Designers Society of Slovenia (DOS)
Mission
DOS has been a member of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) since 1961. In 1963 it was one of the co-organisers for the founding congress of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA) in Bled, Slovenia. The society was one of initiators of the Architecture Museum of Ljubljana and the Biennial of Industrial Design (BIO).
The core objectives of the Designers Society of Slovenia are to raise the professional criteria, to provide a platform for evaluation of design work, and to be a partner in the professional dialogue with the state. The society furthermore organises competitions, creative workshops, panel discussions, retrospective exhibitions, and other public presentations of its members.
To mark the title of the World Book Capital Ljubljana 2010 the Designers Society of Slovenia organised a conceptual exhibition of selected works, named Oblikobranje (Form–reading). Numerous exhibitions have contributed to the promotion of Slovene design at home and abroad.
The society has vigourously pursued the fulfilment of its mission in the sphere of design and creativity. It is looking towards the future. Due to globalisation and the development of new technologies, which greatly influence the position of designers, its members are encouraged to adapt to new supranational trends and find their own ‘Slovene Route’.
Exhibitions
Biennial exhibitions of DOS members are arranged to showcase their work, and to inform the interested public about Slovene design, usually set at Cankarjev dom in February.
The 2019 edition of the biennial was titled D...esign. Between vision and reality and it showcased the works of the society's members, but also adressed their position in the context of Slovenian and international design.
Also in 2019, members of the Designers Society of Slovenia initiated considerations about the possible future models and the role of design in our society as a part of the Month of Design. Namely, the society presented an excerpt of the exhibition Oh...Design!, which provided an insight into the contemporary state of design.