Design Signals is FABER’s program invites designers to apply different media, techniques, skills and languages to explore the hidden narratives and the untapped resources within Timișoara and Romania, while questioning how design can evolve its strategies, practices and visions in order to actively participate in shaping alternative futures.
By Creatives Unite CommunityDeadline: May 4, 2025
Organizer: FABER
Who is it for: young and professional designers from various fields
Apply here
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About Design Signals: Chemical Industry
Design Signals program is interested in understanding from the local chemical production ecosystem which are the possible transformative challenges related to chemical processes and material development, transformation and application to which design can shed light onto, or actively participate in. Romania is an important participant in the chemical industry import/export: from scent synthesis, to stones extraction, to digital infrastructures development, Timisoara contributes at different scales in the large chemical global industry.
In Timisoara there are many agents active in chemical frontiers, in water purification treatments, in air pollution detection, in biological fabrication, in alternative construction materials, plastic manufacturing, metallurgical processes, medical frontiers, ecological reparations, body products, etc. Design Signals invites designers to join the FABER team of researchers, cultural practitioners and makers, in questioning the status quo of the chemical industry and contribute with their skills and vision in continuing prototyping research methods and design outcomes.
About the Open Call
With this call Design Signals invites young and professional designers with different interests, skills and vision on contemporary design to apply individually or collectively. The call invites makers, designers, information designers, coders, social designers, architects, multimedia designers, industrial designers, material designers, graphic designers, bio designers, or other areas of design practices wanting to engage with the chemical industry at the intersection with technological, manufacturing, ecological and social systems.
Applicants are invited to apply with a thematic interest and approach proposal related to the theme of the chemical industry.
Thematic interest and approach proposal guidelines
The curator will select thematic interest and approach proposals that demonstrate a critical vision and understanding of the chemical industry as a material, economic, environmental, political, or aesthetic component deeply entangled with the global networks of design, industry, infrastructure and consumption. Departing, crossing or ending in Timisoara, the thematic interest and approach proposal should be connected to chemical manufacturing or the chemical industry as a whole.
The aim of the exhibition is to present diverse research based projects developed by designers in collaboration with the local ecosystem. The thematic interest and approach proposals should be open to consider over the duration of the project agents, places, people, practices, techniques and design media which can potentially engage them and their practice with chemistry related design outcomes.
Read more here.
For the full application process and guidelines, please visit Design Signals' official website.
Applicants will be notified via email within a week of the application deadline, with the selected applicants being invited for an interview. Following the interviews round, a final four applicants will be selected. The chosen applicants will spend five months (May—September) developing their thematic interest and approach proposal into a research-based design project related to the chemical industry in the context of the design field. The selection will be made by Martina Muzi, the curator of the FABER design program. The research outcomes and final works will be presented to the public as part of the design exhibition at FABER in September 2025, and also in Romanian Design Week 2026.
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Main Image: Theme Photos on Unsplash
