This project was started as part of The 27th Slovenian design biennale BIO27 – Supervernaculars in 2022. The objective was to use the possibility of the biennale to interrogate its practices and future. We wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the environmental and social impact of BIO 27 and how we can make a positive change. The result of the project is, among others, this open-source toolkit that provides guidelines, methods, practical steps and a selection of calculators and resources for a sustainable transition within the cultural sector. It is intended for any individual or organisation that creates, defines, publishes, produces, distributes and uses cultural production within a museum (or cultural) environment, who want to make informed decisions regarding sustainable operations.

“Museums assume an active and indispensable role in society. They safeguard our future generations’ engagement in cultural heritage. Collecting, conserving, researching, and educating are important tasks in the work of museums. At the same time, they are actors themselves, places that contribute to a socially, ecologically, and culturally conscious society by incorporating the future of our life worlds.”

— Jeannette Stoschek, Provisional Director of the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig (Beck-Mannagetta 2020, 10)

Futuring is the field of using a systematic process for thinking about and planning for the future; picturing possible outcomes. Or as Tony Fry explained, »Design Futuring argues that responding to ethical, political, social and ecological concerns requires a new type of practice which recognises design's importance in overcoming a world made unsustainable.« We are Futuring.

Žan Kobal is a Slovene designer, researcher, and writer. After graduating in Industrial Design (cum laude) at the University of Ljubljana Academy of Fine Arts and Design (SI), he continued his studies at Design Academy Eindhoven (NL) obtaining a Master’s degree (cum laude) in Contextual Design. Approaching design as an investigative medium, his work often crosses the traditional boundaries of design by delving into film and installation to frame objects as narration devices, unfolding how material, craft and discourse co-create reality.

Tamara Lašič Jurković is an interdisciplinary designer, researcher, author, and assistant professor. She obtained her master’s degree in industrial design in 2020 from the University in Ljubljana Academy of Fine Arts and Design. In her work, she focuses on environmental and societal problems of the 21st century and the role of design in their consideration. Since 2020, she has been collaborating with the design studio Ljudje, where she co-creates socially responsible campaigns, creative workshops and exhibitions. Since 2022 she works as an assistant professor at the University of Ljubljana Academy of Fine Arts and Design.

Barbara Predan is an assistant professor, theoretician, lecturer, and author. She is also a co-founder and leader of the department of design theory at the Pekinpah Association, and the director of the Institute of Design. She has published several professional and scholarly articles and is the author or co-author of six books, has edited ten books and curated twenty exhibitions. Since 2009 she teaches at the University of Ljubljana Academy of Fine Arts and Design and regularly lectures at international academic and professional conferences.

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