SLAT-KO
CONCEPT
СЛАТ-КО is a series of sharing boards made from leftover wooden offcuts, created during our design
residency with GIR in Serbia. Inspired by local food culture and built on material reuse, СЛАТ-КО blends
functionality with storytelling — a new surface born from scraps.
TEAM
We are two designers from Austria and the Netherlands, bringing together different perspectives, cultures,
and design backgrounds — united by a shared love for materials and making.
We are two designers from Austria and the Netherlands, bringing together different perspectives, cultures,
and design backgrounds — united by a shared love for materials and making.
PROCESS
Visit to the GIR factory
We were shocked by the amount of waste — especially the wood. During our visit to the GIR factory, we
saw piles of offcuts: pieces too short, too narrow, or oddly shaped to be used in their furniture production.
But in those leftover cuts, we saw not just scraps, but potential. That’s where we started.
During our residency, we noticed how important food traditions are in Serbia — not just the dishes
themselves, but the way they’re shared. Meals bring people together, and that sense of warmth and
generosity inspired us.
At the GIR store, we were reminded that design has to connect with local needs. We decided to focus on
everyday life, local habits, and cultural meaning as the foundation for our design.
Sketches
We explored how shapes and rituals differ across cultures. This led to a variety of boards — each
reflecting different ways of serving and sharing food, from Austria, the Netherlands, Serbia, and beyond.
Materials
We noticed many leftover wood pieces with the same width but varying lengths. By cutting them all to a
uniform size of around 3 cm and glueing them together in a random order, we created a strong, new
surface. This material can be shaped into various boards, with carved spaces for dips or small bites to
accompany bread.
The new material reminds us of patchwork textiles — a nod to Ilse’s background in fabric and pattern. For
Jasmin, it recalls wooden paving flooring: robust, functional, and built to last. Two very different
references, woven together into one surface.
EXPERIENCE
СЛАТ-КО is more than a product — it’s a reflection of how design can connect place, people, and
material. The method we developed is not limited to boards: the material is strong, versatile, and
well-suited for other objects too, from homeware to furniture details.