CREA-UP Working Lab!

Where Ideas Met Impact: 10 Days of Creative Co-Learning

The CREA-UP Working Lab, held in Berlin, marked the launch of an ambitious  journey dedicated to creative upcycling, sustainability, and collaborative design.

Over the course of 10 immersive days, selected participants across Europe  gathered to explore how creativity can fuel ecological transformation and circular thinking in the arts and design sectors.

This first phase of CREA-UP was all about building the foundations: developing project ideas, exchanging perspectives, strengthening skills, and fostering the kind of cross-border connections that make co-creation not just possible, but powerful.

The Working Lab wasn’t just about talking — it was about doing. Ideas were tested, prototypes envisioned, and collaborations born. It gave participants the time and space to reflect, refine, and kickstart their own upcycling-focused projects, which will later unfold in the co-creation phase.It also laid the groundwork for what CREA-UP stands for:

  • Connecting creativity with circularity
  • Building a European network of change-driven makers
  • Turning waste into wonder — together.
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
CU11
CU10
CU9
CU8
CU7
CU6
CU12
CU13
CU14
CU15
CU22
CU23
CU24
CU25
CU26
CU27
CU28
CU30
CU31
CU33
CU35
CU36
CU38
CU39
CU42
CU45
CU47
CU48
CU53
CU56

What’s Next?

The concepts developed in Berlin have since evolved into seven co-creation projects, now being realized through workshops, mentorship, and exhibitions. The lessons from Berlin continue to ripple through the CREA-UP experience — proving that when the right people come together in the right space, real transformation begins.

Read more about CREA-UP!

Open Call for the CREA-UP Working Lab (closed)

 

REIMAGINE      REPURPOSE    REINVENT

Are you a designer, artist, or creative entrepreneur passionate about sustainability and upcycling? 

Do you want to develop new skills, explore sustainable practices, and connect with like-minded innovators? 

Then this is your opportunity!

WHAT IS CREA-UP WORKING LAB?

The Crea-Up Working Lab is a 10-day immersive experience dedicated to sustainable design, innovative upcycling techniques, and practical business development strategies:

*Sustainable Design Workshops: Learn advanced techniques and innovative methods for upcycling and creating sustainable designs.

*Hands-On Projects: Engage in collaborative activities to design and develop impactful projects with real-world applications.

*Business Development: Gain insights into practical strategies for building sustainable creative enterprises.

*Networking Opportunities: Connect with leading experts, peers, and organisations in the sustainability and creative industries.

DATES & LOCATION

It will happen between 18 and 27 February 2025.

It will take place in the heart of Berlin, Germany — a vibrant hub of creativity and sustainability. The exact venue will be announced soon.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

WORKING LAB AGENDA OVERVIEW

Read more about CREA-UP!

co creation brussels

Creative Exchange in the Belgian Context

Creative Exchange in the Belgian Context

In April 2025, the European Development Institute hosted the Belgian edition of the CREA-UP Co-Creation Workshops in Brussels. The two-day event gathered local designers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs to collaborate on sustainable design concepts, reflecting the growing interest in circular and environmentally responsible creation within Belgium’s cultural and creative industries.

The sessions provided a platform for experimentation and dialogue, enabling participants to share expertise and explore new design perspectives based on reuse, transformation, and material recovery. The workshops reinforced CREA-UP’s vision of creativity as a practical driver for sustainability.

Objectives and Structure

The Co-Creation Workshops in Brussels were designed to strengthen community building among creative professionals and to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration. Participants worked through short thematic sessions focusing on:

  • Investigating material reuse and sustainable sourcing within design and production;
  • Exploring approaches to circular product development;
  • Exchanging good practices between creative hubs and independent professionals.

This process helped establish links between the Belgian creative sector and the broader European CREA-UP network, ensuring that local experiences contribute to shared learning across partner countries.

Contribution to the European Framework

The Brussels workshops played an important role in connecting Belgian initiatives with the transnational objectives of CREA-UP. Insights from the activities supported the preparation of upcoming exhibitions and dissemination events, promoting a unified European narrative of sustainable and innovative design.

Through these Co-Creation sessions, CREA-UP continued to encourage collaboration, experimentation, and the long-term integration of circular thinking within Europe’s creative communities.

co creation germany

Building on the Working Lab Experience | Co-Creation in Germany

co creation germany

Following the intensive ten-day Working Lab, Green Muse e.V. organised a two-day Co-Creation Workshop series in Berlin to further develop and refine the ideas, prototypes, and collaborations initiated during the earlier phase. These sessions provided a focused environment for participants to revisit their projects, integrate feedback, and explore how creative upcycling could evolve into sustainable practice and professional collaboration.

The workshops encouraged interdisciplinary exchange, connecting designers, artists, and researchers working at the intersection of creativity and environmental responsibility. This continuity between the Working Lab and Co-Creation phase ensured a deeper engagement with the methodologies introduced by CREA-UP.

Objectives and Process

The Berlin Co-Creation Workshops aimed to consolidate the practical outcomes of the project’s experimental phase. Activities focused on:

  • Strengthening teamwork and refining project concepts initiated in the Working Lab.
  • Investigating design strategies that extend the lifecycle of materials.
  • Discussing how local creative ecosystems can benefit from circular and community-driven approaches.

The sessions were intentionally collaborative, allowing participants to define concrete paths for the future development of their prototypes and to align them with the project’s European objectives.

A Collaborative Step within CREA-UP

The Co-Creation Workshops formed a crucial bridge between the laboratory phase and the public exhibition programme. Insights from these workshops informed the preparation of final presentations across the partner countries, demonstrating how local experimentation contributes to a shared European dialogue on creative sustainability.

Through this process, CREA-UP continued to highlight the role of creativity as a driver for sustainable change and collective innovation.