Cheese production on the Slovenian Nanos plateau dates back to the sixteenth century. The 1572 Land Register of the Vipava Manor stated that those using the Nanos pasture land had to pay taxes in cash or in kind, with sheep or cheese and cottage cheese. The Vipava Dairy modernised its cheese production line in 1986; since then they’ve been making it from cow’s milk as well. Nanos cheese is slightly spicy and pleasantly salty. Gastronomically it ranks among the top-quality cheeses. (more…)

When & where: 18 October 2007, Ljubljana Castle

Every year Month of Design awards and highlights individuals, companies and organisations which have helped to raise standards and promote quality Slovenian design. This year we present them under the title Stars and Stories. We will announce a new member of the Timeless Slovenian Design collection, and six young promising designers. There will also be a presentation of the Design Catalogue, the official publication of Month of Design, published this year with Kontrast magazine.
At the opening ceremony, we will announce and award:

STARS:

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR 2007
The award criteria consider the raising of quality standards and promoting quality Slovenian design. The award is conferred on an individual who has exhibited a forward-looking and modern view of the design profession through their comprehensive and innovative approach.

INTERIOR OF THE YEAR 2007
The award honouring outstanding achievements in interior design is conferred on a designer, author or group of authors who have made notable progress in interior design through their dedication to the field.

FASHION CONTRAST OF THE YEAR 2007
The award is conferred on a fashion designer, author or group, who have made an important contribution to fashion design in recent years and had their creations manufactured.

NEW MEMBER OF THE TIMELESS SLOVENIAN DESIGN COLLECTION 2007
In 2004, Zavod Big introduced the collection Timeless Slovenian Design, which is aimed at presenting the most notable products by authors who have promoted design in practice at home and abroad. This year will see the announcement of a new member at the opening ceremony of Month of Design.

Previous years have seen the following names added to the collection as a result of their eye-catching designs: COCKTA (Sergej Pavlin, 1953), REX CHAIR (Niko Kralj, 1954), MICROPHONES (Marko Turk, 1963), KIOSK K-67 (Saša Mächtig, 1967), TOMOS ATX 50 MOTORCYCLE (Igor Rosa, 1983), ISKRA ETA 85 TELEPHONE (Davorin Savnik, 1985) and GONDOLA RECLINING CHAIRS (Oskar Kogoj, 1969).

DESIGN PROSPECTS 2007
This year the Design Prospect title will be awarded for the second time to promising designers working in product design, interior design and fashion design by established experts in the respective fields (two for each field) who put forward six up-and-coming names. The aim of the title is to present new talents and innovative approaches in design, and encourage young designers.

STORIES:

SUCCESS STORY 2007
The title is conferred on a company which uses quality design as a vital element in its business, development and market strategies. We will choose among companies which have achieved market success by skilfully incorporating design into their product, service and system development strategies.

A STORY OF A VISION 2007
The title is conferred on a company which utilises technological innovation and new design solutions as the basis of its development vision, and has achieved market success by skilfully incorporating design into their product, service and system development strategies.

A STORY OF KNOWLEDGE 2007
This year the title is conferred for the first time on a R&D or educational institution which is successfully translating technological advancement, innovation or methodologies as a design challenge into design theory and practice.

Photo: Matevž Paternoster

In five years, Month of Design has developed into a provoking and proactive platform for presenting and recognising creative individuals who consider persevering in being the basic survival skill.
It is because they differ from others that they reach beyond their time and beyond the confines of space.

In 2007, Month of Design has been finding inspiration in Mediterranean identities.

It poses questions, such as, is it the sea that is surrounded by land, or is it land that is surrounded by the sea? When does a child’s idea develop to become an archipelago of imagination, and where in a delta do saltwater and freshwater meet? It explores the pluralism of identities, the edges and borders. It seeks to know whether it is possible that, along the shorelines of the turbulent Mediterranean, creativity could become the strongest weapon, and the most precious energy.
It woos cities into unveiling themselves, invites shapes to disclose themselves, and worships thoughts so that they reveal themselves.
It will continue to do so every year until product designers are recognised as important pillars of culture of their civilisation, until the effects of design have gained recognition in the widest public, and until Slovenia is renowned throughout the world as a home of creative industries and individuals.
It will follow the winds from the north and south, gaze at all four corners of the Earth, sail the seas and plough the land, and employ boldness, adaptability and tenacity.

Mediterranean, welcome to Ljubljana.