belgrade design week 2014 conferences open up a brand new world

belgrade design week 2014 conferences open up a brand new world

since 2005, belgrade design week has successfully forged intercultural and business connections between serbia and the south east european (SEE) region, the greater global design scene, and the city of belgrade. the initiative aims to serve as a platform and meeting point for creatives to engage in the exchange of ideas across a range of disciplines: advertising, architecture, arts management, communications, design, fashion, marketing, new media, publishing… the annual event brings forth an international conference delivered by approximately 30 international speakers who share their perspectives and personal developments in their respective fields. the 2014 conference program ‘brand new world’ sets opened up discussion regarding the creation of new values in today’s fast changing world.

some snapshots from the 2014 belgrade design week conferences

the three day conference saw the focus of a different theme on each day:
– the best in global and serbian architecture (october 9th)
– the best in global and serbian design (october 10th)
– the best in communication (october 11th)

nicolas le moigne presents recent projects of ECAL in collaboration with baccarat

keynote speakers on thursday, october 9th, 2014: architecture day

clockwise from top left:
massimiliano fuksas studio, italy;
kim herforth nielsen / 3XN, denmark;
studio drift, the netherlands;
ido garini / studio appétite, the netherlands;
bleed, norway;
zuzanna skalska, the netherlands.

keynote speakers on friday 10 october: design day

clockwise from top left:
tom strala, switzerland;
lang / baumann, switzerland;
nicolas le moigne, switzerland;
BBH / bartle bogle hegarty, UK;
jonas wagell, sweden;
christian kerez, switzerland.

keynote speakers on saturday october 11: communication day

clockwise from top left:
omar sosa, spain
igor kordey, croatia
michel rojkind, mexico
guido woska / designit, germany
nicholai wiig hansen, denmark
idis turato, croatia

view the full line-up of speakers here

serbian innovation session moderated by birgit lohmann, CEO + editor-in-chief, designboom (far right)
image © designboom

for the first time, BDW presented the ‘serbian innovation session’ bringing together serbian innovators from various fields of profession to engage in a discourse about their practice and work exprience. designboom co-CEO and editor-in-chief birgit lohmann was invited as an ‘agent provocateur’ to moderate the discussion, raise questions and provoke thought about creativity in the region.

swiss based architect christian kerez has won this year’s belgrade design week grand prix
portrait © designboom
see more about christian kerez’s presentation on designboom here

the BDW conference at the old staklopan factory
image © designboom

as part of the belgrade design week initiative, each year the organization finds a neglected piece of architecture within the serbian capital, rejuvenating it to serve as the main site of the conference and festival. after renovating the empty palace of federation, the bombed out hotel jugoslavija, the abandoned kluz department store, the shut down museum of contemporary art, along with numerous other locations in past years, BDW 2014 presents another polished gem of serbian industrial architectural heritage — the old STAKLOPAN factory, strahinjića bana street 7 – 9 in dorćol, injecting new life into it as a creative hub from october 6th to 12th, 2014.

‘phantasms on wheels’ installation by serbian artist nikola kolja božović
see more about this project on designboom here

‘out of the box’ – design made in israel exhibition

‘saddled’ by israel designer eilon armon (left) and ‘comfort #8’ inflatable wall installation by swiss architect duo lang / baumann (right)
images © designboom

in addition to the conferences, BDW 2014 offered various workshops and exhibitions including: BDW DIZAJNPARK, showcasing the latest design works of from over ten countries; international PKS DIZAJNLABS™ workshops (october 7th and 8th) that provided free educational sessions for creative professionals and training for business people in serbia; along with the edition of BDW’s 100%FUTURE SERBIA™ project which presents the work of 100 serbian designers, displayed in 100 shop windows throughout the city center.

the wafer-thin wash basins by konstantin grcic use LAUFEN’s saphirkeramik™

swiss bathroom manufacturer LAUFEN took their saphirkeramik™ installation to belgrade, presenting the concepts of konstantin grcic and toan nguyen — first featured by designboom during its exhibition at the 2014 salone del mobile. alongside the presentation, at the museum of contemporary art, marc viardot, director of marketing and products at LAUFEN, delivered a design business masterclass for entrepreneurs and designers. the in-depth talks enlightened delegates with his passion for designing, developing and communicating products, building brands and leading people through the creative process.

designboom is an international media partner of the 2014 belgrade design week. check our coverage and news of the festival’s happenings here.

belgrade design week founder and curator jovan jelovac and his wife vesna jelovac