Urban October 2026: Month of Design at the Faculty of Design

See the Programme 2026: Click Here

See the last years Urban October highlights here!

Adequate Housing for All
1 October – 31 October 2026

This October, the Faculty of Design will once again open its doors to Urban October, an international month dedicated to design, cities, communities, public space, housing, sustainability and the many questions that shape the way we live together.

At the Faculty of Design, Urban October is much more than a programme of events. It is a space for learning, meeting, questioning, creating and connecting. Throughout the month, our students will have the opportunity to take part in lectures, workshops, design talks, exhibitions, conferences and guided visits that connect different fields of design — from interior design, visual communications and fashion, to textiles, design management, sustainable development and the wider culture of living.

This year’s theme, Adequate Housing for All, invites us to reflect on one of the most important challenges of our time: how to create living environments that are accessible, inclusive, sustainable, dignified and truly designed for people. Through different perspectives — from architecture, interiors and urbanism to material culture, graphic design, fashion, business and design management — we will explore how design can contribute to better housing, stronger communities and more humane cities.

During October, we will also mark World Habitat Day, an important international observance dedicated to the future of cities and the fundamental right to adequate shelter. At the Faculty of Design, World Habitat Day will be celebrated through lectures, discussions, exhibitions and creative exchange, placing the global theme of housing into dialogue with design education, local knowledge, sustainable materials and interdisciplinary thinking.

The programme will take place at the Faculty of Design and at other creative locations across Ljubljana, including Center Rog, HDMI – House of Design Management and Innovations, Ljubljana Fine Artists Society Gallery and GR Ljubljana.

We will host international professors from our partner institutions, as well as Slovenian experts from design, architecture, business, development institutions and industry. They will share their knowledge, experience and professional insights — and help us open new conversations about the role of design in today’s world.

We warmly encourage all students to attend the events whenever possible. Some events will be included in the digital timetables as part of lectures or the pedagogical process. When you do not have lectures, you are warmly invited to join other events as well — come with an open mind, curiosity and a willingness to discover something new. There will be something for everyone: for inspiration, for knowledge, for experience, and perhaps even for a new idea you did not expect.

All other visitors who would like to attend are also warmly welcome. If your schedule allows you to join us, we kindly ask you to confirm your attendance in advance at info@fd.si. This helps us prepare the events more easily and inform our guest lecturers accordingly.

Programme Highlights

Thursday, 1 October

Urban October will begin with the opening events of the Month of Design and the presentation of the OFFICE3000 project, which explores innovative furniture systems made from Slovenian oak and granite. The day will include lectures on modular systems, local materials, sustainable work environments, non-toxic futures and biophilic, nature-inspired interventions for sustainable urban redevelopment.

The opening day will connect design, architecture, material research and sustainable development — a strong introduction to the questions that will guide us throughout October.

Friday, 2 October

Students will continue with the OFFICE3000 workshop, working in international and interdisciplinary groups under the mentorship of faculty members and experts from industry and development institutions.

The focus will be on concept development, collaboration and practical design thinking — from idea to material, from research to proposal.

Monday, 5 October – World Habitat Day

Monday will be one of the central days of Urban October 2026, as we will celebrate World Habitat Day under the theme Adequate Housing for All.

The day will begin with the continuation of the OFFICE3000 workshop and continue with the official opening ceremony of World Habitat Day. The programme will include opening speeches, presentations and discussions on the EU Climate Pact, living with wood, intellectual property, the wood industry, sustainable corporate and personal gifts from wood remnants, cooperative housing for youth, tiny houses and the wider culture of living.

The conference Celebration of World Habitat Day will bring together Slovenian and international speakers, including experts from Slovenia, Austria, Spain, Serbia and North Macedonia. Topics will range from the role of wood in sustainable living and housing, to tourism and the housing crisis, design and community, materials with memory, and the use of earth, timber and upcycled waste for equitable housing.

The day will also include a design talk on the role of wood in resolving the housing crisis and ensuring a sustainable living culture, followed by field experiences with local communities and a session on Connecting Design and Business with Lynne Elvins from Design Rally, UK.

Tuesday, 6 October

Tuesday will bring a rich programme of workshops, lectures and design talks.

A workshop for elementary and high school students, From Idea to Prototype: Suitable Housing for All, will introduce younger participants to the planning and creation of small-scale wooden shelters. Through practical work, they will learn about construction, woodworking, functionality, stability and weather protection.

At the same time, our students will continue with OFFICE3000 research and concepts, while additional lectures and workshops will address topics such as:

EU at Crossroads: Urban Design for Green Oases of Tranquility and a Culture of Living for All
Design and Community
The Impact of Tourism on the Housing Crisis
Roots
Adequate Housing for All: Bridging Urbanism and Interior Architecture
Housing Beyond Shelter: The Regenerative Potential of Living Spaces

The day will connect urbanism, interior architecture, landscape, community, tourism, housing, visual culture and regenerative approaches to living spaces.

Wednesday, 7 October

Wednesday will take Urban October to Center Rog, where students and guests will take part in the design talk Dressing Facades, project presentations for KOCLES, a presentation of Rog Labs and a discussion on market opportunities for Slovenian wood products.

The programme will include a guided tour of Rog Labs and a lecture on Sustainable Management in Practice: Between Strategy and Communication with Prof. Maja Zalaznik and Ladeja Godina Košir.

Back at the Faculty of Design, workshops will continue with themes such as Adequate Housing for All: Bridging Urbanism and Interior Architecture and Graphic Design for Sustainable and Inclusive Futures. Students will explore how visual communication can contribute to sustainable and inclusive urban futures.

The evening will also include a design talk and workshop on The Important Role of Design Management and the Design Manager in Design-Driven Organisations, led by Steinar Valade-Amland and Asst. Prof. Mateja Š. Dimic. This will be especially relevant for students interested in the connection between design, strategy, organisations and business.

7–10 October: Ljubljana Fashion Week

One of the most exciting highlights of this year’s Urban October will also be LJFW – Ljubljana Fashion Week, taking place at GR Ljubljana.

Students of fashion and textile design from the Faculty of Design will present their work — some with their very first creations, others with already developed diploma collections. This is a wonderful opportunity to support young Slovenian fashion designers, meet new people, connect with the creative community and experience the energy of a major fashion event from up close.

We warmly invite students, colleagues, friends and everyone interested in Slovenian fashion design to attend and support the designers, teams, mentors and everyone working behind the scenes.

Thursday, 8 October

Thursday will continue with the OFFICE3000 workshops, focusing on how local materials — especially wood — can shape global work environments, how modular systems can redefine flexibility and how young talents can bring fresh and radical approaches from idea to realisation.

The day will also include an English-language guided visit Following Jože Plečnik’s Footsteps & Plečnik House Visit, offering participants a closer look at one of the most important figures in Slovenian architecture.

In the afternoon and evening, Lynne Elvins will lead a lecture titled Design in a Changing World, while Prof. Dr. Dušanka Komnenić will continue the workshop Designing Adequate Housing for All: Graphic Design for Sustainable and Inclusive Futures.

Friday, 9 October

The first intensive week of Urban October will conclude with the OFFICE3000 Project Conclusion.

The closing ceremony will include the opening of the exhibition OFFICE3000 Conceptual Projects and presentations by the project teams. Students will have the opportunity to present their work, reflect on the process and share the outcomes of their interdisciplinary collaboration.

15 October – 5 November: Young Design Talents Summer School

Although taking place in autumn, we are also preparing a “summer school” for young design talents — because creativity does not really follow the seasons.

The programme Young Design Talents Summer School: Designer in the Real World – Practice, Strategy, and Identity will be aimed at 3rd-year students of the professional higher education study programme in Design, including students of Interior Design, Visual Communications, Fashion and Textiles and Design Management.

The school will focus on professional practice, strategy, identity and the realities of working as a designer. It will include guest speakers and offer students additional insight into the world beyond the classroom — from creative process to professional positioning.

15 October – 5 November: Student Exhibition

The student exhibition Creative Intertwinings 2025/2026 will be on view at the Ljubljana Fine Artists Society Gallery, Breg 22, Ljubljana.

The exhibition will present works by students of Interior Design, Visual Communications, Fashion and Textiles and Design Management. It will offer a broader insight into the creative processes, visual thinking and design approaches developed at the Faculty of Design.

We warmly invite students, mentors, partners, future students and all design lovers to visit the exhibition.

21 September – 31 October: Design Rights, Patents and World Cities Day

As part of the wider programme, the Faculty of Design will also host a retrospective exhibition of interior design and spatial architecture projects with granted patents and/or EU models.

The conference The Strategic Value of Design Rights: Turning Protective Design into Competitiveness and Growth will address the importance of design rights, intellectual property and the strategic value of protected design. The event is organised by the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the Bureau of European Design Associations and the Faculty of Design.

On 31 October, we will also mark World Cities Day, established by the United Nations to promote global cooperation in addressing the challenges of rapid urbanisation and advancing sustainable urban development.

An Invitation to Our Students and Wider Community

Urban October is a chance to step outside the usual rhythm of the academic year and enter a wider design conversation. It is a month for listening, asking questions, testing ideas, meeting guests, seeing exhibitions, joining workshops and discovering how many different directions design can take.

For our students — especially those joining us for the first time this October — this is a beautiful opportunity to experience the Faculty of Design as a living creative community. You do not need to know everything in advance. Come curious. Come open. Come willing to learn. A lecture, a workshop, a conversation or even a single project can sometimes become the beginning of something new.

We warmly invite you to join us throughout the month of October. See the last year’s highlights – click here for Urban October 2025!

For attendance and additional information, please contact us at info@fd.si.

Welcome to Urban October 2026 at the Faculty of Design.