ozadjeprastola

primal chair 2025

As a tribute to the virgin forests in Slovenia, we invite designers to participate in the Primal Chair Competition 2025. When we think of Kočevje, we imagine the image of a majestic forest landscape with untouched nature and a diverse animal world of bears, wolves, and lynxes. But Kočevje holds another special, mysterious treasure in its endless forests like a precious gem. These are the quiet and hidden remnants of pristine nature in Europe, rare primeval forests in Europe. Slovenia has 14 primeval forests, 6 of which are in the Kočevje region, covering an area of almost 219 hectares. The largest is the Krokar primeval forest, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. Participating in this design competition enables you to bring your design idea to life.

Goals

To create a simple, functional, and ergonomically designed chair that, in addition to serving its basic function (for modern humanity), also raises awareness among users about the importance of harmony between humans and nature. Participation in the competition is open to all designers, students, and authors from around the world who are 18 years of age or older.

Read the full competition brief here.

Two first awards

EXPRESSIVE CHAIR A TRIBUTE
TO THE RICHNESS OF THE KOČEVJE FORESTS

Cash prize of €1,500 (pretax)+
Prototype production of the chair +
Free accommodation in Kočevje (October 16–18, 2025) +
certificate +
Participation in the 2025 Festival of Wood awards ceremony +
Expert-guided tour of the Krokar virgin forest

▼

INDUSTRIAL CHAIR FOREST
DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE

Cash prize of €1,500 (pretax)+
Prototype production of the chair +
Free accommodation in Kočevje (October 16–18, 2025) +
certificate +
Participation in the 2025 Festival of Wood awards ceremony +
Expert-guided tour of the Krokar virgin forest

▼

Key dates

5.6.2025

Competition opens

14.8.2025

Deadline for questions

26.8.2025

Submission deadline

8.9.2025

Jury selection

16.10.2025

Award ceremony

The evaluation criteria for the competition

Submissions will be based on the following 4 aspects:

  • Design Aspect: (innovation, functionality, aesthetics, feasibility)
  • Material Selection: consideration of wood as the primary material
  • Cost-effectiveness: usability and market viability
  • Presentation: clear and high-quality presentation of the concept

The full competition brief.

Scroll down for registration form. No application fee!

Jury

  • Salih Teskeredzić

    Architect and product designer, a professor at the Sarajevo Academy of Fine Arts, cofounder and creative director of Gazzda brand, winner of multiple international design contests, including Red Dot Design Award and Interior Innovation Award –
    Winner, multiple nominee for German Design Award.

  • Rok Kuhar

    Architect and product designer, Head of the Industrial Design Department at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, co-founder of Studio Raketa that works in the field of graphic and product design and has received many national and international awards.

  • Nikola Radeljković

    Founder and member of Numen/ForUse group, multidisciplinary colective working in the fields of conceptual art, scenography and industrial design, which works for leading furniture producers in Europe; artistic director of the brand Nunc and a guest teacher at numerous design schools.

  • Mojca Perše

    Architect and interior designer, assistant professor at the Department for Interior design and Vice-dean for Artistic activities at the Faculty of Design in Ljubljana, Head of the Laboratory for Creative industries at the Faculty of Design in Ljubljana.

  • Primož Jeza

    Architect and designer, assistant professor at the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana and at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, founder of the design studio PRIMOZJEZASTUDIO, author of the book Interier Primož Jeza 9+1, associate of festival Month of Design in Ljubljana, winner of
    many design contests, including Red Dot Design Award.

  • Andrej Palman

    Carpentry engineer, expert associate of Business incubator Kočevje.

  • Janez Suhadolc

    Architect and carpenter, retired professor at the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana, designer and producer of chairs, who has made more than 500 prototypes of chairs in his career.

  • Tomaž Sešlar

    Founder of the company Rexdesign d.o.o. An expert on the works of Niko Kralj, who has revived many of his nearlyforgotten creations.

  • Špela Šubic

    Museum counselor and curator at the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO). A significant part of the industrial design collection under her care consists of seating furniture, primarily chairs.

  • Albin Škalič

    Carpentry engineer, CEO of the company Murales.

1 10