The exhibition of what was produced at Center Rog over the last year might surprise many, as it is neither a typical design exhibition nor a museum or gallery presentation such as ones we are used to. It includes a colourful collection of objects created by both amateur and professional designers. Selected innovative designs from our project studios and residential programme are displayed alongside bold achievements developed by young users of the Mladi Rog (Young at Rog) programme and the wonderful group products that were created in the relaxed atmosphere of meetups – from lace making to experimenting with biomaterials.

The exhibition curators, Alja Fir and Anja Radović, based their selection on the makers' concept of creativity which can, as part of everyday life, be developed anywhere, and nurtured with practical experiences, curiosity, ingenuity and cooperation. This kind of perception of creativity includes everyone, regardless of their social status, gender, age, education or cultural background.

In doing so our theme focuses on the heritage of our ancestors. Why? We live in a time of rapid climate changes and growing political and military conflicts, the global effects of which can also be felt in our own local surroundings. The question we ask ourselves is whether we still have the right skills and abilities to address these changes. Perhaps we need to take a step back and consider how the values and experiences of our ancestors might help us.

We have known for a long time that cultural structures are deep and multifaceted, expressed through our thoughts, words, actions, and also through how we create and use objects: how we wear clothes, how we build homes, when we wear jewelry, and why we decorate vessels that we use for cooking.

The exhibited objects tackle climate change impacts on natural resources. They also address knowledge loss experienced when leaving one’s cultural context, exploring ways to support immigrant communities in preserving and sharing their heritage. Some objects showcase the shift from traditional crafts, like pottery, to digital manufacturing, possibly democratizing production and reviving ancient local practices. Lastly, group-created pieces remind us of the joy and connectivity of creating together, regardless of differing perspectives or skills.

Participating at the exhibition are 29 creators or projects. They were supported in their work by 28 technicians from Center Rog together with a team of 10 project managers and administrators.