Group for International Design Education Redesigns Ljubljana Bridges

Ambassador Mussomeli meets the representatives from of the College of Visual Arts and Design, University of North Texas (Photo State Department)

The U.S. Embassy supported GIDE Ljubljana 2013, which was titled this year as an "Invitation to Dinner." GIDE is an international consortium of higher education design institutions which work together to enrich the experience of students in the areas of 3-D modeling, architecture and interior design. Beginning this year, the program also included industrial and interactive design, along with art and interdisciplinary design practice. 

GIDE was founded in 2OO3 and consists of seven main partner colleges in Scotland, Slovenia, England, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The consortium promotes the exchange of design education with an ethical dimension; exploring multidisciplinary and intercultural experiences; and, working practices and competences. Academics and students investigate a common theme: sharing experiences, cultures, and design capabilities. The different approaches to project design and varied perspectives brought to the disciplines by each participating school help to make this project an interesting opportunity to question the role that the design of spaces and 3-D design have in developing new concepts of contemporary living. 

This year students and their mentors, organized into twelve groups, had to redesign twelve Ljubljana bridges. Representatives of the College of Visual Arts and Design, University of North Texas, were also part of this year’s GIDE event. The program celebrated its 10^th anniversary at the conclusion of the 2013 session.