Mladi Balkanski Dizajneri / Young Balkan Designers / is a regional talent platform founded by Mikser in 2011 with the support of partners from across the region, with the aim of identifying, promoting and developing the Balkans’ creative potential in the field of industrial design and motivating young designers to explore the role of design in sustainable development and social inclusion.

The initiative also aims at unifying the regional design scene, bringing it closer to the international market, strengthening its potential by providing additional education and practice, while at the same time contributes to the restoration of multi-cultural cooperation in the Balkan region. Participating designers, selected by the world’s prominent design figures through a regional YBD competition are given the opportunity to express their idea, realize their concepts, learn about production processes and expand their experience and network through diverse educational activities – lectures, workshops, residencies and exhibitions.

The latest edition of the YBD initiative entitled “Circular Design” focuses on the challenges of linear production and consumption and presents 7 ideas of young designers from all over the Balkans based on the principles of social economy, which enable life cycle and multiple purposes and product users.

The winners of the YBD competition whose projects are shown at the Mikser Festival 2021 are Marija Kojić, Milija Čpajak and Andjela Jerinić from Serbia, George Bosnas from Greece, Sara Badovinac and Maja Repotočnik from Slovenia. The projects are supported by some of the region’s most progressive furniture manufacturers. Prostoria and Nunc from Croatia, Zanat from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Gir and Boreal from Serbia enabled the young designers to realize their prototypes, gain market experience and propel their professional careers.

The international praise of the project comes by the Jury of one of the most relevant international design events International Furniture Fair in Milan which selected the winners of the Mikser competition for the fair’s prestigious talent section “Salone Satellite” with this year’s slogan: “Design for our future selves”. Before its international showcase in Milan, the premiere of the circular design exhibits takes place at the 12^th edition of the Mikser Festival where involved designers and manufacturers will discuss product development, as well as opportunities for further regional cooperation and mutual presentation at relevant international design events.