Highlights of Day 5 I Thursday, March 26
Thursday, 26 March, at the Faculty of Design, as part of GoinGreenGlobal 2026, unfolded in a rich and dynamic rhythm, where lectures, workshops and collective discussions intertwined throughout the day.
The day began with a series of lectures addressing the relationship between nature, process and contemporary design, within the Introduction to Design Talk, led and moderated by Assist. Prof. Dr. Petra Bole (Faculty of Design). The introductory lectures were delivered by Senior Lecturer Luka Mancini, Prof. Dr. Djordje Stanojević and Petra Marinko, who presented key insights and opened thematic starting points for the discussion.The central part of the day was the Design Talk: Holistic Experience of Urban and Interior Spaces, also moderated by Petra Bole. The same speakers – Djordje Stanojević, Luka Mancini and Petra Marinko – continued the discussion, deepening the reflection on holistic spatial experience, user engagement and sustainable design practices.
Lectures:
Prof. Dr. Djordje Stanojević (Faculty of Contemporary Arts, Serbia) presented Biophilia: Nature, Process and Contemporary Art, highlighting the importance of nature as a foundation for creative practices.
This was followed by Senior Lecturer Luka Mancini (Faculty of Design) with the lecture Biomimicry, focusing on the transfer of principles from nature into design.
The programme continued with Petra Marinko (Non Tox Uni Kum, Slovenia), who presented From Materials to Meaning – The Non-Tox Approach, opening a reflection on materials, health and responsible design.
Parallel workshops also took place.
Bettina Wilk and Claudi Misteli (The Nature of Cities, Spain) led the workshop Storytelling as a Tool for More-Than-Human Cities, where participants explored the role of storytelling in sustainable urban development.
Marie-Louise Rosholm (Studio MLR, Denmark) conducted the workshop Designing with Circular Principles vs Cradle to Cradle Principles, offering deeper insights into circular design approaches.
The day also featured the workshop Care Design, led by Prof. Chiara Cibin and Prof. Cecilia Bione (Bologna Academy of Art, Italy), focusing on care as an essential design principle.
The closing segment, Urban Spaces for All, featured speeches and presentations emphasising collaboration, innovation and sustainable development.
Closing speeches were delivered by Prof. Nada Rožmanec Matičič, Senior Lecturer Veronika Gruden Bole, Dr. Aleksandra Goldys and Marwan Hesham (Operations Specialist, IEREK).
This was followed by project presentations and examples of good practice.
Ben Walker (Built by Nature) highlighted sustainable approaches in the built environment, student Anđela Radmanović presented interior design projects, and Assist. Prof. Benjamin Hafner showcased selected student projects and awarded works.
After a content-rich day, participants gathered for an informal closing, sharing impressions, ideas and perspectives. The day successfully combined creativity with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Thursday once again demonstrated that GoinGreenGlobal is not only a platform for knowledge exchange, but also a space for connecting people, ideas and future collaborations.
