Biennial of Design (BIO)

Contact

Bienale industrijskega oblikovanja (BIO)

Pot na Fužine 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana

http://www.bio.si

bio@mao.si

Phone386 (0) 1 548 4277

Organised byMuseum of Architecture and Design

 BIO Secretariat

Frequencybiennially (2010, 2012)

Events abroad

Past Events

• 28 Sep 2018

  to

  10 Oct 2018

  Austria Vienna Festival Headquarters

  
  programme

  
  

  
  

  The exhibition of projects developed for the Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT) by the AA nanotourism Visiting School in cooperation with the Biennial of Design (BIO), presented by Jakob Travnik, supported by the Slovenian Culture and Information Centre, Vienna (SKICA) (Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia Vienna),

  at the Vienna Design Week

  more

  
  

• 19 Sep 2018

  to

  23 Sep 2018

  United Kingdom London Open Cell

  
  programme

  
  

  
  

  The exhibition of four projects developed for the Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT) in the period 2014 - 2016 by AA nanotourism Visiting School in cooperation with the Biennial of Design (BIO) and the projects' presentation by Jakob Travnik in the Biodesign Here and Now program, supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia London,

  at the London Design Festival

  more

  
  

• 8 Apr 2012

  to

  11 Apr 2012

  Israel Holon Design Museum Holon

  
  programme

  
  

  
  

  Curator Špela Šubic from Museum of Architecture and Design / Biennial of Design (BIO) at the Holon Design Week, supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia Tel Aviv

  
  

  
  

  
  

Show more

The 2010 edition of the Biennial of Industrial Design at the Museum of Architecture and Design in Ljubljana. Biennial of Design (BIO) is one of the few international biennial exhibitions dedicated to showcasing industrial, product, and graphic design work selected by professional design institutions.

The Biennial of Industrial Design (BIO) is one of the few international biennial exhibitions dedicated to showcasing industrial, product, and graphic design work selected by professional design institutions. Established in 1963, and held in Ljubljana since 1964, the Biennial of Industrial Design has developed an excellent reputation as one of the world's oldest international design events. The main exhibition is organised by the BIO Secretariat, which operates under the aegis of the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO) (former Architecture Museum of Ljubljana) since the museum’s founding in 1972.

Mission

The Biennial of Industrial Design is a cultural event directly linked to various sectors, naming industry, the economy, the design profession, innovation, education, and development. Through its work the BIO Secretariat brings the activities of industry and the profession closer to the general public – spreading the awareness about the importance and development of industrial design, promoting Slovene design abroad, and presenting contemporary trends in the world of industrial design at home. In addition to the main BIO exhibition, many accompanying events take place during the period of the biennial – exhibitions, lectures, panel discussions, creative workshops for children and young people, and educational workshops for adults, among others.

Decisions on all essential elements of the exhibition, with the exception of the judging, are taken by the organising committee that consists of representatives of the Municipality of Ljubljana, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), the Ministry of Culture, businesses, designers, and the Museum of Architecture and Design.

Background

The Biennial of Industrial Design was founded as an exhibition which also demonstrated the capacity of the economy from the point of view of design. In the past, the biennial exhibitions were held at various locations in Ljubljana. In 2004 BIO 19 was held for the first time in the vast exhibition space at the Fužine Castle.

Recent editions

The 20th Biennial of October 2006 presented over 350 exhibits by designers from 17 countries (Slovene designers contributed 111 works), including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Croatia, Italy, Japan, China, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Works were presented in three groups: Regular industrial products, Visual messages, and Design projects. The venues of the biennial varied (in the centre of the city, at the castle, etc.). A fringe programme was also organised, including panels, exhibitions by foreign designers, presentations by publishing houses, and meetings of designer organisations, held in different cities across Slovenia.

The 21st Biennial of Industrial Design in 2008 was modernised in many ways. The BIO awards were redesigned, and the entire event received a new corporate identity, designed by Gigodesign, one of the award-winners of the 20th Biennial. For the first time in the history of the BIO the international Selection Committee examined all entries equally, be it industrial design and visual communications items or design concepts. The online registration for BIO 21 was possible for the first time – out of 421 submitted works only 126 works from 18 countries were exhibited. In addition to the main exhibition, an interesting accompanying program was prepared.

In October 2010 the BIO 22 presented works exhibited in three groups: Products, Product graphics and Information design, and Concepts. An accompanying exhibition Alvar Aalto, timeless expression was organised by Biennial of Industrial Design (BIO) Secretariat, Alvar Aalto Foundation and the Embassy of Finland in Slovenia at the National Museum of Slovenia - Metelkova.

Awards

The awards of the Biennial of Industrial Design (BIO Gold Medal, the BIO Quality Concept Award, the BIO Honourable Mentions, and the BIO Award for a Student Work) are selected by a prestigious international jury and presented at the opening ceremony. They represent a recognition of quality in design and all awarded works of the Biennial of Industrial Design are included in the international design collection of the Museum of Architecture and Design. Find more about the highest award in the article BIO Gold Medal.

International cooperation

The BIO Secretariat consolidated its orientation and independence in 1977 when it became an associate member of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). Furthermore it obtained the membership in the Bureau of European Designers' Associations (BEDA). It is also actively participating in the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA) and is partner in SEE project (Sharing Experience Europe: Policy Innovation Design).

In 2008 the Biennial of Industrial Design expanded its international promotion and cooperation to incorporate some of the most important international design organisations. BIO 21 was therefore advertised in all countries of the European Union and also in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Africa, and Japan. During the exhibition BIO 21 hosted a presentation of Design Management Europe Award, attended by the most notable experts on design and management in the world.

In autumn 2009 the travelling exhibition of BIO 21 award-winners was showcased in Tallin, Estonia in cooperation with the Estonian Association of Designers (EDL) as part of the Design Night 2009 event, and in Riga, Latvia in cooperation with the Design Information Center (DIC) as part of the Riga International Young Designers Biennial. The exhibition showed also the selection of Slovene works that were on display at the 21th Biennial of Industrial Design.

See also

• BIO Gold Medal
• Museum of Architecture and Design
• Museum of Architecture and Design Library
• Fužine Castle

External links

• BIO website (in English and Slovenian)
• BIO 19 catalogue (pdf)
• BIO 20 winners (pdf)
• The history of Slovenian industrial design on the Slovenia Times website

International networks

• BEDA website
• ICOGRADA website
• ICSID website
• SEE project website

International projects

• Design Management Europe Award website
• Design Night 2009 in Estonia
• Riga International Young Designers Biennial in Latvia

Gallery

BIO 27

BIO 27 2

The 21st BIO design award by Gigodesign, 2008

BIO Gold Medal award winners announced on the evening of the opening ceremony of the Biennial of Industrial Design (BIO) in 2010.

BIO Gold Medal award (manufactured by Rogaška glassworks), presented to award winners at Biennial of Industrial Design (BIO) 2010. Works that win BIO awards are included in the international design collection of the Architecture Museum of Ljubljana

The 2010 edition of the Biennial of Industrial Design at the Museum of Architecture and Design in Ljubljana. Biennial of Design (BIO) is one of the few international biennial exhibitions dedicated to showcasing industrial, product, and graphic design work selected by professional design institutions.

The 2010 edition of the Biennial of Industrial Design at the Museum of Architecture and Design. Since the first biennial in 1964 the BIO biennial in Ljubljana has presented exhibitions surveying the state of international design.

The 22th edition of the Biennial of Industrial Design (BIO) at the Museum of Architecture and Design in 2010. The Biennial of Design (BIO) in Ljubljana is one of the worldâs oldest international design events with a tradition of fifty years.

Pipistrel Taurus Electro, self-launching two-seat glider with retractable electric motor, designed by Ivo Boscarol and the Pipistrel company team (Slovenia), BIO Gold Medal winner. Exhibited in the courtyard of Fužine Castle, Museum of Architecture and Design, on the occasion of the 22nd Biennial of Industrial Design (BIO), 2010

One of the Biennial of Design exhibitions, held at the Museum of Architecture and Design, 2019

A group portrait of Biennial of Design 2019 participants, standing in front of the Central Technological Library in Ljubljana