On May 22 and 23, 2025, the ninth edition of the Italian Design Day in Slovenia will take place - an important opportunity to celebrate and promote the excellence of the Italian design. The event is part of an integrated promotion strategy developed and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, aiming to encourage international dialogue in the sector and strengthen the presence of Italian design on the global stage.
The showcase is held within the Big Architecture festival, a key event for architects, interior designers, and industry professionals in Southeast Europe. In addition to exhibition spaces, the event features a rich program of conferences and networking opportunities, fostering dialogue and innovation in the world of design and architecture. One of the most significant moments of the event is the awards ceremony for architects and designers from across the region, including Italy, in the Architecture and Interior Design categories. The 2024 edition saw the participation of two thousand visitors, with around fifty exhibiting companies at the Trade Show - four of which were Italian - and over six hundred awarded projects. The event continues to highlight creativity, talent, and innovation on an international scale.
The Embassy of Italy in Slovenia, in collaboration with the ICE Agency Office in Ljubljana, has curated an exhibition space within Big Architecture, hosting the showcase "Photography for Lifetime Achievement". A Tribute from Italian Photography to the Compasso d'Oro Masters. Organized by ADI - Association for Industrial Design, the exhibition celebrates the profound connection between photography and design through a selection of poster-sized images paying tribute to great masters who received the Compasso d'Oro Lifetime Achievement Award. These portraits, reinterpreted through the lens of Italian photographers, offer a fresh perspective on the figures who have shaped the history of design. The initiative seeks to highlight photography not only as a documentary tool but also as a creative medium, contributing to the promotion and success of Italian design worldwide.
This year's theme, "Inequalities: Design for a Better Life," draws inspiration from the International Exhibition of the Triennale di Milano, inaugurated on May 13 and open until November 9, 2025. The event explores the role of design in mitigating inequalities and their impact on people's daily well-being. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for reflection on sustainable strategies for urban regeneration and transformation, where design and architecture become tools for creating new community models.
