Meet the project - Material Ecologies of Design: Unpacking the Hidden Life of Materials

In an era defined by climate change and ecological crisis, design is under increasing scrutiny. Historical and cultural studies of design have long focused on objects in their finished, commodity form, but the story of design does not end there. It also encompasses the extraction, processing, and circulation of the materials that make these objects possible.

The CAS project Material Ecologies of Design, led by Professor Kjetil Fallan (University of Oslo) and Associate Professor Ingrid Halland (University of Bergen), tackles this challenge by shifting focus from the finished product to its constituent materials and the ecological entanglements they carry. As they emphasize: “We need to open the black box that is the consumer product. To engage with the environmental crisis, we must examine the materials of which it is made.”

By examining how the process and act of designing regulates the use of extractive materials, the project aims to foster a deeper understanding of how society might transition from a consumer-based economy to a circular one, grounded in sustainability and material awareness. 

Beyond the Finished Object

Most studies of design history have looked at objects in their polished, finished state—as commodities. But this project flips the perspective. Instead of focusing on the end product, it digs into the processes and histories that lie behind it: extraction, production, circulation, and disposal. In a global economy, these processes often happen out of sight. 

“There is certainly something of an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ logic at play,” they note. “With offshored manufacturing and closed-off Special Economic Zones, it is difficult to see the material flows and their environmental impact.” 

By bringing cultural and historical perspectives into these hidden processes, the team hopes to build what they call material literacy: a more nuanced understanding of how materials move through the world, and what that means for sustainability.
 

Interdisciplinary Encounters

To tackle these complex questions, Fallan and Halland have invited a diverse group of collaborators, including designers, industry representatives, filmmakers, historians, and theorists. Their goal is to foster dialogue across disciplines in ways that are more open-ended and collaborative than typical academic projects.

“In the book Smart Policies for Societies in Transition, the editors argue that transitions often occur within ‘in-between places’—liminal spaces where unfamiliar situations foster unexpected connections,” they say. The project seeks to create such spaces at CAS, where serendipitous encounters can lead to new perspectives and methods for understanding design’s material entanglements. Collaboration with industry partners is a particularly novel aspect they are eager to explore further.
 

The CAS Advantage

CAS offers a unique environment for research that cannot be easily quantified or predicted. Many funding structures require measurable results, predefined plans, and risk management—conditions that can limit exploratory research. In contrast, CAS allows scholars to pursue blue-skies inquiry, focusing on curiosity-driven questions rather than immediate performance metrics.

“These spaces enable scholars to explore complex issues and develop new forms of collaboration across diverse, sometimes unconventional, fields,” they explain. The team emphasizes that building trust and fostering experimentation takes time, and CAS provides the conditions to do exactly that.

Basic, self-initiated, curiosity-driven research is an essential part of academic freedom. In a landscape where much research is guided by political or commercial priorities, CAS provides a haven for inquiry that is unmarketable, unpredictable, and non-instrumental.

By reframing how we think about design—from shiny finished products to the messy, hidden ecologies behind them—Material Ecologies of Design speaks directly to some of the most urgent questions of our time.

The project will feature three thematic symposia, monthly workshops, and field trips to sites integral to material histories and futures. Planned visits include the historic mining town of Røros, the cobalt mine Blaafarveværket, Kiruna in Sweden, and NOAH at Langøya, Norway’s leading environmental service provider for hazardous waste. These excursions will allow participants to engage directly with the ecological and cultural dimensions of materials, linking theory and practice in tangible ways.
 

Looking ahead

While scholarly publications will result from the project, its ambitions extend beyond traditional outputs. The team is experimenting with innovative publication formats in collaboration with the online platform Metode, and aims to develop a pedagogical tool grounded in their findings.

By illuminating the hidden material lives behind design, Material Ecologies of Design encourages scholars, industry partners, and the public alike to rethink how we make, use, and value the objects around us. It bridges disciplines, fosters experimental collaborations, and challenges established ways of thinking about design, materials, and sustainability.

Ultimately, the project demonstrates how curiosity-driven research can tackle some of today’s most urgent questions. By tracing the ecological and cultural journeys of materials, Fallan and Halland show that understanding the hidden life of design is not just an academic exercise—it is a crucial step toward building a circular society where design decisions are informed, responsible, and sustainable.

We look forward to following Fallan and Halland and their project throughout this academic year.