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Celebrating 60 years of the Designers Society of Slovenia

25.01.2012 Features

On the occasion of its 60 anniversary, Designers Society of Slovenia share their views and goals as a mature design organisation along with key developments in the history of the society.

Slovene designers established their society in the middle of the 20 century, shortly after World War II. Its history reaches back to 1951. In its 60 years of existence, has united the foremost designers, painters, sculptors and architects and proudly bears the title of the oldest professional society of designers in Slovenia.

A professional, non-profit association, the Designers Society of Slovenia encourages the highest standards of practice and promotes the vital role of design in cultural identity. It unites designers from the fields of industrial, graphic, communication and spatial design. The society aims to promote the designer's trade, organise exhibitions and other public presentations of its members and establish bonds between designers and consumers/clients. High ethical standards are key to the societies' activity. Membership in the association is determined by the combined aims and aspirations for society and an individual's professional skills rather than personal views on aesthetics.

This auspicious jubilee is an occasion to highlight a few important events in the society's history.

In 1962 DOS initiated an action plan and cooperation with industry and laid out the concept of a biennial exhibition of industrial design known as BIO. Delegates from DOS attended IcogradaÂ’s inaugural assembly in 1963 and hosted the Icograda 1966 Congress, the General Assembly and the first Student Seminar in Bled.

In the former Yugoslavia the society had already established the operating standards in design and laid out the basic points for the evaluation of a designerÂ’s professional activity. In 1979 it issued the first recommendation on how to evaluate designerÂ’s work.

In 1992 the society organised the International Congress and general assembly of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid). For a short time this event transformed Ljubljana and Slovenia into a designer's metropolis.

As representatives on planning committees in various galleries, museums and newspapers members of DOS have collaborated in framing the artsÂ’ policy for these cultural institutions. They have also influenced editorial strategies for books and publications in the field of culture and the arts. The society has established essential connections in the field of design on the national as well as the international level and became a fully authorised member of international designers associations such as Icograda, Icsid, WWC and BEDA.

The Designers Society of Slovenia has vigourously pursued the fulfilment of its mission in the sphere of design and creativity. Today DOS looks towards the future since designerÂ’s skills offer limitless emerging possibilities. Due to globalisation and the development of new technologies, which greatly influence the position of designers, its members must adapt to new supranational trends and find their own Â‘Slovene RouteÂ’ in this competitive world. Acknowledging design as an important driving force in our economy, culture and social life will answer many problem in the modern world.