Design Centre

Located at the M-Lab Laboratory Centre, the design laboratory (D-Lab) conducts design research focused on sustainable design: design of sustainable materials and products using digital manufacturing and experimental design technologies; strategic product and service design system solutions, and the application of design to organizational changes or the development of more sustainable policies.

Topics such as “Circular Design,” “Biomimicry,” “Sustainable Materials,” “Smart and Sustainable Fashion,” “Design for Socio-tech Transitions” are aimed at transforming business or public sector products and services, user habits, ways of living, and the environment.

This lab merges art and science to create a new creative and scientific symbiosis. The research integrates artistic and scientific methods, yielding both practical and theoretical results. Practical outcomes include the design of new materials, sustainable products, their designs, and new brand identities for sustainable design services and products. Theoretical results contribute to the deployment of innovations in business and public sectors through design, as well as to the new knowledge base within the science and art communities, opening new academic research directions.

Part of D-Lab is the sustainable prototyping laboratory “O-labas,” where the “zero kilometer” philosophy and digital manufacturing technologies allow the development of new products and materials, applying circular design and economy principles, thus shaping sustainable attitudes in both businesses and among consumers. The lab conducts design research experiments and delivers prototypes for sustainable design projects. From 2024, collaboration continues with companies and individual innovators who participated in the 2023 “CD-TOOLS” project (https://circuloop.lt/app/#/); a “MaterialLibrary” is initiated; students are involved in the lab activities.

Services provided by D-Lab:

• Product or Service Design – Design of industrial products, fashion, packaging, etc., aiming for more sustainable solutions for business based on the principles of the circular economy.
• Branding for Green Transition – Branding/re-branding to represent company’s sustainability intentions and actions towards green transition.
• Design Research and Feasibility Studies – Experimental research applying design to sustainable innovations. For example: using production waste in additive manufacturing and product design; creating design-driven innovation strategies; circular transformation feasibility studies.
• Design Workshops – Workshops designed to generate, define, and prototype product and service ideas, aiming for organizational process changes, team building, public sector innovations, and policy development.
• Prototyping and Material Library – Companies and individuals (designers, architects, etc.) can use the lab’s services and the materials library based on membership. The lab offers equipment with exceptional functionality, such as ceramic 3D printing, robotic CNC, and others, along with sustainable prototyping materials.

Sewing courses

Professional sewing courses in the modern KTU sewing laboratory. Embrace your passion for sewing! We invite everyone who wants to understand how a garment is born, to learn how to make garments from start to finish, and if you already know how to sew, you can improve your skills by creating unique and complex garment designs. Choose the programme that suits your abilities from the 4 different difficulty levels available.

Clothing construction courses

Think like a designer! Possibly the only professional clothing construction and pattern making course in Lithuania. Our aim is not to teach you how to construct using a certain methodology, our aim is to teach you the essence of design and to adopt a construction mindset, which allows you to construct using any methodology that exists in the world.

The instructor of the course is Kęstutis Lekeckas.

DesignLibrary Network

DesignLibrary, the first library entirely dedicated to design was established in Milan in April 2006 in occasion of the Milan Design Week, in collaboration with Electrolux and patronage of ADI (Industrial Design Association). The Italian format of DesignLibrary Milano is considered the model as the basis of the other DesignLibrary branches in Shanghai (2007) and Istanbul (2009): the fourth branch DesignLibrary Kaunas was opened in 2016 in Lithuania.

Location

Santaka Valley, KTU Science, Technology and Business Centre, 3^rd floor, K. Barsausko str. 59, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Aim of the project

Raise awareness about design, science, arts and current trends, diffuse and share Design culture, and promote the collaboration between studies, science/arts and business, development of Lithuanian design and creative sector locally and internationally.

Vision

Be an innovative design-environment for students, universities, companies, designers and creative entrepreneurs, by inviting to collect and share design-based knowledge. A strategic platform, in the current social-economic context, that will be a tangible result in innovation field and integration between EU’s countries of North-East European area.

DesignLibrary Kaunas is:

• a design documentation, consultation and cultural promotion centre;
• a global design network;
• a meeting place for those who gravitate around design world: companies, designers, students, professionals and design lovers.

The collection

DesignLibrary network has a collection of 21,000 publications, in Kaunas you will find a collection of around 4,500 volumes, which includes precisely selected books, international magazines, historical product catalogues of Italian design companies; works by local publishers on design, architecture, art and culture were also selected.

Activities

• Library
• “Design Thursdays” conferences
• Design courses, summer schools
• Networking
• Design trend reviews and consultations

Design Thursdays

“Design Thursdays” are events in which creators, scientists, innovators and other interesting profiles from Lithuania and all over the world share their most relevant knowledge about design. The events are based on the weekly Italian format “Giovedì del design” organized since 2006. Design Thursdays can be watched by online streaming, and so far they have reached more than 3300 views.

Environment

The main partners that have supported DesignLibrary Milano are well-known Italian design companies, such as Alias, Antoniolupi, Artemide, Biticino, Bysteel, Bose, Cappellini, Danese, Foscarini, Kartell, Knoll, Luceplan, Magis, Pioneer and Samsung. Italian companies such as Reggiani Lighting and Living Divani, together with Lithuanian ones as G-forma, Ergolain, Ulmas, Miltecha, Gretsch-Unitas Group, Hydro and more have contributed to replicate the same interior design concept and identity of the main library in Milan and the other branches.

Membership

The access to the iconographic collections and the cultural activities organized in all the branches around the world are available to DesignLibrary network’s members. After paying an annual registration fee, members receive an identification card that allows them the access to all services offered by the other libraries around the world (Milan, Shanghai, Istanbul, Kaunas). There are two types of memberships:

Private membership: to individuals (25 eur) or KTU students (5 eur)

Corporate membership: to companies (750 eur)

What do private members benefit from the network?

• use the historical archive and location for research in all DesignLibrary branches around the world;
• attend conferences, presentations, exhibitions and other events;
• attend design-based courses and summer schools;
• share knowledge and experiences between associated members;
• present themselves through the global network during design events;
• access to more than 50,000 international contacts in between companies, institutions, students, architects and design professionals;

What do corporate members benefit from the network?

• access to DesignLibrary location for company’s events and exhibitions;
• inquire design research service for the specific needs of the company;
• HR recruitment;

Working hours and contacts

Mon-Fri, 10-18h. Contact us at info.kaunas@designlibrary.it

DesignLibrary Kaunas webiste, Facebook, Instagram.

DesignFriends

While creating DesignFriends, we knew that it would be more than a simple coworking space. We offer an area of 100 m² suitable for freelancers, start-ups and companies up to 20 people. Join a network of designers, architects, developers, marketing and management experts, as well as other creative personalities. Membership benefits and prices can be found here: DesignFriends.

Location

Santaka Valley, KTU Science, Technology and Business Centre, 2^nd floor, K. Barsausko str. 59, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Working hours and contacts

I-VII, 8-22h Contact us at info@designfriends.org

DesignFriends, Facebook, Instagram