Jožef Štefan Institute – IJSplus

Shaping Conditions for the Future of Research at Jožef Štefan Institute

Client

Jožef Štefan Institute

Year(s)

2023

A Slovenian leading scientific research Institute embarks on a participatory journey to shape the vision for their new research building, overcoming the challenge of combining diverse user needs and a rapidly evolving scientific landscape.

Others about us:

Sustainability is a core value at Intra Lighting, but often takes a back seat to quality, modularity, and culture, relying on individual employees. Efforts lacked consistent management and communication. Our collaboration sought to create a comprehensive sustainability strategy, with workshops producing valuable content for future solutions.
Nika Furlan
Head of Marketing
,
Intra Lighting
Over the duration of the project, our company has grown from 4 to 14 employees and has entered the US and Australian markets. Thanks to KCDM, we started using service design and began systematically managing our design processes.
Andraž Mihelin
CEO
,
Seascape
Using Intuido, we were able to collect more than 300 insights in just 2 weeks, providing us with a better understanding of our users, their experiences and needs. The tool also enabled us to create organised and well-structured innovation guidelines that will help shape the development of our products and services in the future.
Matija Torlak
Product Director
,
Plastika Skaza
AMZS has a rich tradition yet faces mobility challenges. Flexibility, agility, and innovation drive our mission. We grow as individuals and teams. To communicate our mission, we partnered with Sito, enabling us to overcome challenges and co-create efficient paths for new offers and upgrades.
Lucija Sajevec
CEO
,
AMZS
Throughout the entire process, we have learned from Sito that we cannot address and resolve different needs and requirements using the methods we have known and been accustomed to until now. This is a significant gain that will help us in the development of our entire business, not just in space planning.
Marin Medak
Founder
,
Della Spina
Excellent collaboration that provided employees with the opportunity to express their needs and expectations for the new space and professionally guided the process through which we aligned priorities.
Martina Knavs
Strategic Projects
,
Jožef Štefan Insitute
Design research process proved essential in defining innovation opportunities when developing our sailing boats. It is exciting to hear that this process is now available in digital form.
Andraž Mihelin
CEO
,
Seascape

Others about us:

Design research process proved essential in defining innovation opportunities when developing our sailing boats. It is exciting to hear that this process is now available in digital form.
Andraž Mihelin
CEO
,
Seascape
Excellent collaboration that provided employees with the opportunity to express their needs and expectations for the new space and professionally guided the process through which we aligned priorities.
Martina Knavs
Strategic Projects
,
Jožef Štefan Insitute
Over the duration of the project, our company has grown from 4 to 14 employees and has entered the US and Australian markets. Thanks to KCDM, we started using service design and began systematically managing our design processes.
Andraž Mihelin
CEO
,
Seascape
Throughout the entire process, we have learned from Sito that we cannot address and resolve different needs and requirements using the methods we have known and been accustomed to until now. This is a significant gain that will help us in the development of our entire business, not just in space planning.
Marin Medak
Founder
,
Della Spina
AMZS has a rich tradition yet faces mobility challenges. Flexibility, agility, and innovation drive our mission. We grow as individuals and teams. To communicate our mission, we partnered with Sito, enabling us to overcome challenges and co-create efficient paths for new offers and upgrades.
Lucija Sajevec
CEO
,
AMZS
Using Intuido, we were able to collect more than 300 insights in just 2 weeks, providing us with a better understanding of our users, their experiences and needs. The tool also enabled us to create organised and well-structured innovation guidelines that will help shape the development of our products and services in the future.
Matija Torlak
Product Director
,
Plastika Skaza
Sustainability is a core value at Intra Lighting, but often takes a back seat to quality, modularity, and culture, relying on individual employees. Efforts lacked consistent management and communication. Our collaboration sought to create a comprehensive sustainability strategy, with workshops producing valuable content for future solutions.
Nika Furlan
Head of Marketing
,
Intra Lighting

Others about us:

Design research process proved essential in defining innovation opportunities when developing our sailing boats. It is exciting to hear that this process is now available in digital form.
Andraž Mihelin
CEO
,
Seascape
AMZS has a rich tradition yet faces mobility challenges. Flexibility, agility, and innovation drive our mission. We grow as individuals and teams. To communicate our mission, we partnered with Sito, enabling us to overcome challenges and co-create efficient paths for new offers and upgrades.
Lucija Sajevec
CEO
,
AMZS
Sustainability is a core value at Intra Lighting, but often takes a back seat to quality, modularity, and culture, relying on individual employees. Efforts lacked consistent management and communication. Our collaboration sought to create a comprehensive sustainability strategy, with workshops producing valuable content for future solutions.
Nika Furlan
Head of Marketing
,
Intra Lighting
Excellent collaboration that provided employees with the opportunity to express their needs and expectations for the new space and professionally guided the process through which we aligned priorities.
Martina Knavs
Strategic Projects
,
Jožef Štefan Insitute
Throughout the entire process, we have learned from Sito that we cannot address and resolve different needs and requirements using the methods we have known and been accustomed to until now. This is a significant gain that will help us in the development of our entire business, not just in space planning.
Marin Medak
Founder
,
Della Spina
Over the duration of the project, our company has grown from 4 to 14 employees and has entered the US and Australian markets. Thanks to KCDM, we started using service design and began systematically managing our design processes.
Andraž Mihelin
CEO
,
Seascape
Using Intuido, we were able to collect more than 300 insights in just 2 weeks, providing us with a better understanding of our users, their experiences and needs. The tool also enabled us to create organised and well-structured innovation guidelines that will help shape the development of our products and services in the future.
Matija Torlak
Product Director
,
Plastika Skaza

Others about us:

Excellent collaboration that provided employees with the opportunity to express their needs and expectations for the new space and professionally guided the process through which we aligned priorities.
Martina Knavs
Strategic Projects
,
Jožef Štefan Insitute
Using Intuido, we were able to collect more than 300 insights in just 2 weeks, providing us with a better understanding of our users, their experiences and needs. The tool also enabled us to create organised and well-structured innovation guidelines that will help shape the development of our products and services in the future.
Matija Torlak
Product Director
,
Plastika Skaza
Throughout the entire process, we have learned from Sito that we cannot address and resolve different needs and requirements using the methods we have known and been accustomed to until now. This is a significant gain that will help us in the development of our entire business, not just in space planning.
Marin Medak
Founder
,
Della Spina
AMZS has a rich tradition yet faces mobility challenges. Flexibility, agility, and innovation drive our mission. We grow as individuals and teams. To communicate our mission, we partnered with Sito, enabling us to overcome challenges and co-create efficient paths for new offers and upgrades.
Lucija Sajevec
CEO
,
AMZS
Design research process proved essential in defining innovation opportunities when developing our sailing boats. It is exciting to hear that this process is now available in digital form.
Andraž Mihelin
CEO
,
Seascape
Over the duration of the project, our company has grown from 4 to 14 employees and has entered the US and Australian markets. Thanks to KCDM, we started using service design and began systematically managing our design processes.
Andraž Mihelin
CEO
,
Seascape
Sustainability is a core value at Intra Lighting, but often takes a back seat to quality, modularity, and culture, relying on individual employees. Efforts lacked consistent management and communication. Our collaboration sought to create a comprehensive sustainability strategy, with workshops producing valuable content for future solutions.
Nika Furlan
Head of Marketing
,
Intra Lighting

The Challenge of Crafting a Concise Architectural Brief Amid Diverse Needs

Jožef Štefan Institute is the leading Slovenian scientific research institute, covering a broad spectrum of basic and applied research. The staff of about 1170 specializes in natural sciences, life sciences and engineering. In 2023, we led them through a process of co-creating a user-centric, clear, and detailed architectural brief for their new research building, IJSplus.

The goal of the project was to shape the program of the building and its long-term vision, understand spatial needs of diverse users, translate these into guidelines for architecture, gain consensus among internal stakeholders, and align the vision with broader expectations of national strategies and global trends.

A bottom up approach

Given the multifaceted nature of this challenge and the intricate governance structure of the Institute, coupled with numerous departments and their diverse needs, we tailored a co-creative approach.

The process began with in-depth research on future users needs, expectations, experience and aspirations. Through interviews and observation, we gathered over 550 insights from a wide range of employees. The interpretation of this data led to the identification of 26 problem areas that require attention in the new building. Our research uncovered opportunities that extended beyond architectural solutions, suggesting improvements in building management, (digital) services, etc.

After presenting research findings, we invited representatives from different departments to a co-creative workshop. As experts of their scientific fields, they led the design of their laboratory workspaces by 'sketching' their ideal working conditions and spatial requirements presented by experimental work. During workshops, we established a consensus about program priorities - compromises were judiciously made, safeguarding the Institute's core mission and excellence.

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Guiding Principles for Science-Centric IJSplus building

Conclusions formed an architectural brief with guiding principles. Foremost among these is the building's primary purpose - to provide impeccable conditions for conducting experiments, even if it necessitates compromises in areas such as office and conference space. Additionally, the facility is envisioned as a hub for innovation, functioning as an incubator, providing specialised space for temporarily enlarged space needs of various research departments and interdisciplinary teams. A crucial aspect is its adaptability, designed to meet the ever-changing scientific landscape, demanding an innovative approach to space and installation planning. Furthermore, the building should foster collaboration, support new work modes, and instilling a sense of connectedness of inhabitants with colleagues from across the Institute campus. Beyond internal functions, building should enable employees to showcase their work, igniting enthusiasm for science within a broader audience.

Excellent collaboration that provided employees with the opportunity to express their needs and expectations for the new space and professionally guided the process through which we aligned priorities.
Martina KnavsJožef Štefan Insitute