Five Years of Exploring the Future: A Jubilee Publication of the Design+Science Summer School (2021–2025)
At the conclusion of the first five-year cycle of the Design+Science International Summer School, a jubilee publication has been released, documenting the journey from a bold vision to an established international platform. Conceived in 2021 amidst global uncertainty by PiNA and UL ALUO (in collaboration with FKKT), the project has become a definitive reference point for interdisciplinary education at the intersection of design and science.
From Linear Education to Organic Exploration
As Boštjan Botas Kenda notes in the introduction, Design+Science is not merely an educational event but an "organigram that allows for every influence to be embraced." Over the past five years, the school has avoided molds and stereotypes; instead of chasing predetermined outcomes, it has encouraged participants to radically question the world around them.
Borut Jerman (PiNA) emphasizes that the project's path was never linear. It began as an experiment during the pandemic, when the need for new ways of thinking about the future was most urgent. Over time, the school transformed into a space where "transdisciplinarity through empathy becomes true coexistence."
A Five-Year Cycle: Key Themes
The publication provides a detailed record of all five editions, each of which tackled a pressing societal phenomenon:
- Synthetic Food (2021): Exploring the boundaries between the natural and the artificial in our diet.
- Cohabitation (2022): Moving away from an anthropocentric worldview toward understanding ecosystems where we share space with other species.
- Paraintelligence (2023): A critical analysis of artificial intelligence in comparison to the intelligence of plants and other biological systems.
- Subversive Realities (2024): Searching for alternative futures within rigid social systems.
- Reclaiming Hope (2025): Developing active hope as a tool for action in a time of polycrisis.
The Methodology of "Experience": More Than Just Theory
At the heart of Design+Science is an innovative experiential learning methodology that transcends traditional academic frameworks. The program is built on the premise that participants must first internalize a problem and "feel" it through direct field experience—via smell, taste, and touch. Only once this sensory and emotional bond is established does the process of designing speculative solutions begin.
The building blocks of this community include interactive workshops, research walks, and even shared meals, which serve as spaces for the informal exchange of knowledge. This approach allows participants to face complex challenges with greater depth and empathy.
Looking Ahead: From Summer School to Movement
Five years of testing and refining methodological approaches have shown that Design+Science is evolving far beyond a standard summer school. The project is expanding internationally, as evidenced by successful ties with the EUTOPIA network and active participation in the European Capital of Culture Nova Gorica 2025.
The primary goal for the future remains the empowerment of young creators and scientists to address contemporary challenges through critical thinking. The vision is even bolder: a push to integrate these proven methodologies into official institutional curricula. Design+Science is not just an occasional educational event; it is a growing movement that fosters responsibility toward oneself, society, and the environment, providing the tools to actively co-shape a better future.
Publication was co-created by Emil Kozole, Maja Drobne, Borut Jerman, Boštjan Botas Kenda in Marina Klemenčič. Design: Studio Ljudje. Publisher: KID PiNA.