Organizer Information
Center Rog is a newly established creative hub located in a renovated historic bicycle factory in the heart of Ljubljana, Slovenia. It serves as a public production space for cultural and creative industries, with a strong focus on design, architecture, and handicrafts. The center spans 8,500 m² and features nine state-of-the-art production labs (including textile, woodworking, metal, glass/ceramics, jewelry, and a green lab) equipped with both traditional tools and modern computer-aided technologies. Center Rog is dedicated to supporting innovative projects that promote sustainable and socially responsible development.
Title & Description
Designer in Residency 2026: More Than Us
The "More Than Us" residency invites designers and makers to challenge the traditional human-centric (and often male-centric) approach to design. The program asks participants to explore relationships with non-human agents—including animals, plants, AI, and entire ecosystems—and translate these insights into tangible products or materials. The goal is to move toward a "planet-centered" practice where humans are viewed as participants in a wider interconnected living system rather than the masters of it. Projects must result in a physical object, prototype, or material produced "in situ" using the center's specialized labs.
Categories
- Product Design & Industrial Design
- Innovators & Researchers of New Materials
- Craftspeople & Artisans (Ceramics, Textiles, Wood, Metal, Jewelry)
- Makers & Bio-designers
- Interdisciplinary practitioners exploring AI, Biomimicry, or Nature-based solutions.
Eligibility
- Who: International designers, innovators, and creative collectives/duos.
- Status: Open to individual professionals or small teams.
- Special Considerations: One residential studio is prioritized for creatives with migrant or refugee status.
- Requirement: Applicants must be able to demonstrate an active interest in the "more-than-human" theme and a need for specific production lab access.
Program Benefits & Awards
Applicants can choose between two funding models:
- Fully Funded Residency: * Fee: €4,200 (for the individual or team).
- Production Costs: Up to €4,000 covered for materials and development.
- Ownership: The final product remains the property of Center Rog for community use.
- Partially Funded Residency: * Ownership: The completed work remains the property of the author.
- Common Benefits (All Residents):
- Accommodation: Free stay in one of Center Rog's onsite residential studios.
- Lab Access: Free use of all 9 production labs.
- Mentorship: Up to 30 hours of expert guidance from lab managers.
- Exhibition: Inclusion in the Rog Expo 2026.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- CV & Portfolio (Max 1MB each).
- Project Proposal: Max 3 pages; visual presentation is obligatory.
- Timeline: Key production milestones (Max 3 pages).
- Estimated Production Costs.
- Thematic Essay: How the product connects to the "More Than Us" theme (Max 500 words).
- Innovation & Sustainability Statements (Max 500 words each).
- Public Program Proposal: A plan for a 3–4 hour workshop or masterclass.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Virtual Info Session: 2 February 2026
- Application Deadline: 2 March 2026
- Residency Period: 17 August 2026 – 7 December 2026 (approx. 3.5 months).
- Latest Starting Date: 1 September 2026.
Location
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Additional Details
The residency is highly production-oriented. Residents are expected to be physically present and active in the labs. Key themes to consider for your proposal include: Ecofeminism, Posthumanism, Animal-Computer Interaction, Material Ecology, and Indigenous Knowledge. The facility is fully wheelchair accessible.