The Museum of Architecture and Design in Ljubljana is launching an open call for participation in FARAWAY, SO CLOSE – 25th Biennial of Design, curated by editor and curator Angela Rui and MAO curator Maja Vardjan.

The open call is dedicated to designers, architects, filmmakers, graphic designers, interaction designers, illustrators, writers, animators, photographers, researchers and other interdisciplinary agents who see the biennial as an experimental, collaborative platform for testing, developing and sharing their own approaches and expertise around the issues and structure of the new biennial format.

Seven well-known individuals from host-country Slovenia have been selected for their unique personal and professional projects outside the field of design. Their knowledge and originality will be interpreted by seven international creative figures chosen for their ability to use design and architecture as tools for investigating contemporary issues. By testing disciplines outside their comfort zone, FARAWAY, SO CLOSE will present possible scenarios that enquire into global as well as local issues.

Selected participants will work within seven teams: Andrej Detela and Studio Formafantasma on UNDERGROUND RELEASE, Matej Feguš and Matali Crasset on OCCUPYING WOODS, Iztok Kovač and Point Supreme on AFTER UTOPIA, Mojca Kumrdej and Didier Faustino on BRAND NEW-COEXISTENCE, Klemen Košir and Studio Mischer’Traxler on COUNTRYSIDE RELOADED, Renata Salecl and Studio Folder on resilience of the Past, and Marin Medak and Odo Fioravanti on NEW HEROES.

After choosing a team, the selected participants will actively join their research and design process, which will start with the Kick-off event in September 2016 in Ljubljana.

From 25 May to 29 October 2017 in Ljubljana, FARAWAY, SO CLOSE – the 25th Biennial of Design – will present seven local interventions along with the outcomes of the exploratory work of each project team, gathered under the main exhibition umbrella and accompanied by the dedicated catalogue.


APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10 July, 2016

Apply at bio.si!

More information about the concept and teams can be found here.