Christian Tollestrup

Christian Tollestrup is an Associate Professor and Head of the Industrial Design Section at Aalborg University's Department of Architecture, Design and Media Technology within The Technical Faculty of IT and Design. His research focuses on design expertise, sustainable design practices, and design education, particularly in fostering entrepreneurial initiatives within educational programs. He is a core member of the AAU Design Lab, addressing societal transitions toward sustainable production and consumption, emphasizing circular economy principles like material reuse and product reparability.

Teaching-wise, Tollestrup has led curriculum development for Industrial Design BSc/MSc programs and co-founded the Entrepreneurial Engineering program. He emphasizes pedagogical innovation, including the 'Designer's Market' course using videos, podcasts, and a textbook to teach entrepreneurial design thinking. His administrative roles include managing staffing and strategy for the Industrial Design section, aligning teaching and research activities with sustainability goals.

Key research themes include design for longevity, circularity in product lifecycle, and ethical design practices. Notable collaborations include the ReshapeWaste initiative and projects on second-hand product markets. His work contributes to UN SDGs, particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption) and SDG 9 (Industry/Innovation).

Recent publications explore design ethics, repairability barriers, and the role of 'tangible tokens' in product longevity. He supervises 3 PhD projects and has led over 15 funded research projects, including initiatives on waste material aesthetics and smart product sustainability. His work bridges educational innovation with real-world industry challenges, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in design education and practice.