Aart van Bezooijen

Aart van Bezooijen is a Professor at the Faculty of Design and Arts of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz). He is renowned for his work in Material Driven Design, focusing on sustainable practices through interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on material experimentation. His research bridges design, technology transfer, and ecological innovation.

• Universities: Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz), Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle
• Research Focus: Circular Economy, Biodesign, Future Materials

Van Bezooijen investigates how material relationships can foster sustainable futures. His approach integrates physical material exploration with digital technologies, emphasizing collaborative learning and speculative design. The Burg Material Collection, under his leadership, curates 750+ material samples and serves as a participatory archive for ecological innovation.

His scholarly output includes publications analyzing material education, such as Burg Material – Hands-on Materials Education (2021) and 100% Paper (2017), alongside the award-winning travelogue It's Not Easy Being Green (2012). These works highlight bamboo structures, blood-based plastics, and other biofabrication techniques.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2011 Ideas that Matter Prize
• Collaborations:
  • MAKE. Platform (2012–2020)
  • BITZ fablab at unibz
  • Competence Centre for Sustainability