Shifting Mindsets: Building Ethical Circularity Together (FUTURE MATERIALS)

The question of how to transform an abstract concept into a scalable, sustainable material solution lies at the heart of contemporary material research. This year’s Future Materials Conference at MoMe Budapest tackles this very challenge, examining how materials can be reimagined and reused within a circular economy. Bringing together leading thinkers from both industry and academia, the event investigates how material innovation can be guided by systemic approaches, ethical responsibility, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The programme combines inspiring case studies, pioneering pilot projects, and international perspectives with interactive workshops designed to foster practical application.

The conference features an exceptional line-up of speakers, including Bas van Abel, founder of Fairphone; Katharina Jose, Professor of CMF Design in Vehicle Interiors at Reutlingen University and former CMF Lead at Lynk & Co; the Berlin-based design studio N O R M A L S (with exciting details still under wraps); Chris Lefteri, a world-leading expert on surface design whose eight books have reshaped designers’ approach to materials; and Ron Wakkary, Professor at the School of Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University, Canada, and founder of the Everyday Design Studio.

Workshops will include sessions by Juszuff Kovács on merging 3D printing with ceramics; Studio Nima on scaling biobased materials from laboratory research to industrial use; Barbara Pollini on how design can foster biodiversity through sculptural creations; and Davide Gomba on applying TinyML in design practice.

Expect a rich variety of materials such as hemp and mycelium, and more unexpected discoveries. A special session will also highlight cutting-edge French–Hungarian research collaborations, complete with live translation.

Future Materials Conference
15-17 October 2025
Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Budapest
https://futurematerials.mome.hu/home/?l=eng