Fourth Day of World Habitat Days 2025 – Creativity, Sustainability, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The fourth day of World Habitat Days 2025, held as part of Urban October, was dedicated to exploring new forms of sustainable design, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the connection between students, mentors, and design professionals.
The morning began at the Faculty of Design with the opening of the exhibition “Kružna kreativa” (Circular Creativity), curated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Art. Iris Lobaš Kukavičić and Asst. Prof. Dr. Sc. Margarita Bego. The exhibition showcased student projects focused on circular design, highlighting the importance of reuse, material innovation, and thoughtful design as key elements of a sustainable future.
At 10:00, Steiner Valade-Amland (Three Point Zero, Denmark) delivered a lecture titled “The Role of Designers and Design Thinkers in Multidisciplinary Teams,” organised for members of the Design Management Slovenia (KCDM 4.0) consortium and students of the Faculty of Design. The session explored the role of designers as strategic thinkers who connect diverse disciplines through creative approaches and contribute to innovation in business and society.
In the afternoon, attention shifted to the workshop “Design and Creation of Sustainable Packaging – Packaging with Two Lives,” led by Asst. Prof. Barbara Dovečar, MA and Asst. Prof. Mateja Š. Dimic, MA, in collaboration with SNUGI, a young Slovenian company founded by Maja Krajnc.
Students of Visual Communications and Design Management worked in mixed teams to address the challenge of creating packaging that can live a second life — as a toy, keepsake box, or practical household object. They met the brand’s founder, explored real-world design challenges, and developed sustainable packaging prototypes and concepts that avoid waste and gain new purpose.
The workshop encouraged responsible thinking, collaboration, and innovation while giving students an invaluable opportunity to work directly with a real client. One of the greatest values of the workshop was its interdisciplinary approach – connecting creative visual communication students with strategic design management students. Many described it as “the best learning experience of their studies,” due to the teamwork, open creative process, and practical relevance.
The day concluded with the presentation and exhibition of student projects at the House of Design Management and Innovation (HDMI), where visitors could admire inventive and functional packaging prototypes made from recycled wood biomass materials.
At 17:00, the Minka Skaberne Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired hosted the opening of the exhibition “Requiem for the Sea” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Art. Iris Lobaš Kukavičić. The exhibition offered a poetic and socially conscious reflection on the sea as a living organism and on humanity’s relationship with nature and the environment.
The event was accompanied by a warm and emotional atmosphere — the exhibition drew a large audience and sparked thoughtful dialogue on the role of art and design in contemporary society.
Meanwhile, two additional lectures took place at the Faculty of Design.
Distinguished Prof. Gjoko Muratovski, PhD (ICONA Design Group / AIAT, Australia) presented “AI in Creative Industries,” discussing the influence of artificial intelligence on creative processes and the ethical questions of digital transformation.
At the same time, Steiner Valade-Amland led an advanced workshop “Integrating Design Management and Design Thinking to Leverage Corporate Strategies,” offering participants valuable insights into how design thinking can enhance strategic business development.
The fourth day of World Habitat Days was filled with energy, dialogue, and inspiration. It connected students, professors, companies, and visitors in a shared search for creative answers to future challenges — a vivid reminder that design is not only an art form, but also a responsibility toward our environment, our society, and the spaces we shape together.
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Photo: Faculty of design
