Over the past seven years, the METALAB team (Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine) has been involved in the development, design, and technology research for more than 50 different products. Development and serial production of comfortable shelter beds, experiments to reuse building materials from destroyed houses, acoustic panels from recycled textile waste, development of a therapeutic children’s toy, and growing leather from kombucha for interior solutions – we worked on so many great solutions and created a professional community around the process!

We dreamed that someday we would combine all our experience and love for inventions in one ample space, where we would have everything to help such products and ideas come to life: people, hardware, and a nutritious environment for ideas to grow. And this day has finally come!

On July 12, we invite everyone to join us at the opening of the POLE Research and Product Design Center [po-leh, means field from Ukrainian], our dream project. It will be a fascinating experience for manufacturers, businesses, craftsmen, scientists, and even those who are just curious human beings. We welcome you to come and be inspired!

POLE opens on Friday, July 12 at 18:00.

Agenda for the day is:
🌾 a tour of the POLE space;
🌾 meet the residents and their projects;
🌾 exposition of our developments and products created in Ukraine by our colleagues and friends;
🌾 a charity fair;
🌾 open workshops;
🌾 evening music program;
🌾 and a little bit of snacks.

At the workshops, we will create something truly special together, using a unique combination of different materials.

Address: Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukrainskoi Peremohy St. 23, entrance from Melnyk St. through the arch (exact location here)

The event is free; you need to register here.

What is POLE?

Ample three-floor space where the following are located:

• equipped workshops – woodworking, metal, ceramic, textile, robotics, 3D printing and scanning, plastic recycling workshop;
• workspaces for product development teams;
• a shared space for individual work (coworking) – for artists, scientists, and creative people who enjoy being in such an environment;
• a laboratory, a space for experiments and prototyping;
• a library of professional literature;
• an event platform.

What can you do here?

1. You can move your production to POLE or set it up from scratch.
2. It can be your working space, representative office, or regional branch of your business.
3. You can set up your R&D department here.
4. Here you can find expertise or the right specialist. We have extensive experience and a network of contacts among scientists, educational institutions, and industries and can help you find a solution.
5. You can bring your idea or request here, and together, we will try to realize it or develop a product from the concept.
6. In the POLE, you can be inspired by the environment, learn new things, improve your product, create collaborations with other residents of the space, and realize bold ideas.
7. Or simply come to an open workshop to learn how to work with a particular tool and material.

We look forward to seeing you there!

POLE is a project of the METALAB urban laboratory (Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine). It became possible through cooperation with international organizations and programs, such as USAID, GIZ, IM Swedish Development Partner, Distributed Design Platform, and strategic cooperation with the Promprylad Innovation Center. Our project has received comprehensive support and funding within the New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk project, financed by the European Union as part of the Mayors for Economic Growth Facility programme.