How does the concern for sustainability affect our taste and idea of quality? This question lay at the heart of the second panel discussion during the Ødeland exhibition in Copenhagen, March 2025. The panel gathered leading voices in craft, design, and education to explore a profound and timely theme: the aesthetics of sustainability.
Moderated by writer and curator Charlotte Jul, the discussion featured insights from ceramic and glass practitioners, industrial designers, educators, and researchers across Scandinavia. Panelists included Nina Husted Erichsen, head of the ceramics and glass program at the Academy on Bornholm; Petra Lilja, Swedish industrial designer and recent doctoral graduate.
A central focus of the discussion was how high-fired waste materials can be repurposed in ceramic products. This subject is at the core of a collaborative project with BOFA, the waste management authority on the island of Bornholm. The initiative is spearheaded by Signe Fensholt, Thora Finnsdottir, and Christina Schou Christensen, and is generously supported by the Danish Art Fund and Nationalbankens Jubilæumsfond in 2025.
The conversation examined how sustainability is more than a trend—it’s becoming a foundational shift in how we teach, create, and think about materials. From reusing waste ceramics and developing new material blends to challenging traditional production processes, the panelists highlighted innovative approaches reshaping craft disciplines.
A recurring theme was the need for deeper relationships with materials. As Petra emphasized, sustainability is not just about recycling but about rethinking our extractive relationship with the Earth. The conversation also addressed the emotional and aesthetic dimensions of sustainable objects—if we love what we make and use, we’re more likely to keep and value it, reducing waste and consumption.
The panel concluded that sustainable change must happen across all levels—from education and studio practice to industry and policy. Connecting craftspeople with industrial partners, creating scalable models, and incorporating sustainability into design education are essential steps forward.
As sustainability becomes both an ethical imperative and a creative opportunity, this discussion illuminated how the craft sector is not only responding but leading with integrity, innovation, and aesthetic depth.