Imagine a chair made of recycled paper that “blossoms under the rain if it is ever trashed” (Bits to Atoms – Lebanon). Imagine a worm that decomposes otherwise non-biodegradable plastic and turns it into eatable nutrients as well as a new form of sustainable bio-plastic (circology - Germany). Imagine a textile production site that not only produces sustainable textile but purifies the water used in the production process and enriches it with nutrients (Cradle to Cradle – Germany/USA). Imagine clothes for children that grow with them, as they grow (petit pli - UK). Designing in a sustainable and circular way that fruitfully contributes to bio-diversity and the environment is not just a dream, but actually possible!
This program equips emerging designers, creatives and entrepreneurs from various backgrounds such as architecture, fashion, product or packaging design who are based in either Jordan, Lebanon or Iraq, with the knowledge and guidance to develop and apply sustainable materials in various contexts and turn their ideas and approaches into sustainable products and businesses.
Through weekly online workshops and experience inputs, combined with offline field trips and practical challenges, the program provides an overview of recent trends from the field of sustainable material innovation and entrepreneurship as well as hands-on practical techniques! We invite you to first unthink conventional knowledge while learning about new approaches from urban mining (recycling and upcycling) to bio-materials and material processing. We then guide you in the process of specifying your own ideas using design research methodologies and developing them into a sustainable business model, from ideation to business planning and financing. A final design fair at the end of the program in Amman provides you with the unique opportunity to showcase your work, exchange knowledge and ideas with peers and network with relevant stakeholders from the entire region. For more details, please see the program below.
The program is free of charge and travel costs will be covered for the selected participants. The program also includes a small stipend for each participant to cover production costs. Participants are required to commit to being present in all training modules, complete the required tasks and deliver a final project to be exhibited during the design fair in Amman.
This program is realized in the framework of takween. takween is an integrative creative industry hub which aims to support designers and creative entrepreneurs in Jordan through a series of learning opportunities and community-building initiatives. The hub has been initiated as a collaboration between the Goethe-Institut and platform27 in 2018. Focusing on creative growth, takween offers learning modules, creative mentorship, residencies, train-the-trainer programs, grants and networking opportunities, as well as workspaces and facilities for designers in a creative space in Jabal Amman.
Cooperation
The project “Cultural and Creative Industries” is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut. It improves employment and income opportunities for creative professionals in six partner countries; Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa and operates mainly in the music, fashion, design and animation sectors. In addition to promoting the development of entrepreneurial, digital, creative and technical skills through training programmes, the project aims to strengthen the framework conditions and the ecosystem of the cultural and creative industries.
