The Making Sustainability 2026: International Conference on Craft, Design and Innovation (on 7-8 in September 2026 at De Montfort University, UK and online) will bring together researchers, practitioners, educators, and industry leaders to explore how craft, design, innovation, and technology intersect to shape sustainable futures.
With a particular emphasis on the connections between craft and design, such as prototyping in contexts including product, furniture, interior, fashion, architecture, and the built environment, the conference will address themes including:
- sustainable materials and processes
- circular design and practices
- digitalisation and technological advances for sustainable and regenerative practices
- preservation and reinvention of traditional practices
- the role of education, entrepreneurship, markets, and policy in supporting sustainable creative industries.
The conference aims to challenge conventional boundaries by bringing together artistic, cultural and industrial perspectives. It seeks to highlight the importance of sustainable making and craft in sustainable and regenerative development, and to foster new collaborations that will contribute to more resilient futures for communities, economies, and environments.