learning experience.

Interestingly, many groups leaned towards tech-based solutions, proposing the development of apps for co-sharing, collecting, and connecting resources rather than concrete design solutions to manage wooden waste and leftovers. This trend suggests a shift in focus among the new generation of designers, who appear to be more inclined towards leveraging technology for sustainable solutions.

This inclination towards tech-based approaches might indicate a broader trend in design thinking, where digital platforms and tools are seen as pivotal in addressing environmental challenges. As we look to the future, it will be fascinating to observe whether this tech orientation continues to dominate or if a balance between digital and tangible design solutions will emerge.

The master class concluded on a high note, leaving participants inspired and equipped with fresh perspectives on sustainable design. Only time will tell how these young designers will shape the future of circular design, but their innovative spirit and technologically adept approaches certainly hint at exciting possibilities ahead.

Let’s collectively disrupt the climate change timeline, stretching the landscapes in which we design for climate change beyond the 2030 and 2050 target years! With the help of a little bit of time travel, this speculative thinking workshop will create a space where participants can play with time to unleash their collective imagination and creativity. This workshop is geared at engaging the younger generation (under 35) in speculating on their futures, but anyone of any age is welcome to join.

In this workshop, participants will co-create visions for the future that accept the realities of climate change but create possible scenarios that we may just get excited about living in! These future scenarios will form the basis of a manifesto that will pose a question to the present and create potential pathways to the future. 

The workshop will also feature mini inspiration sessions from some of the keynote speakers to keep the creative juices flowing along with a few other surprises. To be announced experts will be in attendance to coach and mentor participants throughout their creation processes. 

Ultimately, this workshop will present participants with collaboration opportunities for the Next-Gen Europe project, which aims to encourage young designers to create, adopt and disseminate green and sustainable designs. By brainstorming challenges for future projects, the workshop and manifesto will inspire wider groups of people to restore, renew and revive our perspectives on our climate futures. Together we will deliver a powerful message expressing that collectively, we do have the agency to shape brighter futures.

Who?

Developed with design research agency STBY
Facilitators: Gustavo Nogueira de Menezes, Sophie Tendai Christiaens & Katy Barnard
Speaker: Natsai Audrey Chieza 

Where?

Location: Studio 1

This workshop is part of the NEXT GEN design programme funded by EU.

This breakout session is part of WDCD Live Amsterdam 2024. Join hundreds of creatives on 5 July, tickets are now available. 

If you live in Amsterdam, you might have seen the signs already. In just one month, hundreds of creatives, activists, policymakers and start-ups will meet in the city for the 12th edition of our annual festival. WDCD Live Amsterdam 2024 will take place at the beautiful Muziekgebouw and will feature a day-long programme of talks, workshops and exhibitions on design and climate justice.

Leading the conversation this year will be a line-up of rebellious thinkers, makers and doers from around the world, including Bobby Kolade (founder of BUZIGAHILL), Natsai Audrey Chieza (founder of Faber Futures) and Clive Russell (designer at Extinction Rebellion). Together, we’ll explore how creative activism can be a powerful tool for disruption—and learn from changemakers who are paving the way. Here, we break down everything you need to know about the event, from who you’ll see on the main stage to how to access the venue where the magic is happening.

What can we expect from the programme?

In a nutshell, there are three main components to this year’s festival. The first is a main stage programme featuring talks by leading figures in the creative industry; plus a string of performances to bring the crowd to their feet. In the afternoon, visitors will get to attend a breakout session of their choice; from a selection of smaller workshops and panel discussions on themes like cultural heritage, community-building and the role of new technologies. And finally, there’ll be a series of exhibitions and a circular showcase celebrating the 11 winners of the global Redesign Everything Challenge. Take your first look at the full timetable here.

Scenes from the main stage at WDCD Amsterdam 2022 and WDCD Mexico City 2023.

What are the main themes of the festival?

Right now, we are living in a critical time for climate action. Changing the course of the planetary crisis means saving all that we can, while building a new way of life that is regenerative and restorative by design. It also means telling better stories about the world than those who are destroying it, and imagining a future that is more sustainable, equitable and exciting than the past. During the festival, we’ll explore what this might look like in practice through the lens of three core themes.

In Designing for Climate Justice, we’ll explore how design can be a tool for resistance and collective liberation, learning from international speakers like graphic artist Edel Rodriguez and architect Afaina de Jong (AFARAI). The second theme — From Ancient Knowledge to Artificial Intelligence — is all about the changing role of new and old technologies in our search for social and environmental solutions. Here, expect to learn from cultural practitioners like Dirk-Jan Visser (New Horizon Initiative) and Henriette Waal (Atelier Luma) about how tradition and innovation meet in their work. Last but not least is Designing for the Circular Transition, a theme dedicated to the next generation of circular entrepreneurs, alongside industry leaders like René van Geer (Secrid). To keep reading about these themes, click here.

The exhibitions set a reflective tone for the rest of the event, which continued with a series of impulse lectures by creative experts. Director of Mikser, Maja Lalic, an architect and urban designer based in Belgrade, shared her insights on how young designers can contribute to sustainable futures. Her presentation emphasized NextGenDesign as great opportunity for young people in Europe to connect and learn about forward-thinking design.

Which breakout sessions should I attend?

Breakout sessions are designed to give festival attendees the chance to connect and collaborate in smaller groups. Some formats are more hands-on than others, like the Diving Deep Labs which will invite you to workshop ideas around specific themes related to the main stage programme. For those who prefer something a little more reflective, Urgent Conversations will give participants the room to discuss critical issues with guest experts from the Dutch design world and beyond. There will also be a special Networking Session with the winners of the Redesign Everything Challenge, where visitors can swap business cards and meet other movers and shakers in the circular innovation space.

Whichever session takes your fancy, make sure to register your interest before the festival on 5 July, as seats per breakout will be limited. It will be possible to register on the day, as long as there is still place. Keep an eye on this page for more information on the sign-up process.

Who are the winners of the Redesign Everything Challenge?

The Redesign Everything Challenge is a global competition organised by WDCD in partnership with the IKEA Foundation. It was launched in January 2024 to find and celebrate some of the world’s most creative climate solutions. From an incredible 557 submissions worldwide, 11 promising projects have now been selected as winners. During the festival, visitors will get the chance to hear from these winners as they present their projects on the main stage, and through a special exhibition and networking session elsewhere in the programme.

Will there be other opportunities to chat and mingle?

Yes! There will be exhibition spaces open throughout the day alongside breaks for coffee and lunch. All attendees are also invited to join a closing reception at the Muziekgebouw from about 18:00 onwards. One free drink is included with every ticket!

Where can I learn more about the venue?

For this year’s festival, we’re back in the iconic Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam. This impressive concert hall is a 15-minute walk or a quick tram ride from Amsterdam Central Station. For more information about accessibility and other practical details, click here.

The Mikser Festival in Belgrade launched an exciting journey with the Next Gen educational program, offering visitors a comprehensive exploration through various festival segments, including talks, workshops, and exhibitions. From the 23rd to the 25th of May, the festival delved into topics such as circular design, sustainability, crafts and traditions as design inspiration, the use of locally sourced materials, community engagement, and more.

Plamena Halaceva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, inaugurated the Next Gen Edu Talks with an inspiring speech, emphasizing the importance of youth-focused projects in paving the way for a more sustainable future. She highlighted the dual empowerment of young designers through education and consumers through eco-conscious behavior and sustainable product choices.

Henriette Waal, an artist and designer, presented the concept of micro-designers and discussed how exploring local resources in bioregions can stimulate ecological, economic, and social transitions. She underscored the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving sustainable development goals.

Matej Fegus, CEO of Donar, showcased his innovative business model focused on creating sustainable furniture using PET-Felt technology. This approach not only produces eco-friendly products but also emphasizes the potential for repurposing waste materials into valuable industrial resources.

Orhan Niksić from the Bosnian and Herzegovinian company Zanat illustrated how tradition and innovation in contemporary design can coexist. He shared the evolution of Zanat from a family business started by his father, a woodcarver, to a company collaborating with renowned designers while preserving and nourishing traditional craftsmanship. Niksić also detailed how these skills are passed on to new generations, ensuring the continuation of this heritage, which is recognized and listed as UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Mikser Festival also hosted the first in a series of Next Gen Design Master Classes. The Mikser edition of the Master Class focused on Circular Design and was led by Jelena Matic, a professor from the Faculty of Forestry in Serbia specializing in furniture and sustainable design. The session brought together 16 young, passionate designers to explore sustainable practices through theory and practical challenges. Participants learned about the principles of circular design, tackled real-world problems, and presented their innovative design solutions. The master class concluded with the youth designers feeling inspired and optimistic about driving future advancements in circular design.

The Next Gen program at Mikser also engaged the youngest visitors, children aged 12 to 15, through the “Designathon workshop: How to improve spaces for free time using circular design?” The workshop empowered young participants to reimagine urban spaces through circular design, envisioning ideal areas for leisure. Led by the KidHub team, the event emphasized the importance of children’s perspectives in urban planning and showcased a movement toward a more inclusive and sustainable city landscape.

As we conclude the first part of the Next Gen journey in Belgrade at the Mikser Festival, we pass the baton to What Design Can Do in Amsterdam, where the Next Gen Design adventure