Why Slovenia’s Creative Workforce Is Gaining Global Recognition
Occupying just over 20,000 square kilometers and a population barely exceeding two million, Slovenia is a relatively small nation, but one bursting with creative opportunity. Recognized as one of the most innovative countries globally, the central European country understands the importance of encouraging creative talent as a tool for solving the most pressing issues facing society today and tomorrow.
A creative history enabling an innovative future
Slovenia is the birthplace of some world-changing creators, such as the inventor of the perfume atomizer Peter Florjančič, rocket engineer and space flight visionary Herman Potočnik Noordung, and iconic architect Jože Plečnik. This has given way to the unique and inspired workforce of today.
The nation’s employees are instilled with creativity not only on account of their predecessors but through the country’s high quality of life, beautiful natural surroundings, and access to education. The Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia 2019 cites that almost half (42.7%) of young people in the country study or research at Slovenia’s globally renowned universities. And in 2018, a similar number (41.2%) graduated in science and engineering according to IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook.
Slovenia’s talent is the backbone of the country’s creative enterprises, pushing businesses to break boundaries and achieve great things both for the organizations in which they work as well as wider society. In fact, many Slovenian businesses are using their creative workforce to contribute towards environmental causes and leading the way by providing social impact through sustainable design.
Take, for instance, future mobility solutions company AV Living Lab, global sports products firm Elan, and coveted Slovenian design company, Donar, which makes furniture from recycled plastic materials.
A new era of success
Proving that a supportive business environment combined with the right creative talent is a recipe for success, Donar won a highly revered Red Dot Design Award in 2016 for its game-changing Nico Less chair. The company’s co-owner and creative director, Matej Feguš, currently focuses on implementing circular design thinking and management following a strategy based on care for environment, society, and user experience.
“[The Nico Less chair] was a challenge of ‘how to use waste as industrial material of the future’ and it was a big success. I guess this is the most awarded chair (worldwide) in the last years, which proves we are on the right path,” says Feguš.
“However, for me, recognitions or awards and approval from experts in the field of design, social and environmental responsibility only confirm that we’re hitting our sustainability goals.”
Recognizing the huge challenge that waste presents to humankind, Donar isn’t just concentrating on recycling, but reusing waste to create a product that is long lasting and has a higher emotional and material value.
As a Green Ambassador of Slovenia’s Economy, the company wants to expand beyond waste plastics and start using textile waste in the manufacturing process of new seating elements for everyday use. This, it is hoped, will create a bigger recognition of Donar worldwide.
“Our focus is to let the world know we have solutions that we can use to help clean the waste in our planet, to design and make products that can last a long time and be reused, refurbished and ultimately recycled into new products when their life cycle has come to an end,” Feguš says. “Products that never become waste!”
By doing so, Donar wants to lead by example, show other countries what’s possible and, ultimately, share its knowledge to help make an impact across the world.
“We are aware we cannot do it alone,” adds Feguš. “We need all heroes out there to help us in creating a better and more sustainable fu(rni)ture.”