Students presenting sustainable innovations with biodegradable tools and a mountain trike in an exhibition setting.

Sustainable Innovations: Biodegradable Play Tools and a Mountain Trike Lead Ljubljana Student Projects

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Written by Seth Sebastian

2026-08-30

Explore a wealth of inventive student projects from the University of Ljubljana, where sustainable innovations take center stage. A gravity-powered mountain trike designed for year-round tourism and biodegradable tools crafted from urban leaf waste headline a series of innovative works. Each project exemplifies a commitment to integrating design with environmental and social contexts.

University insights on Sustainable Innovations

The University of Ljubljana is the cornerstone of Slovenia‘s industrial design education. It offers a path from undergraduate studies to interdisciplinary research, blending design practice, strategic thinking, and material experimentation, all focused on addressing real-world challenges with eco-friendly advancements.

Delve into the creative process of combining nature and technology in designing a self-driving haven for bees and discover how innovative design can benefit ecological projects.

People interacting with LEAFO, a sustainable play tool, at a student exhibition.
LEAFO by Iva Ferlinc and Maja Selinšek

Leafo by Iva Ferlinc and Maja Selinšek

Leafo offers a biodegradable solution for children’s sand play, transforming urban leaf waste into eco-friendly play tools. By merging processed leaves with natural binders and pigments, these tools encourage creativity and sensory exploration. After their use, the items can be composted, ensuring a regenerative lifecycle. This project highlights ecological progress by creating environmentally friendly play experiences.

Exhibit featuring HELLA atmospheric lighting design with colorful illumination effects.
HELLA Atmospheric Lighting by Žan Brezec and Rok Kuhar

Hella Atmospheric Lighting by Žan Brezec and Rok Kuhar

Reimagining vehicles as social spaces, this collaboration with Hella projects atmospheric lighting from parked cars, transforming surroundings into engaging environments. This system opens up new ways for lighting to enhance collective experiences beyond the traditional confines of a car, showcasing advancements in communal spaces.

Attendees experiencing a multisensory exhibition with interactive sensory elements on display.
Multisensory Exhibition Experience by Zoja Čepin

Multisensory Exhibition Experience by Zoja Čepin

Enhancing art accessibility, Zoja Čepin’s multisensory system uses tactile booklets and audio descriptions to make artworks more inclusive for those with visual impairments. Easy to produce and integrate, these booklets allow a deeper, more inclusive interaction with art through creative ecological initiatives.

Bicycle used in Šerkul, a circular bike-sharing service concept for urban commuting.
Šerkul – a circular bike-sharing service for Ljubljana by Patrik Bevec

Šerkul: Circular Biking in Ljubljana

Šerkul innovatively repurposes Ljubljana’s discarded bicycles into a seamless sharing service. With no need for docking stations, the system uses GPS trackers and encourages cycling through rewards. This sustainable initiative keeps both bikes and community engagement rolling, a testament to ecological innovations in urban cycling.

Stylized packaging design for organic goat cheese aimed at sustainable marketing.
Sustainable Goat-Cheese Packaging for Kumparička Organic Farm by Lina Glavan, Ana Kovačič, Špela Novak and Vita Puc

Sustainable Goat-Cheese Packaging for Kumparička Farm

This packaging concept for Kumparička Farm focuses on sustainability and sensory experience. Using materials like olive waste-based paper and biodegradable bioplastic, it complements the cheese with Istrian herbs and a marinating recipe, bridging the gap between product and its origin through eco-friendly solutions.

For those interested in combining eco-friendliness with culinary experiences, explore how edible seaweed packaging transforms meals with a genius eco-friendly design.

Visitors observing Carrot Reader, a project engaging with unusual material design.
Carrot Reader by Pia Golob, Florian Janez Gutmann, Maja Selinšek and Jovana Mališić

Carrot Reader: Design and Divination

Challenging traditional design, the Carrot Reader uses a houseplant’s moisture sensor data to influence tarot readings, blending nature with design. This speculative project flips the usual hierarchy, giving the plant a say in guiding its human caretaker, illustrating innovations in personal experiences.

Student riding Antidote, a trike utilizing gravity power for mountainous terrains.
Antidote – a gravity-powered mountain trike by Matic Čič and Vid Lebič

Antidote – Gravity-Powered Mountain Trike

Designed by Matic Čič and Vid Lebič, Antidote introduces a trike that gracefully combines sledding, skiing, and mountain biking. The steerable, body-controlled trike adapts ski infrastructure for snow-scarce seasons, offering a sustainable tourism solution without added motorization, highlighting the power of responsible travel advancements.

This showcase of student innovation at Ljubljana demonstrates design’s potential to align with environmental stewardship and social progress, continually promoting eco-friendly advancements.

Source: dezeen.com

Frequently asked questions

What is the biodegradable play tool project?

Leafo is a project by Iva Ferlinc and Maja Selinšek that offers biodegradable tools for children’s sand play. The tools are made by transforming urban leaf waste into eco-friendly play items that can be composted after use.

How does the Antidote trike support sustainable tourism?

The Antidote trike is gravity-powered and combines elements of sledding, skiing, and mountain biking, making it suitable for use in snow-scarce seasons. It offers a sustainable tourism solution by adapting existing ski infrastructure without added motorization.

What is the focus of the University of Ljubljana’s design education?

The University of Ljubljana focuses on industrial design education that blends design practice, strategic thinking, and material experimentation. The curriculum aims to address real-world challenges with eco-friendly advancements by integrating design with environmental and social contexts.