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Democratic Design & Disco School – Space for Cooperation, Collaboration and Compromise

Join us this December 12th for the exhibition opening at Aedes Architecture Forum
Aedes, Christinenstr. 18–19, 10119, Berlin, to explore how design empowers communities, amplifies voices and shapes a more inclusive future. 

This December 12th, 2025, In Berlin, Democratic Design – Space for Cooperation, Collaboration and Compromise, Aedes will explore how architecture, planning processes, and public spaces can foster democratic engagement and strengthen social cohesion. 

At the heart of the exhibition is: 

  • Participatory Planning – tools that inspire involvement, amplify underrepresented voices, and bring communities into decision-making. 
  • Democratic Spaces – urban and architectural spaces that support dialogue, individual perspectives, and respect. 
  • Collaborative Models – innovative and inclusive approaches where cooperation and compromise become drivers for future-oriented design. 

The exhibitions will bring together groundbreaking projects, innovative designs, and imaginative spatial interventions from across Europe, while shining a spotlight on Berlin as a dynamic center of democratic design. Visitors can immerse themselves in a rich mix of media—ranging from thought-provoking texts and striking photographs to captivating films, intricate models, and interactive games. 

Key projects in the exhibition includes (ITD) Institute for Transmedia Design’s very own “Disco School” which began in a small town in Slovenia called Murska Sobota in 2020, aiming to give children agency in reimagining their town’s future through design. The project swiftly expanded internationally to France, Austria and Chile engaging 800+ children in workshops and discussions, providing a model for how local communities can revitalize their sense of possibility. Created in collaboration with designers Sara Božanić, Jimmy Loizeau, Matt Ward, Mihaela Ružič, Valentina Ripamonti, Emma Dardeau, Michaela Landrichter, Mateja Filipović‑Sandalj, Matej Fišer, The City Municipality of Firminy, Vienna Design Office, Osnovna šola III, Murska Sobota, Slovenia; AHS Kenyongasse, Wien, Austria; Ecole de La Tardive, Ecole du Stade, Collège Les Bruneaux, Collège Waldeck-Rousseau Firminy, France and St Margaret’s, Valparaíso, Chile.