Author: 9ve8c
NEXT GEN KIDS/TEENS: Design for a Better World
How to improve the space for free time using circular design
Principles of Circular Design
Crafting the Future: The Evolution of Bosnian ZANAT
From family woodcarving craft to a sustainable icon of contemporary design
Walking the Talk: Making Circular Design a Reality
The success story of Nico Less chair by Donar
Opening Ceremony: Designs at the Forefront of Circular Transition
Micro-designers and Ecosocial Collab
Design innovations in collaboration with algae, plants and local communities
UNDERGROUNG BDW
Disseny en Diagonal Day
EXHIBITION What if…water
12 projects on the critical challenge of water management and conservation
NEXT GEN DESIGN WORKSHOP / Circular Economy
HOLON design
Design a flag for a Human future: The International Flag of Planet Earth
Design as an enabler of hope: the curious case of ecosystem restoration
Mastering the Business of Design: Zoran Jedrejčić on Building a Brand in the Creative Industry
Skopje Design Week 2024 offered not only a platform for creative exploration but also a space for professional development, as demonstrated by Zoran Jedrejčić’s compelling masterclass, “How to Create a Design-Oriented Brand.“ A globally recognized industrial designer, Jedrejčić shared invaluable insights on navigating the intersection of creativity and commerce.
The session opened with a discussion on the significance of branding in today’s saturated market. Jedrejčić emphasized that a strong brand identity is as much about storytelling as it is about aesthetics. He encouraged designers to build authentic narratives that connect emotionally with their audience, setting the foundation for long-term success.
From there, the focus shifted to the practicalities of working with manufacturers—a topic often overlooked in design education. Jedrejčić outlined the stages of production, from prototyping to market launch, providing attendees with a clear understanding of how to align their creative vision with industrial capabilities.
One of the most valuable segments of the lecture revolved around financial strategies, particularly the often-misunderstood realm of royalties and compensation. Jedrejčić demystified the process, offering tips on negotiation and pricing that are crucial for ensuring fair returns on creative labor.
“This was a game-changer for me as an emerging designer,” one attendee remarked. “I now have a roadmap for how to take my ideas from sketches to products on store shelves.”
Jedrejčić’s session was more than a lecture; it was a call to action for designers to take charge of their careers and embrace their role as both creatives and entrepreneurs. His approach resonated deeply with the Next Gen Design program’s overarching goal of fostering a generation of designers who are not only innovative but also business-savvy and globally competitive.
WASTEWARE
Every Year 90 million tons of food are thrown away in Europe. And, in the same period, disposable crockery accounts for a further 26 million tons of garbage. So why not connect these two topics and see what could be created in this scenario?
Wasteware, Experimental Tableware, by Austrian designer Barbara Gollackner consists of various pieces of tableware, all made from food waste, produced in different techniques, ranging from moulding over pressing up to 3D printing.
Learn more about Barbara Gollackner design.
BIODESIGN – IMM64BS
Inspired by Suzanne Lee’s research, Maja began cultivating mushroom-based materials to continue where Lee’s work left off. Through this process, Maja has discovered that this material is not only durable, but also self-sustaining, healthy, and strong. It behaves like nylon and leather but without the environmental impact.
The material thrives in warm climates, takes the shape of its vessel, and eliminates fabric cutting. It grows in 7–10 days with zero waste and can adapt to colder climates with a longer growth period. Initially low-cost, it becomes self-sustaining, with a healthy, drinkable byproduct.
Keep up with Maja Halilovic work.
DON’T FEED ME PLASTIC
Don’t Feed Me Plastic represents the series of educational toys aiming to develop an emotional connection between the children and their environment.
Made out of reused fabric its infill contains an element of surprise. Inside each kiwi bird are several plastic caps which serve as a conversation starter. Through a tactile game and this element of surprise, we can teach the child about the negative influence we have on our environment and try, through playing, to suggest what are possible solutions.
Learn more about Maja Repotocnik
Squeeze the orange
Orange peels are a food waste residue abundant in the Mediterranean diet, and we can give them another life: many things are possible with what we consider “waste” today.
Squeeze the Orange is a research project on the reuse of orange peel to make biodegradable and compostable materials for the fashion industry.
Through the work and knowledge shared between makers and designers, they investigated orange waste to design a material that all fashion designers can use. The project was developed in collaboration with restaurants in the Poblenou neighbourhood in Barcelona. Its purpose is to manufacture a completely biodegradable or compostable waterproof bioplastic using dehydrated orange peel to produce clothing and accessories for the fashion industry.
Ressaca
Ressaca is an immersive installation that takes the viewer into a dystopian world where humanity’s only remaining natural resources are its own waste and dross. Broken and sharp glass is the main construction element of what we intuit to be an eccentric room that sparkles with danger. Vila pushes to the limit a set of semi-utilitarian furniture that threatens and provokes, invites and prohibits in equal parts, an exercise in speculative design that reflects on the future of society.
Founder and Head Designer of Aparentment, Josep Vila Capdevila (1976) is a multidisciplinary designer that has been linked to fashion, advertising, photo-journalism and even music. In 2012, he launched his first collection of objects, Marblelous, which had an impact nationally and internationally. Since then, he has followed a design path towards experimentation and innovation working with noble, robust and lasting materials.
matapalo
matapalo, by Unlable Design Studio, is a brand from Algiers that markets biophilic pots and installations made of flexible and innovative composite fabrics that stand out for their design, lightness, durability and recyclability.
The product was presented during Underground BDW, a new collective and immersive exhibition during the Barcelona Design Week 2024.