Open Call | Circular Cultures Design School 2025

“The term ‘radical affection’ […] is a call for tender acts of individual and collective imagination through which new axes of caring, connection, and resilience might be forged.”—Carolyn F. Strauss, “Seeking Radical Affection”

Circular Cultures (Making Matters) is a joint initiative by Onassis ONX and the British Council. With a primary focus on promoting sustainable design and circularity, Circular Cultures annually invites designers to experiment with emerging technologies and discover new possibilities where the natural qualities of materials meet the limitless potential of the digital world. The program is part of the activities in Athens of Onassis ONX, the international platform for new media and digital culture of the Onassis Foundation. Circular Cultures Design School, implemented in partnership with Smart Attica EDIH, and co-funded by the European Union, aims to support professionals and creative businesses advance their design practices and explore the intersection of sustainability and circular design with creativity, innovation, and new technologies.

Radical Affection: Design for the Soul

Furthering last year’s binary theme of “Materiality—Immateriality,” CC Design School 2025 explores new ways of emotional connection and coexistence between the physical environment and the digital world, everyday devices, applications, and objects.

The program is divided into three strands (key topics), each one tailored to specific professional groups, promoting a deeper understanding of their respective fields along with innovative approaches.

Participants are invited to design spaces, objects, and experiences destined for physical, virtual, and hybrid environments that foster affection, intimacy, and companionship, redefining the ways people experience the notions of community and identity.

Established presenters and speakers will share innovative design practices and embrace each concept that promotes dialogue around social, cultural, and ethical issues in design while subscribing to the values of sustainability and circularity.

Strand A: Materiality—Physical Intimacy
Lecturer: Sahra Hersi
Speakers: LUDD  I  Lab for Open Design & Fabrication

Strand B: Immateriality—Virtual Affection
Lecturers: Keiken
Speaker: Costas Kazantzis

Strand C: Hybrid World—Animate Objects
Lecturer: Harry Krekoukiotis
Speaker: tbc