Contemporary Approaches to Materials in Craft and Design

On 4 September 2025, Center Rog will host a series of two seminars under the title Contemporary Approaches to Materials in Craft and Design, presenting five local practices and research-based projects focused on natural materials and innovative uses of available resources. The program will highlight contemporary approaches that assign new roles to materials such as jute, mycelium, natural dyes, and organic waste within craft and design, while also emphasizing the importance of ecological regeneration and sustainable production methods.

Alongside the presentations, samples of materials and finished products will be on display.

First Seminar: 12:40–13:45

12:40–13:00

Maks Merela: Archaeological Wood from the Ljubljana Marsh – A Time Capsule Revealing Life and Work in the Pile Dwelling Era

This lecture will explore the world of archaeological wood from the Ljubljana Marsh, which preserves extraordinary details from the lives of the pile dwellers. It will present the particularities and challenges of researching wet archaeological wood, the selection and use of different wood species, and the technological skills of our ancestors – with special focus on the creation and significance of the world’s oldest known wooden wheel, dating back 5,200 years.

BIO: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maks Merela, Vice Dean for the field of wood science at the Department of Wood Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, is the author of over 80 original scientific papers. His research connects wood science, cultural heritage, archaeology, and the natural sciences.

13:00–13:30

Ana Laura Richter and Eva Garibaldi: Swamp Matter

An artistic-research duo working at the intersection of design, art, and ecology, creating stories and atmospheres in both digital and physical space, and developing encounters with the more-than-human. The presentation will highlight speculative approaches as methods of listening to landscapes and contributing to contemporary design and art practice.

BIO: Duo Swamp_Matter has been active since 2022, focusing on ecological themes such as climate change and the impact of the Anthropocene on ecosystems. Their work includes spatial installations and digital media, often interwoven with speculative fiction.

13:30–14:00

Andreja Lovreković and Ela Meseldžić: Designer Collector

A research project developed in dialogue with Croatian artisans, focusing on sustainable practices rooted in the natural environment. It connects traditional handcraft techniques with contemporary design and the development of biocomposite materials from natural raw sources.

BIO: Andreja Lovreković and Ela Meseldžić are members of the DISKO collective in Zagreb, working on design-research projects that value local contexts and create innovative contemporary narratives.

14:00–14:15 – Coffee break

Second Seminar: 14:15–16:00

14:15–14:45

Julija Karas: Translating Jute

A presentation on developing biomaterials from discarded jute – a material often thrown away despite its creative potential. The project demonstrates how waste jute can be transformed into products with new functions or used as raw material for further applications, offering solutions to challenges such as single-use packaging waste.

BIO: Industrial designer Julija Karas works at the intersection of design, biomaterials, and experimental practice, exploring pathways towards regenerative design.

14:45–15:15

Uroš Topić and Maruša Ramšak: I Will Discover Dyes

An overview of a research group exploring natural textile dyeing with a focus on local sources and sustainable choices. Participants developed color samples on natural fibers and explored their application potential.

BIO: Uroš Topić, fashion and textile designer, leads the Textile Lab at Center Rog, combining traditional techniques with contemporary technologies. Maruša Ramšak, scientist and head of the Green Lab at Center Rog, holds a PhD in biomedicine and develops projects with a focus on biomaterials and circular design.

15:15–15:45

Davor Kržišnik: Mycocomposites – Growing the Future of Sustainable Materials

A lecture on the potential of fungal mycelium as a future material in design and architecture. Mycocomposites are bio-based materials that can replace plastics, foams, and other non-renewable materials.

BIO: Asst. Prof. Dr. Davor Kržišnik, from the Department of Wood Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, researches the connections between fungi, wood, and sustainable design, seeking solutions that link people, the environment, and innovation.

15:45–16:00

Nej Bizjak and Hana Klincov: Mycosurf

A project developing sustainable surfboards made from fungal mycelium and agricultural waste. Mycelium biocomposite technology enables environmentally friendly production of materials that replace synthetic foams.

BIO: Nej Bizjak, a master’s student in biotechnology, develops protocols for producing high-quality fungal materials. Hana Klincov, a master’s student in industrial design, researches sustainable approaches in the surf industry.

This event is part of the Made In: Heritage of the Future platform and is intended for anyone interested in connecting craft, design, science, and sustainable practices.