Transformative Making

This 6 day course empowers participants to integrate the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into creative making practices, fostering meaningful and purposeful contributions to local communities. Designed for individuals passionate about design, art, making, design thinking, sociology, and education, this course provides a transformative framework to align creative practices with sustainability and social impact.

Participants will explore methods to contextualize their work within local needs, ensuring cultural relevance while addressing global challenges like climate action, quality education, and reduced inequalities. Through hands-on activities, collaborative problem-solving, and community engagement, the workshop bridges the gap between global aspirations and local realities.

This course encourages a multidisciplinary approach, combining artistic expression and design innovation with sociology and educational practices. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with actionable strategies to create projects that resonate with communities, inspiring change while advancing the SDGs.

• Understand the SDGs Framework: Gain comprehensive knowledge of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their integration into creative practices.
• Apply Digital Fabrication Tools: Develop practical skills in using digital fabrication technologies (e.g., 3D printing, laser cutting) to create innovative solutions aligned with sustainability goals.
• Design Contextual Projects: Learn to contextualize design and making practices within local community needs, ensuring cultural relevance while addressing global challenges.
• Foster Collaborative Innovation: Employ participatory design and collaborative making methods to co-create impactful projects with and for local communities.
• Develop Critical Problem-Solving Skills: Utilize design thinking and appreciative inquiry tools to address complex social, environmental, and educational challenges.
• Bridge Global and Local Needs: Demonstrate the ability to align global sustainability aspirations with actionable local solutions through hands-on experimentation and reflective practices.
• Communicate and Inspire Change: Present project outcomes effectively to inspire broader social impact, promoting sustainable and equitable practices within communities.

This workshop is highly experiential and participative. It consists of short theoretical inputs, concrete exercises, and group discussions. Reflecting upon and applying each tool to your real-life cases from your everyday work, you will practise and gain new insights into your current dilemmas.

Duration:    6 days

Dates:         Upon request

Location:    Chania- Crete, Greece

This workshop is designed for people who want to make an impact.

It’s also perfect for educators of all fields and levels, passionate about nurturing a generation of socially conscious and planet-centered problem solvers.

Olivia Kotsifa is a designer with 13 years of experience in developing and teaching educational content related to STEAM. She is a former academic in the fields of art design and making at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She has shared her expertise in design and making with audiences of all ages, including university students, schoolchildren, educators, researchers, and parents. Her work has gained international recognition, and she was invited as a guest speaker at the United Nations for three years to discuss the importance of integrating the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into early childhood education and their application in educational projects within Fab Labs, a global network of digital fabrication and design workshops. Additionally, she serves as a consultant for establishing educational Fab Labs, contributing to their development both in Greece and internationally.

SYN FAB LAB is a mobile digital fabrication Lab and it is part of the global Fab Lab network of 2500 Land worldwide. The Lab shares skills and knowledge in design and new technologies with local communities across Greece. Its approach is rooted in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 21st-century skills, emphasizing learning by doing, constructionism in education, and creative thinking.

The result is innovative projects that combine design with digital fabrication (machines that operate via computer commands such as 3D printing, laser cutters for wood, acrylic, cork, etc., vinyl, fabric, and paper cutters, 3D scanners, mold-making machines, and more), programming, and electronics.

Dr. Markos Perrakis is a leadership development & process facilitator, psychologist, speaker, consultant and trainer of individuals and teams, founder and Managing Director of the EU Adult training & Counseling Provider Fractality. He designs and implements EU projects in the fields of leadership development and strategic planning, and uses eclectic appreciative approaches in the public and private sector in order to promote effective communication, individual and collective process development. He specializes in coaching, supervision, human capital development, training and assessments. He holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Styles and their efficiency in organisations with publications in the fields of organizational psychology and counseling and a M.A. in clinical Psychology. He is trained in Systemic Consultation, solution focused & cognitive behavioural approaches, methods of participatory design, Spiritual Intelligence, a certified provider of Vocational Guidance and Professional Orientation, utilizing psychometric assessments and coaching tools for teams and individuals in organizational, career and personality issues and ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.  He is representative of the Association of International Institution Supervision in Europe (ANSE), Member of International Intervision Groups, Scientific Assistant of SOL (Society of Organisational Learning), Scientific partner of the European Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (EUMU) in Greece, in the fields of Strategic Planning and Human Capital Development programmes.

Dr. Perrakis is one of the first persons in Greece who applied the methodology of Appreciative Inquiry, which is used in the UN Summit by UN leaders. In contrast to the traditional management approaches that focus on problems, the appreciative approach makes use of the potential of the human capital of organizations

Our program takes place in the Island of Crete, one of the most exotic destinations of the Aegean Sea in Greece. The workshop and the accommodation is at the unique 5-star village resort of Porto Platanias in Chania that provides you with safe and luxurious accommodations. It is the perfect place to combine personal growth with holidays.

This Mediterranean destination embraces both sea and charming nature. Porto Platanias Village is located within walking distance from the beach and the village of Platanias. Local taverns, Greek eateries, and arts shops draw people from all around the world and contribute to the vibrant feeling of the Cretan summer, still offering 30°C (86°F) daytime temperatures and 25°C (77°F) warm sea to enjoy in September. For more information on the venue, visit: http://www.portoplataniasvillage.gr Closest international airports: Chania (24 km); Heraklion (165 km)

Additional option:

• A half-day excursion with the group led by locals – €50

Questions or concerns? please contact us at [email protected] or call +302106010522.
Cancellation Policy*

Until 30 days before the starting date of the selected workshop, cancellation will be free of charge and the pre-payment will be fully refunded. Between 30 to 15 days before the starting date of the workshop, 50% of the fee will be refunded. Within the 15 days before the starting date of the workshop no refunds will be made.