Third-year high school students in the Product Designer program (SŠOF Ljubljana) participated in a three-day workshop in Pliskovica from May 12 to 14, 2025, where they combined design, architecture, and exploration of the Karst cultural landscape.
The workshop was designed as a holistic creative process—from the initial idea to the final execution in stone—and serves as an example of integrating education, materials, and space, as well as hands-on work in a real-world environment.
During the preparatory phase in Ljubljana, the high school students, under the guidance of VSOM Dean Anton Marn and Tomaž Vadjunec, learned about the basic properties of natural stone and the processes involved in its processing.
With the support of mentors and professors from SŠOF, they developed their own conceptual designs, which they then implemented in the field.
In Pliskovica, participants expanded their knowledge through hands-on workshops:
-carving letters into stone,
-architectural drawing,
-exploring Karst architecture and the cultural landscape.
This approach allows for an understanding of materials, space, and design as a whole.
The workshop placed special emphasis on interpreting the creative legacy of architect Jože Plečnik.
The high school students translated his principles into a collaborative stone sculpture, blending historical tradition with contemporary design thinking.
The result of this three-day process is a series of carved motifs, sketches, and the invaluable experience of working directly with the material.
The workshop once again underscored the importance of integrating design, space, and heritage, and provided young creators with hands-on experience in a real-world setting.
Location: Pliskovica Youth Hostel (Hostel Kras).
More about the course Material Design.
