ZGDW 2026

PROGRAM

ZGDW AWARD

Select Language

English

ZGDW AWARD FINALISTS /

Product Design

Jovana Mališić, Lejla Mehanoli Alić, Leja Rebolj

IKO

Project

The project “IKO – a Playground Ecosystem” addresses the growing alienation of children from the natural world, in which “safe” playgrounds are often filled with plastic elements that pollute ecosystems with microplastics over time. As a sustainable alternative, “IKO” proposes an evolving playground ecosystem based on a biocomposite developed from local waste materials – rosehip and jute – bound together with a strong organic binder.
The modules are designed to encourage movement and imagination. The flower is intended for jumping and stacking, the pollinator wings create passages and hiding places, and the decomposer invites dynamic rolling and balancing.
A distinctive aspect of the project lies in its integration with natural life cycles, driven by seasonal change. During the colder months, children take part in workshops where they develop new narratives and proposals, which are then transformed into new play elements in spring. By autumn, the material gradually returns to the soil, enriching it with nutrients.
Through this iterative process, “IKO” fosters a deeper connection between human and non-human communities and rethinks the future of play spaces, bringing us closer to a more equal and sustainable future.

Year

2026

Mentors and collaborators

Jure Miklavc, Professor (mentor)
Rok Kuhar, Associate Professor (co-mentor)
Barbara Prinčič, Professor (mentor)
Tim Prezelj, Assistant (co-mentor)
Barbara Predan, PhD, Full Professor (mentor)
Tamara Lašič Jurković, Assistant (mentor)
Damijan Stepančič, Assistant Professor (co-mentor)
Suzi Bricelj, Assistant Professor (co-mentor)

Jovana Mališić (project execution and design)
Lejla Mehanoli Alić (project execution and design)
Leja Rebolj (project execution and design)
Ana Kerševan (illustration)
Pia Križnar (illustration)

Institution

University of Ljubljana, Academy of Fine Arts and Design

Author

Jovana Mališić, Lejla Mehanoli Alić and Leja Rebolj form a creative team working across industrial and product design.

Jovana Mališić is a master’s student in Industrial Design at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana, having completed her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Applied Arts in Serbia. Her projects are characterised by a thoughtful and playful approach, while her professional experience has broadened her interests from industrial design to graphic design and education.

Lejla Mehanoli Alić is a product designer from Sarajevo focused on human-centred, inclusive and socially engaged design. She develops products, services and experiences that balance purpose, emotional value and meaningful user experience. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the “BDC Global Exhibition 2026” in New York, and she received the Zagreb Design Week 2024 award in the textile and fashion design category.

Leja Rebolj is a Slovenian Industrial Design student at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana. Her practice combines product, service and sustainable design with material innovation. Through her brand ELERE, she explores circular bio-based materials, while her project “Pomter – Packaging from Potato Peel” has been presented internationally, including at exhibitions in Budapest and Barcelona.