Nova Iskra announces call for memebership of designer’s lab for the 2014 cycle

Design incubator Nova Iskra has announced its second annual call for members who will use its multifunctional space in downtown Belgrade, intended for young designers and creative professionals. This year a scholarship is also available for a full annual membership free of charge, as part of our ongoing collaboration with ERSTE bank in Serbia.

With the start of the new season, Nova Iskra is opening its doors to new talented creatives who would like to become a part of a wide network of professional members. Nova Iskra offers an entirely new way of working based on the “hub” principle, a model of informal networking of creative individuals and teams. At the same time, the intention is to respond to an increasing need of professional workspace for the local authors of younger generation, those who are interested in professional development, practical work and communication to potential clients and  collaborators.

Multifunctional space of Nova Iskra takes up 350m2 u at the Gavrila Principa street, and is fully refurbished based on the design by the local architectural studio Petokraka, while its central part represents DESIGNERS LAB, 18 fully equipped working units. It is the closest network of Nova Iskra collaborators of Nova Iskra – up to 20 designers of various profiles can have a chance to use the advantages of this space based on a monthly membership. The open call is related to the use of the communal space on a coworking principle, and is intended for all interested young professionals ages 22 to 35, from a wide range of design disciplines – from interior and product design, over architecture to graphic design, web and other forms of visual communications.

Each of the available working units is made up of an “Iskra” work table, 27″ Samsung screen, lamp, drawers and a personal locker.  Members of DESIGNERS LAB have a chance to use all of the accompanying services, spaces and equipment intended for their work – fast wi-fi connection, conference room, modeling craft workshop, photo-corner and other gear, as well as design library, office materials and kitchen. Nova Iskra also regularly presents educational programes in which members of the DESIGNERS LAB have the priority of participation. Working units will be available to the selected users at 100 EUR per month, based on a 12-month contract.

This year, in collaboration with ERSTE Bank we are for the first time securing a full scholarship for a DEISGNERS LAB membership. Candidates which pass the initial selection will be hand-picked by the representatives of ERSTE to use all of the advantages of DESIGNERS LAB over the course of 2014 – absolutely free of charge.

In order to apply, you need to fill in the form http://novaiskra.guruserve.com/NOVA_ISKRA_-_Formular.doc and send it to office@novaiskra.com (with subject “DL appplication”), alongside your portfolio and CV.

Portfolio needs to have short descriptions for each of the submitted works, and sign if the work has been realized or not (which will not affect the application). Nova Iskra team will conduct interviews with all of the candidates which pass the initial selection, in order to get an insight into their work and potential for collaboration. Motivation for personal development and collaborative work, as well as need of workspace will be among the main criteria of selection.

The deadline for applications is November 20th at 23.59. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Interested candidates and other colleagues from the design field can visit Nova Iskra and get directly informed about the conditions of membership during the Open Days of Nova Iskra, which are scheduled for November 8th and 15th, from 4 to 6 PM.