From June 5 to 8, the European Design Festival 2025 was held in the vibrant city of Ljubljana, leading up to the awards ceremony and featuring a diverse programme of events. The most creative people from the design community were brought together for an inspiring exchange of ideas, experiences and creative perspectives.
The Institute of Creativity and Innovation, Xiamen University (ICI) was proud to be the first Chinese school invited to participate in the prestigious European Design Awards Students Exhibition, showcasing student works from three of its programs: Digital Media Arts (DMA), Environmental Design (ED), and Visual Communication Design (VCD). These featured projects represent a wide range of design disciplines and perspectives, unified by individual interpretations of ex-centric—and at times, eccentric—design.
In embracing the diversity of creative disciplines and pushing the boundaries of design, students were encouraged to explore new frontiers with an unconventional mindset and an intercultural, interdisciplinary approach. They transformed foundational principles into imaginative expressions, integrating contemporary digital, spatial, and artistic elements. The resulting works reflect the overarching theme of the exhibition: the plurality of creative approaches. Each piece addresses issues relevant to today’s society: inclusion, sustainable development, and a shared aspiration for a better global future.
On June 6, the ICI exhibition opening was held at the open air gallery space TAM TAM Figovec. Radovan Arnold, President of the Brumen Foundation (organizer of this year's Festival), Tomaž Drozg, Founder of TAM TAM, and ICI representatives Nace Pušnik and Gurpreet Dhanjal, attended the opening along with guests and the participating designers. This event was acknowledged as a highly productive dialogue that offered valuable cross-cultural perspectives and inspirations.
Although still a young institution, ICI has quickly gained a reputation for being bold, progressive, and forward-thinking. Its participation in this international exhibition not only reaffirms its commitment to design excellence but also injects new energies into the wider design community. It stands as a testament to ICI’s rapid growth and its mission to nurture the next generation of creative leaders—designers equipped to thrive in an ever-evolving global design landscape.
Photo by Tadej Kreft, TAM-TAM
Related Links:
https://tam-tam.si/figovec-razstava-iz-srediscno-oblikovanje/
https://tam-tam.si/figovec-iz-srediscno-oblikovanje/
https://europeandesign.org/ici-student-exhibition-opening-ex-centric-design/
