Spetses – Memniso
Workshop
11th edition
200 design students + young professionals
14 projects
Spetses || Greece
26.07. – 12.08. || 2019
What is a MEDS Workshop?
MEDS “Meetings of Design Students” Workshop is an international workshop that takes part each summer in a different country, focusing on various issues, themes, topics and settings that will help any designer expand their expertise. It is a chance to get in touch with diverse approaches to design, different building techniques, traditions and skills. MEDS Workshop is both practical and educational because it focuses not only on creative theoretical designs but also compels participants to execute these designs during the 2 weeks of the workshop. You can apply to MEDS as a tutor or as a participant.
Spetses – Memniso 2019
Concept / Topic
In its 10th edition, the MEDS Workshop took place in the summer of 2019 in Greece, on Spetses Island, under the theme “MEMNISO” The workshop brought traditional professions together with contemporary crafts and design by exploring new capabilities and learning techniques from local expert craftsmen. During the workshop, tutors and participants had the chance not only to learn from local artisans but also to exchange knowledge and share skills with them. From the 26th of July to the 12th of August, more than 170 participants and 28 tutors worked on realizing 14 interdisciplinary projects.
The Greek organizing team, composed of 13 students of architecture and young designers, had been working on MEDS Spetses since 2017, a process that involved research, producing material related to the theme, publishing it, and then selecting proposals and providing everything selected tutors and participants needed: tools, materials, food, accommodation, and extra activities.
About Spetses
Spetses is a Greek island that combines historical richness, tradition, and natural beauty. Through time, the island became extremely touristy and the consequences of tourism have affected its identity. To serve the enormous number of tourists the island hosts each year, locals have to leave their traditional professions and are occupied with new jobs that refer to the island’s new touristic identity. So, traditional professions are currently dying. “Memniso ” in ancient Greek means “remember”. The idea of the workshop was to bring these traditional professions together with contemporary crafts and design by exploring new capabilities and learning techniques from expert local craftsmen. The goals of the workshop were not only learning from the locals but also exchanging knowledge and sharing skills.
Context
In an age of globalization and mass production, we want to accept and leverage the vast knowledge of the past. Not only do we have to learn from it, but we have to enrich it to be able to hand it down to future generations. A global community’s input could enhance this process even more, mixing elements from different cultures to create a colorful mosaic composition of the past and the present. That was the primary goal of MEDS Spetses 2019, adapting the traditional techniques in today’s way of thinking and inspiring young designers to come up with new ideas. This process, the modernization of our heritage, the instinct that makes us preserve our cultural products, is Memniso.
Projects
LETTERS OF SPETSES
The project focused on Greek letters, calligraphy and type design. We explored all the letters we found on the island and the techniques used in their creation.
SPETSES_FINAL_FINAL_V2.PDF
During the workshop, we tried to feel and understand Spetses to create a city identity.
RUNNING STORIES
We exchange stories from our collection from new stories that we are gathering on the street along the coastline of Spetses.
MNEMOSYNE
Nothing can match the magic of seeing the light take shape on your first photograph in the darkroom, luckily this feeling is making a comeback.
Organizers
of MEDS Workshop ’19
The Team.
Stefania Sachinoglou: Workshop Manager
Aspasia Antonia Kouridaki: Workshop Manager & Finance Manager
Angeliki Asimakopoulou: Infrastructure & Volunteer Manager
Alexandros Kontis: Project Support
Kostas Gournas: Food & Beverage Manager
Agni Pettemeridi: Tools & Materials Manager
Chara Kaika: Media Manager
Marianna Tsapepa: Project Manager
Christos Malesovas: Accommodation Support
Ioulia Metzidaki: Workshop Support Olga Psarri: Tools & Materials Manager Myrto Andronidi: Project Support Ioanna Maria Vemmou: Workshop Support
Partners
