Mikser
Festival
31.05.-01.06.2025.
“The Energy of Freedom”
“The Energy of Freedom” – where the creative force of Serbia’s youth rises against corruption and injustice, daring to redesign the future for all.
This year’s special, emergency edition of Mikser Festival unfolds over an intense 48 hours, transforming into a free territory for thinkers, artists, activists, and creatives who refuse to remain silent and are actively shaping a better reality.
At its core, the festival hosts Mikser Talks a bold debate platform bringing together voices that challenge injustice and inertia. Through provocative conversations on politics, culture, identity, resistance, and the future, the program sets the tone for meaningful change.
A vibrant musical lineup features artists and protest choirs whose performances carry powerful social messages. Alongside them, young designers from across Europe present sustainable innovations through Next Gen Design Travelling Exhibition, while the Green Zone and hands-on workshops offer real solutions for ecological transition.
In the Art Zone, visual art, poetry, and performance become acts of resistance and solidarity.
Mikser Festival 2025 is a gathering of bold ideas and collective energy—a space for those who know that change is not only necessary, but already underway.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
28.05.2025 19:00
Opening of the Next Gen Design Residency
29.05.2025 08:00
Field Trip to town of Kraljevo: Next Gen Design Residency
Ten young designers, winners of the Next Gen Design Open Call, will take part in a study visit to the GIR Factory. This visit will provide them with valuable insights into real-world challenges, potential solutions, and sources of inspiration. Based on these observations, the designers will begin developing their own creative, innovative solutions and concepts during the upcoming working sessions.
30.05.2025 10:00
Workshop: Next Gen Design Residency
Mentored by Jelena Matic, professor at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade
Based on insights gathered during the previous day’s study visit, the participating designers will form five teams, each consisting of two members. These teams will begin developing and working on their assigned tasks, using the knowledge and inspiration gained from the visit to guide their creative process.
31.05.2025 11:00
Edu Talk by David Jablonski
Designer, Klimadashboard, Austria
31.05.2025 11:30
Edu Talk by Natasa Perkovic
Product designer, Bosnia and Herzegovina
31.05.2025 12:00
Edu Talk by Daniel Podmirseg
Architect, Vertical Farm Institute, Austria
31.05.2025 12:30
Edu Talk by Goran Milic
Engineer in wood technologies, Faculty of Forestry, Serbia
31.05.2025 14:00
Workshop part two: Next Gen Design Residency
Mentored by Jelena Matic, professor at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade
Finalization of the project idea(s) and presentation preparation.
31.05.2025 19:00
Next Gen Design EXHIBITION Opening
Launching from Belgrade at the Mikser Festival, the Next Gen Design Travelling Exhibition marks the beginning of its journey, passing the torch to upcoming design festivals/weeks.
01.06.2025 10:00
Final Presentation of Next Gen Design Residency Projects
Young European designers will present their final projects to the jury, composed of Zoran Jedrejcic (jury member), David Jablanovski (jury member), Jelena Matic (mentor), and Bojan Radovic (CEO of GIR).
01.06.2025 12:00
Closing of the Next Gen Design Residency
Participation certificates hand-out
23-25.05.2024.
MICRO TACTICS
Today’s individuals are striving to shape their micro worlds through various means and resources, but the question is how to create a positive critical mass necessary for meaningful change?
The global landscape has seen the decline of traditional revolutions, and the technological revolution seems to be the only prospect, with rapid information flow potentially disrupting the status quo. However, this macro discourse has given way to a bipolar world, where divisions have become increasingly polarised.
Amidst the debris of unfulfilled revolutions and failed macro schemes, Mikser Festival 2024 will cast light on small but significant actions across the Balkan and Europe – MICRO TACTICS which serve as beacons of hope amidst the political and environmental challenges.
We will gather diverse protagonists of tactical practices: experts, amateurs, artists, decision makers, activists, entrepreneurs, scholars, workers, innovators, enthusiasts and citizens, and explore together show these seemingly fragmented approaches can be connected and harnessed to drive larger societal change.
Join us and learn how these seemingly small incremental changes in behaviour, thinking or design can address burning local issues, trigger disruptive thinking and innovation, foster inclusion and collaboration, and really make a difference.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
25.05.2024 16:00
NEXT GEN KIDS/TEENS: Design for a Better World
How to improve the space for free time using circular design
Tijana Petrovic
KidsHub (Serbia)
24.05.2024 14:00
Principles of Circular Design
Prof. Jelena Matic
Faculty of Forestry (Serbia)
23.05.2024 12:00
Crafting the Future: The Evolution of Bosnian ZANAT
From family woodcarving craft to a sustainable icon of contemporary design
Orhan Niksic
CEO, Zanat Company (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Moderator: Emir Salkic architect, Normal Architecture (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
23.05.2024 11:30
Walking the Talk: Making Circular Design a Reality
The success story of Nico Less chair by Donar
Matej Fegus
Creative director Donar (Slovenia)
23.05.2024 10:00
Opening Ceremony: Designs at the Forefront of Circular Transition
Plamena Halacheva
Deputy Head of European Delegation to Serbia
23.05.2024 10:30
Micro-designers and Ecosocial Collab
Design innovations in collaboration with algae, plants and local communities
Henriette Waal
Designer and researcher / co-founder and artistic research director at Atelier Luma (France) / tutor of Master in Social Design, Design Academy Eindhoven (Netherlands)