Apply for Design Matters Lab Programme

This 10-month programme will equip teams of designers and micro-factories to transform ideas into reality. Through online workshops, on-site residencies, and market-testing activities for participants will innovate new products and prepare them for global exposure and impact.

Objectives

• This programme aims to facilitate and forge strong connections between Europe and Indonesia by fostering co-creation and collaboration through:
  • Promoting design diplomacy through cultural understanding and global collaboration.
  • Tackling local waste and climate challenges in Indonesia by harnessing innovation.
  • Encouraging positive behavioural changes that promote sustainable living.
  • Leveraging indigenous knowledge to raise awareness about sustainable practices.
  • Fostering a sustainable economic model through disruptive micro-factories.

Funding Information

• The participants selected will receive support, including:
  • Participant Fee: € 1500/participant
  • Product Research and Prototyping Fund: Up to € 500/group. The final amount will be based on the specific development and production needs of your approved design
  • Fully-funded residency, includes:
    • Roundtrip airfare to Indonesia
    • Accommodation
    • In-country transportation
    • Daily living stipend

Benefits

• This opportunity unlocks a world of possibilities for your creative journey:
  • Expand Your Network: Forge valuable connections with other creative minds and access professional development resources focusing on, but not limited to, material and product development, innovative design processes, and strategies for raising your professional profile.
  • Sustainable Innovation: Explore the exciting potential of alternative materials to encourage positive behavioural shifts towards sustainable living.
  • Craft the Future: Ignite a spirit of innovation and experimentation within the craft community, pushing the boundaries of design possibilities.
  • Collaboration: Investigate best practices for collaboration between material developers, product designers, and micro-factories, fostering synergy within the design and production landscape.
  • Bridging Borders: Foster potential future partnerships between the EU and Indonesia, creating exciting opportunities for collaboration in design and production.
  • Local Impact, Global Reach: Drive impactful storytelling and in-depth discussions around local problem-solving, creating solutions with global implications.

Eligibility Criteria

• Here’s what you need to be eligible for this exciting programme:
  • Minimum of 3 years’ professional experience working in craft, design, making, 3D modelling, or material development within relevant fields, such as:
    • Fashion and Accessories
    • Building Materials and Construction
    • Homewares
    • Furniture
    • Toys and Education Tools
    • Packaging and Containers
  • For material designers, familiarity with developing alternative materials and/or products for craft and design purposes.
  • For product designers, experience in producing products and/or working with industries.
  • Currently residing in Indonesia or Europe (France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, or the UK) for the program duration.
  • Comfort working in teams with other designers and micro-factories.
  • Experience with process-driven experimentation.
  • Comfort using online platforms for communication with designated partners and the wider team.
  • Full commitment to participating in all program phases, including online sessions, offline residency, public engagement events, and production phases.
  • Committed to completing the 10-month program, which will consist of 5 weeks of online bootcamp with a 3-hour per week commitment, 14 days of onsite residency in Indonesia, and time for other follow up activities related to the program, such as talk shows, exhibitions, production quality control.
  • Comfort using English as the main communication language.

For more information, visit Goethe-Institut.