where climate action meets the future of design

Experts

Jelena Matic

Professor at Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade (Serbia) / Researcher in the Fields of Furniture Design, Sustainability and Interior Architecture

Her passion for sustainable design has not only influenced her students’ lives but has also inspired new generations of designs to embed environmental concepts and practices.

Professor Jelena Matic is a prominent figure in Serbia, known for advancing sustainability and circular design education. Her work at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, and involvement in the “Young Balkan Designers” initiative has inspired students and new generations to integrate environmental concepts into their designs.

From 2005 to 2015, Matic led award-winning projects, earning awards, including prestigious ones like the Awards of the Salon of Arts, Golden Key of the Furniture Fair in Belgrade, and awards from the Chamber of Commerce of Belgrade and Ulupuds. Her collaboration with the furniture company Simpo in 2010 resulted in four student-designed pieces entering production, highlighting her influence in both education and industry.

“The main guiding principle of any educational program is to motivate young persons to work, to encourage and to give them support to be creative, hardworking and proud. To assure them that there is a space for them. Although there are a million models of chairs in the world, this society is waiting for one more – yours.”