Design+Science Summer School 2025: Reclaiming Hope
Date: 18. - 22. September 2025
Location: Nova Gorica
PiNA, the Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana (UL ALUO), the Department of Visual Communication Design of the Arts Academy in Split, the Joanneum Institute of the University of Applied Sciences in Graz (FH Joanneum), and the European Capital of Culture GO! 2025 joined forces to organize the fifth edition of the international Design+Science Summer School.
From September 18 to 22, 2025, 25 participants from across Europe gathered at the newly opened Epicenter in Nova Gorica to explore the theme of "Awakening Hope." The first two days were dedicated to an international symposium of the same name, organized by the Centre for Creativity (MAO). For the following three days, participants worked under the mentorship of Emil Kozole (UL ALUO), Nejc Prah (UL ALUO), Sigrid Bürstmayr (FH Joanneum), and Oleg Šuran (University of Split) to develop projects inspired by the symposium’s insights.
The Methodology of Hope
The summer school is built on interactive methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, and peer-to-peer learning. This framework allows for the rapid development of bold ideas and imaginative concepts that challenge existing social practices and envision alternative futures. This year, participants developed four project frameworks:
- Fluid Borders: This project explores a future where borders are not fixed but adapt to the needs of individuals and communities. Boundaries are viewed as agreements that can dissolve, shift, or be re-established through dialogue.
- Hope as a Virus: This initiative imagines hope as a contagious force that spreads between individuals to build community resilience. The project develops an "infrastructure of hope"—a network of carriers, tools, and practices to spread optimism and solidarity.
- Reclaiming Time: This project addresses the balance between work and leisure, advocating for a shorter workweek to improve quality of life. It presents scenarios where identity is formed through creativity, community, and relationships rather than professional titles alone.
- Vending Machine Revolution: Using a dystopian metaphor, this story depicts a world where machines control human needs. As people become dependent on these machines, they lose touch with one another until a rebellion begins, proving that true values cannot be dispensed by a machine.
Process Over Product
While these projects tackle significant global themes, their primary contribution lies in the collaborative process: the questioning, cooperating, and co-creating. The school cultivates these skills so that participants can carry them into their academic, professional, and personal environments.
Statements from the Founders
"This year’s edition was undoubtedly a success because we tested a new configuration. Consolidating the expert lectures into a two-day intensive symposium proved to be an excellent decision. Changing the location and collaborating closely with the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO) and the Centre for Creativity opened new avenues for the future. Being part of the GO! 2025 framework further enriches our international reach."
— Boštjan Botas Kenda (UL ALUO), Co-founder
"Cross-sectoral cooperation has been the common thread of this school since the beginning. Experiential learning is key; it allows participants to take the theory from the symposium and put it into practice. This year, we placed an even greater emphasis on community-building methods, which resulted in stronger group dynamics and better teamwork."
— Borut Jerman (PiNA), Co-founder
