Ahead of the event, artist Milan Srbinoski has designed the official poster, marking a splendid beginning to what promises to be another successful year of Social Fridays!

To learn more about Milan and his artistic perspective on the Social Friday initiative, we sat down with him for a brief interview.

Before we begin the interview, can you tell us more about yourself?

Hi! I’m Milan Srbinoski. I’m 28 years old artist living and working in Skopje, Macedonia. For almost 5 years I’ve been working as a tattoo artist and that makes my “everyday life” more interesting. I’ve been drawing, acting, painting, singing, and writing poetry my whole life, so I can surely say that I love art.

How do you define success as an artist?

I think success in art for me represents personal growth. Being humble and honest is something that moves me forward and makes me better and more successful. So, be a good and hard – working person, and one day you will reach the stars.

Describe how art is important for society?

Our life has been really fast these last 15 years. The information, the knowledge, and the internet gave us the world in front of us, but also took a lot of our inner freedom. Maybe it sounds counter – intuitive, but the knowledge takes away the happiness, and art is something that really can take society away from all the negativity and bring the “light in the room”.

With your poster, you left a positive mark on Social Friday. Tell us what being a part of Social Friday means to you?

You know, giving is receiving, so for me taking part in this project means a lot, because I left a mark on something that has the potential to become an every day habit in every country in the world.

Could you share the inspiration behind the design choices in your poster, and how they align with the intended message?

I was inspired by the people and their diversity. Society is made of people that are different, but they are all one thing – a human being. That is something that we should all remember. Social Friday wouldn’t exist without us humans and our acts, and the motto of the event says exactly that – “Good deeds speak louder than words”.

The Inspiration behind Social Friday

The journey of Social Friday began with an article Fikret read about how British Airways determined Friday afternoons are the least productive. Rather than dismissing this time as a lost cause, Fikret saw an opportunity to redefine it, to turn these unproductive hours into a vessel for positive change, both within companies and their surrounding communities.

Recognizing the universal nature of this unproductive time, he envisioned an initiative in his company that could harness it for the greater good. The concept of Social Friday was born from the idea that companies could use these hours to engage their employees in community service projects, thereby turning lost time into a collective benefit.

The Mission of Social Friday

At its core, Social Friday is more than just a CSR initiative; it is a movement aimed at reinventing the way businesses and their employees interact with their communities. Its mission is twofold: to utilize the unproductive time on Fridays for community service and team-building activities.

By encouraging employees to step out of the office and into their communities, individuals contribute to societal well-being while strengthening bonds with their colleagues. This approach emphasizes the value of time and collaboration over monetary donations, highlighting the impact that hands-on involvement can have on both the community and corporate culture.

When employees in a company volunteer in their community, they build a bridge between the corporate world and local communities, fostering a sense of togetherness and mutual support. When employees are given the opportunity to engage with local causes and meet new people, it not only enriches the communities served but also cultivates a culture of empathy, understanding, and corporate citizenship within the company.

By aligning the interests of businesses with those of their communities, a Social Friday creates a symbiotic relationship that benefits all parties involved, exemplifying a holistic approach to social responsibility and community engagement.

Community Engagement Leads to Innovation

The benefits of Social Friday extend far beyond the immediate impact of the volunteer projects. Communities receive the much-needed support and resources, from environmental clean-ups to mentoring programs for at-risk youth. But even more important, as people build bridges across their communities, new understanding forms on what sort of change is needed to lift up the community.

The beauty of Social Friday lies in its adaptability to different corporate environments and social causes. Whether your company is large or small, in a city or a rural area, there are countless ways to engage with your community. From environmental projects to educational support, the key is to find activities that resonate with your team and align with your organizational values.

As we look towards a future where businesses are increasingly expected to play a pivotal role in addressing societal challenges, Social Friday stands as a testament to the transformative power of corporate social responsibility. Whether you’re a startup or a multinational corporation, the journey towards a more engaged, responsible, and cohesive society begins with a simple step – dedicating time to make a difference.

Adam Morris
People Helping People

Can you tell us more about yourself? Who is Marita?

I am a 35 year old mother of two who have been working with hundreds of companies over the years, considering I have focused on the start-up market and done multiple projects over time. I have my Bachelors degree in Marketing and Creative Writing and have supported start-ups for 15 years making sure that they reach their goals locally and internationally.

How did you first hear about Social Friday – and what did you think about this initiative?

I actually heard about Social Friday as a freelancer and got the gig of helping them grow a presence digitally. The main reason I applied for the gig was because I absolutely loved the idea and the initiative, and having worked with tech companies for more than a decade – I truly understood the need and the potential of Social Friday, and what it can provide companies across the board. I quickly saw the potential of how it would provide my clients a lot of benefits – social gatherings, something more than just your everyday work, and the social aspect of bringing your focus to local issues.

Can you share what your expectations were before attending the Social Friday event? What were you hoping to gain?

I was hoping to bring companies together for a common social cause. Social Friday gave me a new avenue to reach out to companies I could partner up with for multiple reasons. It also allowed me to provide my clients with an alternative to their everyday workload and to bring teams together for a social cause.

Walk us through your experience at the Social Friday event.

I started off by partnering a NGO team I was working with, with a another local NGO. We decided that a benefit to our local community would be to clean up a space in our town that had been left untouched by government and companies alike. We met for this cause, and I noticed that everyone involved also included their family members in this process. This was mainly possible because of the social cause. It was easy to organize and everyone involved went above and beyond to make it a success. The initiative itself caught the attention of local media which was beneficial for the companies involved, but also the cause we decided to support.

Social Friday events often emphasize networking and community building. How has this event impacted your social or professional life?

It allowed me to reach out to local companies which I would not necessarily be able to contact. It also lifted the companies in our community eyes, because we did something of value to the community itself. Now, a few years later, I am still in contact with everyone who was involved and we have created a bond beyond what would have been possible with a strict company partnership.

From a more global point of view, what do you think could Social Friday change for society?

I think it could make a huge difference globally because it allows you to focus on matters that is important to everyone, and not only on your company’s core values. It gives you a way to gather socially for a good cause, which is important for us as human beings. In my opinion there has never been an initiative that allows you to focus on all these aspects at the same time, and that’s why it is the perfect combination of smart business, network marketing, employee satisfaction and social awareness at the same time.

If you could challenge 3 companies, any companies from around the world, to implement Social Friday, who would you choose?

I would challenge the big companies. They already know the importance of employee satisfaction, but they should also be aware of their global footprint, and as they say “with great power comes great responsibility”. So I would challenge Ikea, Microsoft and oil companies across the globe.

For the upcoming event the artist Voskresija Andreevska has prepared the official poster, a perfect ending to a very successful Social Friday year! In order to find more about Voskresija and her artistic approach for the Social Friday initiative, we asked her a few questions.

Before we begin the interview, can you tell us more about yourself?

Hmmm. So many times I had to write something about myself on creative platforms, portfolio websites and social media and yet I never learnt what to say about myself. Which says a lot about me – I don’t like talking or promoting myself very much. I would rather describe myself as a strong-willed, free-spirited individual who is passionate about everything they do in life. I enjoy experimenting with my art and I probably prefer animals and nature than people. I also like sports and people who challenge my intellect.

How do you define success as an artist?

Nowadays, people measure success by making sure they have a large number of followers on their social media profiles. Being determines and not allowing anything stop you from achieving your goals is how I define success. For some, that may mean taking 10,000 steps a day, while for others it could mean walking on the moon. As an artist, you have a goal and that is to tell a story and convey a message through your work; if you believe you have accomplished this and that your art is being valued, appreciated and has piqued the viewer’s interest, you are successful in my opinion.

Describe how art is important for society?

Art reflects society and the times that we live in. With it we can address the issues, effect change, send a message and give hope to others. There are always analogies in my designs, nothing is as simple as it seems at first glance. I like to draw inspiration from everyday components and things, as well as animals and nature and combine them to create a completely new world that speaks volumes.

How did your interpretation of the distinction between ‘Social Friday’ and ‘Black Friday’ shape the design elements of the poster to convey this contrast effectively?

I thought about how much money we waste on unnecessary, materialistic items on daily bases. When it comes to Black Friday, however, some go to extremes. We forget that sometimes the simplest of things are the most significant and can make us happy and satisfied. Give a smile to your neighbor and say hi, call your friends and ask how they are, tell your mother you love her. In a world where greed destroys lives, care and act. They say God is in the details, and while I am not religious I strongly believe that the little things in life can help you grow as a person and help others, because love truly does not cost a dime.

With your poster, you left a positive mark on Social Friday. Tell us what being part of Social Friday means to you?

I am truly honored and grateful that you thought of me as an artist to take part in your impactful organization. It means a lot that we can spread the message and that we are all more socially aware and engaged in creating a better society for us all. I hope I contributed to your cause, in some small way and I will continue to do so off screen.

Thank you!

Klaas Kaat’s artistic talent and visionary mindset have given birth to a mesmerizing poster for Social Friday, resonating with the values of togetherness, challenging the status quo, and striving for social good.

Through his creative process, Klaas exemplifies the transformative power of art in shaping a brighter future. As we celebrate artists like Klaas, we recognize their indispensable role in inspiring change, provoking thought, and creating a more harmonious and inclusive society.

Art has the incredible power to inspire, provoke thought, and ignite change. In the realm of social impact art, one artist stands out for his exceptional ability to convey meaningful messages through his creations.

Join us as we dive into the creative mind of Klaas Kaat, the brilliant artist behind the remarkable Social Friday poster for 2Q23.

Before we begin the interview, can you tell us more about yourself?

I was born on February 14, 1983 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. In 2010 I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Design with a major in game design at the Zurich University of the Arts. A Master of Arts in Animation at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts followed in 2017, from which the animated short film “Akeboni Sumo” emerged. Today I work as a freelance Director, as well as a Graphic-, Game- and Motion Designer.

How do you define success as an artist?

Personal fulfillment, reflection of a unique vision, emotions, and ideas aswell as mastering technique. Financial success, Being able to support oneself solely through artistic endeavors and have the resources to continue a life in freedom.

Describe how art is important for society?

I think art is important for education and Personal Growth, economic and Urban Development, innovation and creativity or also for inspiration and Emotional Impact. Very important also for Cultural Preservation and Heritage Reflection aswell as expression of critique and communication of difficult topics.

How does your design reflect the values of Social Friday, such as togetherness, challenging the status quo, and social good?

In visualizing a positive mindset with hope and optimism for the Future ∞.

With your poster, you left a positive mark on Social Friday. Tell us what being part of Social Friday means to you.

Being part of Social Friday has a very personal meaning for me. I am lucky to have been able to follow its story since the beginning. I want to help as I can.

“Creating positive change in the community is a wonderful goal! One of the ways to do this is to join the Social Friday initiative and advocate for change at the local level. I am so proud of organizing the first Social Friday ever in Asia, we had a wonderful time.”

This introductory piece provides an overview of the event, highlighting its significance and Coach Walter Vaz’s vision of creating positive change in the community.

Can you please describe how you felt organizing your first ever Social Friday?

Organizing Social Friday was one of the highlights of my career as a professional in fitness. Reaching out to and beyond my community was such a pleasure. The excitement of preparing something that is going to impact people’s lives until today is still putting a smile on my face.

How satisfied were you with the event?

The event went beautifully, smoothly and better than expected.

How did the people react to your event?

A great energy from the group and a lot of smiling faces. I’m positive that people will be talking about this event for a long time. Everybody had this sense of community and belonging.

How did this event impact your perception of Social Friday?

I have learned so much and Social Friday changed my way of perception toward Fridays. Now more than ever, I know that I have the obligation to fight the status quo.

How likely would you be to organize/participate in Social Friday events in the future?

I truly believe that we can reinvent Fridays. With that being said, in the future I will definitely organize more Social Friday events and try to spread the message across the globe.

One of the most important assets for raising awareness and supporting artists for each of the Social Friday events is the official poster for 1Q23. We interviewed the artist for the upcoming Social Friday, Dmitry Sliva who comes from a small town in Belarus and is currently living in Warsaw.

He’s a creative skater, artist and founder of the Swell Mob skate brand. When it comes to Dmitry’s lifestyle he says:

“I create fashion designs and various illustrations and ride a skateboard with a buzz. I try to move in all possible directions that I like. There is no limit to development!”

In order to find more about Dmitry and his artistic approach for the Social Friday initiative, we asked him a few more questions.

How do you define success as an artist?

For me, success comes down to two related things.

More recently, I realized that all my work energizes and gives great emotions to a large number of people. This gives me goosebumps! One of the most important things is to do it from the heart of people and realize that you are doing it for a reason. Your creation carries tremendous energy.

The second part is material. It’s great to know that you can live and develop further and further in your favorite work and in your favorite profession.

Can you describe how art is important to society?

It’s great when creative people can express their thoughts and ideas through any creative direction. And it’s great that people can see much more in this than the creator himself and you never know how your work will affect this or that person.

It seems to me that art is the engine of society.

How does your design reflect the values of Social Friday –togetherness, challenging the status quo and social good?

I wanted to show in my work the hope that it is possible to direct people to a more active pastime.

You can see a person who spends a typical Friday at home, with no idea how to spend time wrapped around his chair. It’s easy to get used to being comfortable, but we often forget the importance of being active.

Thoughts are in the air about how much you can do in this world and fill yourself with emotions and various entertainments. Thanks to your organization, people remember on Friday that they can spend it much more interesting than usual.

A person is about to break free from the shackles and enjoy his Friday afternoon.

With your poster, you left a positive mark on Social Friday. Tell us what being part of Social Friday means for you?

I am glad to participate in the project for the benefit of society. I have always tried to be active and attract different people to this.

And now there is an opportunity to attract people with their art to creativity. I hope this poster will give good emotions to many people!

Thank you!

One of the most important assets for raising awareness is the official poster of Social Friday 4Q22. We are talking with the artist responsible for the design of the poster, Teresa Grandits. 

With Doctoral studies at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna and a Master of Fashion Design and Textile Engineering at the University of Zagreb, she discusses and analyzes the terminology of relationships and their evolution ‘among equals’ and develops an artistic-ironic commentary on socially relevant topics. She applies the perspectives of a city, its people and their (everyday) stories, which conveys their own contemporary language. 

In order to find more about Teresa and her artistic approach on the Social Friday initiative, we asked her a few more questions.

How do you define success as an artist?

To my mind, there is commercial success on the one hand which enables me to live on. On the other hand, there is ideological success which enables you to represent your principle/thoughts and support a diverse sociological (personal) discussion.

Can you describe us from your point of view, how art is important to society?

To me, art builds its very individual bridge between microcosm and macrocosm.

How does your design reflect the values of Social Friday – togetherness, challenging the status quo and social good?

The cast egg represents the origin of life. The trapped air bubbles create a dynamic, nearing a storm, that the emanation of life needs, placing it metaphorically, expressing it. It proposes the visualization of the origin of each individual. A state that has yet to be influenced or shaped by the relationship between norms, conventions and laws. An individual equality that gives us the election to create communal closeness, understanding and consequently a future.

With your poster, you left a positive mark on Social Friday. Tell us what being part of Social Friday means for you?

The ability of being part of a movement is not only a privilege but also a duty.

Join our upcoming event – Social Friday is the new Black and get your logo on the official Social Friday 4Q22 poster. For every event, we will release a new original design. Start collecting personalized posters and meaningful experiences.

The Social Friday team awaits you!

Sanja, before we discuss your design, please tell us more about yourself.

I am a bachelor of fine arts and visual artist, working mostly with illustrations, children’s books, collages, and murals. I’m focused on developing and combining different techniques and materials. Fortunately for me, drawing is both a hobby and a profession.

What does your creative and technical process of creation look like?

My creative flow usually occurs in the late-night hours when everyone is asleep, and I get to be more in touch with myself and be able to process what I have experienced earlier in the day. Sometimes I start by writing something down, a small haiku, or a dream I have remembered before I sketch that idea. Or sometimes I pick up some materials like old drawings or textures and start cutting them and creating assemblages or uncanny visual relations.

Social Friday is about challenging the status quo, togetherness, and social good. How does your design reflect these values?

With this design, I wanted to create the necessary touch of togetherness. To allow yourself to be touched as an opening for understating and relating with the Other and as a means for generating communities regardless of the differences.

In the future, we are planning an exhibition of all original posters created for Social Friday events. Some would say, designing the official poster for a global initiative is a big deal. Tell us, what this opportunity means for a young artist like you, in the long run.

I understand design as an important tool for communicating social values that can reach wide audiences and can contribute to making a change in our global society and environment. Therefore, I see an opportunity to make my part of that contribution.

With this poster, you left your mark on Social Friday and now you are forever connected with our cause. Tell us what being part of Social Friday means for you.

It was a pleasure to be part of the making of this poster, an excellent connection to share my thoughts and inspiration. It makes me feel like part of a big and welcoming community.

We are thrilled to welcome you to our family of socially responsible heroes.

Social Friday is around the corner, and we are eager to welcome our community heroes, the companies, NPOs, and students who will work together to positively impact society on September 30th. Every participant hosting an event will have the chance to get a personalized poster with their logo incorporated in the design. Collect your posters as you collect amazing experiences from each upcoming Social Friday event.

Let’s reinvent Fridays together.

Aida, before we start talking about your design, please tell us more about yourself?

I am a bachelor of fine arts, graphic designer, and visual artist. Creating art is something that I have been doing for almost my whole life and I enjoy it! When I am not working you can find me somewhere in nature, riding my bike or taking a walk or just enjoying a picnic and being a people person as I am, I want to be surrounded by people during these activities!

Can you take us through your creative and technical process of creation?

Usually, I have the idea right away when I’m about to create a concept for something but I would say that brainstorming is the first step, so I can connect all loose ends of an idea. When I have the visuals and what I want something to look like, I do sketches and after that, I start painting. During the painting process, it’s not unusual to add or remove something, so I would say that in this phase, I just go with the flow.

What was your inspiration for the design?

I love nature and I want to do as much as I can to preserve it. I believe that ecological consciousness is not sufficiently developed around the world. My inspiration is to show that when people are working together on a cause like this, It can only bring good. A little contribution from each one of us is a major difference. Also, I want to motivate people to get actively involved in environmental activities and show them a picture of what little contribution can result in beauty!

One of our future goals is to hold an exhibition of all original posters for Social Friday events. Some would say, designing the official poster for a global initiative is a big deal. Tell us, what does this opportunity mean for a young artist like you, in the long run?

Oh wow, it is huge. First of all, I want to say that I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work on this as it’s a cause that is really close to my heart. When I first started this I thought of it as a fun project especially since the first design was to be painted by hand and I always enjoy painting. Not after I have finished it did I realize that this is a poster for a global initiative and that shook me a little in a good way. That means a lot to me, knowing that I was the first to “break the ice”, that a part of me is going to motivate people, inspire people and beautify their surroundings. This is a start and I can’t wait to see where this journey will bring me!

With this poster, you left your mark on Social Friday and now you are forever connected with our cause. Tell us what being part of Social Friday means for you.

I have loved the concept of Social Friday from the moment I heard of it. Being socially responsible is something that comes naturally to me and it’s good to know that there is an initiative that supports activities like this. I have spread the word to almost everyone I know, family, friends, and colleagues and they all love it. I work at @Identity – creativity & advertising a marketing agency, and we are thinking of hosting a Social Friday event as well. This is something that has enormous potential and can unlock so many opportunities for everyone involved. New friendships, new collaborations, having fun together, and doing good.

We are thrilled to welcome you to our family of socially responsible brands. As a Social Friday Ambassador, which companies do you challenge to become hosts for the next event? Call out three local and three global companies and tell us why you think they should join.

Thank you for the warm welcome! I do have brands that I think will be perfect hosts based on their activity in the past years. The first is Pharmachem. They have a constant commitment to socially responsible activities and have won awards and recognitions for social responsibility. Second is Sava osiguruvanje. They have adopted a corporate holiday “Sava Day” when the member companies of the “Sava” family organize activities in the field of socially responsible behavior which is great! The third is Bimilk. They have contributed to improving people’s lives by helping sports, culture, youth education, and solidarity with groups of citizens who are most in need of help. These are companies that have a big influence, can, and want to do more and I think it’s time for Social Friday and them to make it official!

As for the global companies, I would say Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Facebook.

Join our global Social Friday family of community heroes and get your logo on the official Social Friday 2Q22 poster. For every event, we will release a new original design. Start collecting personalized posters and meaningful experiences.

Be proud and feel the power of doing good!