Arts on Prescription at DESIGN PLUS: Re-Generating Design, Well-Being and Community

On 21 November, Szczecin became a hub of creative dialogue and responsible innovation as it hosted the 9th International Creative Congress DESIGN PLUS. This year’s theme, “RE-GENERATION,” focused on restoring values, reintroducing ideas and materials into circulation, and rebuilding relationships between people, culture and the environment. The Congress gathered designers, artists, scientists and business representatives, all united by the belief that design can combine beauty, sustainability and social impact—a message especially relevant in the face of today’s environmental and social challenges.

A strong and visible element of this year’s Congress was the “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” (AoP) project, which demonstrated how artistic practice can directly contribute to well-being, health and social inclusion. The event opened with a speech by Monika Klein, PhD, President of the Media Dizajn Association, who welcomed participants and presented the AoP project and its key outcomes. She highlighted AoP as an innovative and effective model of cooperation between the culture and health sectors, emphasising its positive impact on quality of life across the Baltic Sea Region.

Dr Klein encouraged participants to visit the AoP project stand, which became an important meeting and discussion point throughout the Congress. Representatives of the West Pomeranian Region and Media Dizajn shared their practical experiences of implementing art-based social prescribing initiatives, discussed challenges and successes, and presented project outputs, including the AoP Guide. A recurring conclusion from conversations at the stand was that artists already use creative processes to support their own mental well-being—making Arts on Prescription a natural and meaningful solution. Many artists and professionals expressed strong interest in the wider implementation of similar initiatives, along with the development of a comprehensive support system for both participants and artists.

Alongside the AoP project, the Congress programme featured prominent experts who shared diverse perspectives on regenerative design. Magdalena Krzywicka and Anna Cisińska-Kmłynek presented their brand REMAKEIT, focusing on second-hand design and underlining the importance of sustainable fashion and environmental responsibility within the industry.

A thought-provoking presentation was delivered by Maciej Kowalewski, PhD, professor at the University of Szczecin, together with architect Marek Ostrowski, who presented the results of their project “Porastanie” (Overgrowth). The project explores the coexistence of people, plants and urban architecture, offering new perspectives on cities in an era of intensifying climate crisis effects.

In his presentation “Re-generation: Public Space Anew,” Dr Paweł Grobelny focused on the creative potential of public spaces, proposing innovative approaches to their design and encouraging participants to reflect on how urban environments can better support community life and social interaction.

The programme was enriched by Emilia Biernat’s presentation “Portuguese Hibernation,” in which she shared personal experiences of living in Porto, illustrating how culture and art influence everyday life and contribute to community development.

The DESIGN PLUS Congress proved to be not only a source of inspiration, but also a dynamic platform for dialogue and collaboration. The strong presence of the Arts on Prescription project highlighted the transformative role of art in supporting health, well-being and social cohesion, while reinforcing the idea that regeneration begins with people, creativity and meaningful connections. Participants left the event with renewed enthusiasm, new ideas and a clear sense of the potential that lies in cross-sector cooperation.

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