MADE IN workshop – Tracing Topographies

Tracing Topographies is a three day design workshop in which the participants will investigate the possibilities of urban environments as sights of craft. Looking at the history of Kropa, who’s economy, social structure, culture and architecture were all shaped by craft, the participants will seek to reverse these processes and use the urban landscape of Ljubljana to develop individual projects.

Through group discussions and one on one tutoring the participants will learn/develop a multidisciplinary, conceptual approach to design, as well as learn the basics of working with metal sheets, embossing and engraving. Through experimentation with different techniques, the participants will be asked to discuss the conscious choices of their design process, as well as the conceptual and technical considerations involved.

Knowledge of design and making is not mandatory, but preferred. In the workshop you will be working with your hands and use light tools (hammers, drills,...). All of the materials and tools will be provided.

Timetable:

Monday, October 14th 2024

• 16:00: Introduction

- Introduction of the tutors, participants and the programme of the workshop

- Presentation of basic metalsmithing and embossing techniques through examples

• 17:00: Exercise 1

- First experimentations with materials and techniques

- Exploring the possibilities of adding different textures to materials

• 18:00: Exercise 2

- Hammering metal sheets in and on a mold

- Learning 3D shaping techniques

Tuesday, October 15th 2024

• 16:00: Kick-off Day 2

- Small get together talking about the exercises and tasks for the day

• 16:30: Task 1

- Each participant receives 5 aluminum sheets and a hammer

- Explore the surroundings of Rog and use the urban topographies to trace the shapes and textures of the city

• 18:30: Task 2

- Individual talks with tutor

- Development of the final project based on the outcomes of TASK 1, through sketching, drawing, collaging and material experimentations

• Homework

- Think about your final outcome and what steps you need to take in order to finish

Wednesday, October 16th

• 16:00: Kick-off Day 3

- Individual conversations/feedback with the tutors

• 17:00: Individual work

- Final works on your projects

- Conversations/feedback with the tutors if needed

• 19:00: Presentation of the final outcomes

- Present your project

About the mentors:

Flora Lechner (Vienna, 1994) is a designer based in the Netherlands. In her work she takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining design, moving images, and sculpture. She likes to see her works conceived as small stages or potential arenas for action, playing with the idea of activation and ghostly stagnancy. She graduated in 2018 from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and in 2020 with a Masters at the Design Academy Eindhoven. Since then she has worked as an independent designer on various projects and takes part in exhibitions around Europe.

Žan Kobal (Maribor, 1993) is a designer, researcher, and writer based in Ljubljana. After graduating Cum Laude in Industrial Design from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design Ljubljana, he continued his studies at Design Academy Eindhoven, obtaining a Master’s degree Cum Laude in Contextual Design there. Approaching design as an investigative medium, his work often crosses the traditional boundaries of design by delving into film and installation to frame objects as narration devices, exploring and revealing the way materials, craft, and discourse co-create reality.

The workshop is part of MADE IN platform, a research, design and heritage platform that proposes new collaborative practices and knowledge exchange between the traditional craftspeople and contemporary designers.

Made in partners: Museum of Architecture and Design – MAO (Ljubljana, Slovenia) (coordinator), Center Rog (Ljubljana, Slovenia), City Museum Zenica – MGZ (Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Drugo more (Rijeka, Croatia), Museum of Decorative Arts, part of the State Art Collections of Dresden – SKD (Dresden, Germany), Museum of Arts and Crafts – MUO (Zagreb, Croatia), Oaza (Zagreb, Croatia), Creative Hub Nova Iskra (Belgrade, Serbia), Passa ao Futuro – PAF (Lisbon, Portugal), and University of Applied Sciences Zwickau – WHZ (Schneeberg, Germany).