Young Balkan Designers is a regional talent platform founded in 2011 with the aim to identify, promote and develop creative potential of the Balkan region, in the field of product design. The initiative also aims at unifying regional design scene, bringing it closer to the international market, strengthening its creative potential by offering additional education and practice, while at the same time contributes to the restoration of multi-cultural cooperation in the Balkan region.

Calling out for activism and design advocacy, Young Balkan Designers project has gathered vital design forces throughout the region and resulted in foundation of the Balkan Design Network, an innovative platform established with the aim of articulating and providing long-term strategic support for the development and promotion of the Balkan design, both within the region and at European and international level.

Young Balkan Designers slogan for 2016 - New Analogue - calls for products, concepts, services and scenarios that are bringing human touch back into design process and manufacturing, linking them directly to materials, crafts and techniques available in the Balkan culture.

If selected, designers commit to participate in the Young Balkan Designers exhibition, to produce their prototype and secure their transportation to Belgrade, Serbia by 5 June 2016.

There is no entry fee.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all persons aged 35 years and younger, from the following countries: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey.

Prize

Jury selects the best 40 works to be presented in Talent Project Exhibition, at Mikser Festival 2016 in Belgrade, from 8 to 12 June. Best-selected prototypes will be included in YBD 2016 touring exhibition at regional design festivals.

Moreover, five selected projects will be produced and presented at Pure Talents 2017 exhibition at International Furniture Fair IMM in Cologne 2017.