Could the future of design begin in a craftsman’s workshop? In a local raw material, a forgotten technique, or the history of a specific place? A special edition of the international make me! competition, ‘Heritage of the Future’, poses precisely these questions. As part of this year’s edition of the Polish Design Forum: ‘Locality’, Łódź is becoming a venue for discussion on how to use local heritage not to create museum exhibits, but to develop contemporary products, ideas and solutions. The event is partnered by the Marshal’s Office of the Łódź Voivodeship.
Heritage need not be a thing of the past
In design, we are increasingly returning to what, for years, seemed too local, too labour-intensive or simply out of step with the modern world. Craftsmanship, natural materials, traditional techniques, handmade production and knowledge passed down through the generations are no longer merely elements of cultural identity. They are becoming a source of inspiration for design that responds to contemporary needs.
It is precisely this aspect of locality that is utilised by a special edition of themake me! ‘Heritage of the Future’, organised as part of the Polish Design Forum ‘Locality’. The competition, which has been one of the key elements of the Łódź Design Festival since 2008, traditionally seeks out new ideas and projects that set the direction for the development of design. This time, the focus shifts towards craft and heritage – but understood not as a static collection of old forms, but as skills, materials and knowledge that can be creatively utilised today and in the future.
Craft as technology
From this perspective, craft takes on a whole new meaning. It is not merely a method of making objects, nor is it a decorative addition to contemporary design. It is knowledge of materials, construction, durability, proportions and the production process – developed over decades in workshops and studios.
This is precisely why the make me! competition, ‘Heritage of the Future’, asks not so much how to preserve tradition, but rather what can be designed thanks to it.
The starting point for creators entering the competition may be local materials, traditional techniques, patterns, products or stories associated with specific places. These may be used directly, but they may just as easily serve as inspiration for a completely new interpretation.
This approach fits well with a broader shift currently taking place in design. In a world of mass production and the almost unlimited availability of similar products, provenance, authenticity, durability and the story behind an object are becoming increasingly valuable. Local character can therefore be seen not as a limitation, but as an advantage – a source of qualities that cannot be easily copied.
The competition is open to everyone
One of the most significant changes in this year’s edition of make me! is the removal of the age criterion. The competition is no longer a platform intended primarily for young designers. All adult creators are invited to take part – regardless of age or professional experience.
Designers, craftspeople, folk artists, students, graduates, informal groups, design studios and companies in the design sector may submit their projects. Entries may be submitted individually or as a team. The competition is international in scope, and participation is free of charge. The entry form is available on the Łódź Design Festival website.
This broadening of the competition’s scope is significant. Today, a collaboration between a designer and a craftsperson can mean much more than simply working together on a single product. It can lead to an exchange of expertise, experimentation with materials, the rediscovery of forgotten techniques, and the creation of solutions that neither party would have developed on their own.
From local raw materials to a new product
The competition allows entrants considerable freedom. Entries may include finished products and models, as well as concepts, visualisations or 3D designs. However, projects shortlisted for the final must be presented as a prototype or finished product, on a scale appropriate for demonstrating their functions.
This is a key element of the make me! philosophy. It is not just about an eye-catching concept. What matters is the ability to test the idea in practice – its function, materials, process and, potentially, its implementation.
The jury will assess, amongst other things, the originality of the solution, the effectiveness of the implementation of the objectives, aesthetic qualities, the connection to the local context and traditional techniques, as well as the potential for implementation, market viability, communication or experimentation. Between 20 and 40 projects will be selected from the entries to feature in the post-competition exhibition, on the Łódź Design Festival website and in media coverage. The creator of the winning project will receive the main prize of 15,000 zł gross.
The Łódź Voivodeship as design material
As part of the competition, an additional, optional category has also been created: ‘An object promoting the Łódź Voivodeship’. This is an interesting experiment at the intersection of design, place identity and contemporary regional promotion.
The task is to design a functional, feasible object that tells the story of the province through its form, material, function or detail. Sources of inspiration may include, amongst others, Łódź’s industrial and textile history, local crafts, the avant-garde, nature, rivers, ceramics from Bolimów or traditional folk patterns.
However, it is important to note what the organisers do not expect: a simple compilation of regional symbols. A coat of arms, a map or a logo will not suffice. The aim is to finda new language for telling the region’s story– one that will appeal to a contemporary audience whilst remaining rooted in the area’s genuine heritage.
This category also involves a very specific implementation aspect. The winning project may be prepared for production by the Łódź Voivodeship.
Wool as a test of locality
One of the most striking examples of the potential of local resources will be the‘Wool’ exhibition, to be held in Łódź at the historic Karol Scheibler Power Station within the Fuzja complex.
This venue is significant not only as a striking exhibition space. The former power station is situated within a complex whose history is inextricably linked to Łódź’s textile industry. It is here that the story of this local material and its future takes on added context.
The exhibition traces the journey of local wool from breeding and shearing, through traditional processing techniques, to contemporary design experiments. Alongside kilims and fabrics, the exhibition features, amongst other things, acoustic panels, products utilising the material’s insulating properties, solutions for construction and gardening, and the use of fleece as fertiliser.
Wool is, in this respect, an excellent example of a problem that can serve as a catalyst for design. A natural raw material, whose potential has been underestimated for years, can find new applications precisely through the combination of traditional knowledge and contemporary design.
The power of heritage
The third element of the Polish Design Forum will be a free conferenceentitled ‘The Power of Heritage’, dedicated to the role of local culture and craftsmanship in contemporary design.
Its inclusion alongside the competition and exhibition is no coincidence. If ‘locality’ is to be more than just a catchy slogan, it requires a broader ecosystem: designers, craftspeople, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, local authorities and cultural institutions. It also requires a dialogue on how to translate knowledge and tradition into products, services and places that are meaningful to contemporary audiences.
In this sense, the three elements of the Forum form a coherent structure.‘Wool’ showcases the material. ‘The Power of Heritage’ opens up a discussion on its significance. The make me! competition explores what can be designed for the future using local potential.
Local identity as a new form of innovation
Polish Design Forum: ‘Locality’ does not propose a single style or a catalogue of regional motifs. Rather, it demonstrates a way of thinking about design in which place becomes the starting point.
In an era of global production, local materials can be a response to the need for greater transparency in the supply chain. Craftsmanship can provide insights into durability and reparability. Traditional techniques can inspire new technologies. The history of a place can become the raw material for a contemporary brand. And design can bring all this together in a product that is not a reconstruction of the past, but a new interpretation of it.
This is precisely why the slogan‘Heritage of the Future’is more than just the name of a competition. It suggests a shift in perspective: rather than asking what from the past should be preserved unchanged, one might askwhat from it is worth taking forward.
- The make me! ‘Heritage of the Future’ competition – a special edition as part of the Polish Design Forum ‘Locality’. Entries are open until 23 September 2026, at 23:59. Participation is free of charge. An exhibition of the finalists’ work will take place during a special edition of the Łódź Design Festival from 5 to 11 October 2026, and some of the projects will then be presented at Barcelona Design Week from 22 to 24 October 2026.
- The Polish Design Forum 2026 “Locality” will take place in Łódź from 8 to 11 October.
- The ‘Wool’ exhibition will be on display at Fuzja in Łódź (Milionowa 6a; the complex can also be accessed from Tymienieckiego Street) from 5 to 18 October.
- The ‘The Power of Heritage’ conference will take place on 9 October at 10.00 am at the Łódź Art Centre (3 Tymienieckiego Street).
For more information, please visit the Łódź Design Festival website and social media channels:
https://lodzdesign.com/make-me-2026-dziedzictwo-przyszlosci
https://lodzdesign.com/polskie-forum-designu-lokalnosc
https://www.facebook.com/Lodz.Design
https://www.instagram.com/lodzdesign
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