The Art of Keeping: Sustainability through care and maintenance

*School Work

This project was part of the EK Charette, a branding opportunity I joined last semester in collaboration with Mamma Mia, a community space in Copenhagen that supports people with mental disabilities. The theme centered around sustainability through care and maintenance — the idea that maintaining something, whether material or social, creates more sustainable futures and communities.

Throughout the project, our team explored the surrounding neighborhood, visited the space, and developed prototypes designed to encourage interaction and engagement between the community and the people Mamma Mia serves. One of our key outcomes was the "Conversation Bench," a prototype concept that uses color and pattern to create a welcoming and inclusive space for connection. The hand-drawn neighborhood map shows visualization and organizing the surrounding area, helping us better understand how the community relates to the space.

One of the most challenging and rewarding parts of this experience was communicating and collaborating with teammates from different countries and fields of study. Working through these language and cultural barriers pushed me to develop stronger communication skills.

The focus on care, maintenance, and sustainability as a design principle has deeply influenced how I approach ideation in both my graphic design and jewellery design work going forward.

When: Fall 2025

Program: EK Charrette 2025