Industrial and product designers from smaller countries are usually faced with making the decision between adapting to local infrastructures or migrating to a new environment that will provide the necessary investment for research and development. But what if one loves it where they are?

We set ourselves a challenging goal. We wanted to generate interest, to connect the top and bottom networks, and to educate and inspire future generations through an entirely communal platform. In hindsight, it may have been overambitious but inspiring nonetheless. A home was made entirely for Slovene products and services.

Over a 100 designers initially signed up for the opening night, showcasing a long list of products. Over time, the community and space molded itself a unique vibe and work style and it was within this time we decided to focus on marketing. The forces of supply and demand were against us at home… it was time to go global.

Most of the products were not mass produced and were sold as unique pieces. This initially prevented us from having an online store. The products with tangibly higher demand were sold in assemblage, with the hopes of winding up one day on a production line and, through mass production and lower prices, reach their intended global customers.

Fortunately, during this period, the designers were validating their products and hustled on, with some bridging the gap between the industries, and others going on Kickstarter.

This holistic approach was also the birth of our service as People. This was our first office where we built a network of great individuals and started to co-work together on a daily basis. In the meantime we developed our own identity and started working on new projects with young Slovenian Start-ups. This was an important starting point.

We built a digital fabrication laboratory dedicated to research and development. It offered a wide range of latest tools from 3d printers to arduinos. The whole concept had a different, more noble agenda. It strived for open-source, DIY, prototyping and democratizing tools. The availability is only possible if the knowhow is shared. Sadly, the department runs slow on good will because it's not funded. It's stuck in constant battle for survival. Searching for new jobs to continue its existence distances itself from core activity. This is a common problem in capitalism.

Only later on the results paid off. In collaboration with outside institutions and museums, exhibitions were held. The acquired knowledge was applied and spread to wider audiences. It helped the individuals but the lab is still struggling.

Last but not least, we showcased concepts in search for sustainable and affordable living. The main question we asked ourselves was: How can we grow food in our homes? Hydroponics seemed as a good solution to start with.

The legacy continues in a new form. Weeks after Pop-up Dom was closed, we co-founded Slovenia's first Creative Centre - Poligon. The transition was seamless and the communities that formed there understand its foundation. Today, Poligon is an autonomous platform for non-profit and for-profit project development with an agenda to empower the self-employed and freelancers.