WHAT IS OUR POSITION IN THE ECOSYSTEM?
We ought to question the objects we own and surround ourselves with. To what extent do they represent our identities? Did we make these objects, or have these objects created us and our culture?
#circulareconomy #hair #textileindustry #materialinnovation #ecosystem #futureproof #science
RESEARCHER
Zsofia Kollar (she/her) is a designer, researcher, published author, the founder of Human Material Loop, a material science company focusing on the utilization of human hair for various industries, as well as a tutor at the Royal Academy of Art, the Hague. She holds a BA in architecture and design and an MA in interdisciplinary design. Her independent design studio, Studio Zsofia Kollar focuses on conceptual projects with clients such as the Dutch Ministry of Education, the Dutch Military, Amsterdam Royal Zoo, and Mediamatic. Presenting materials from different and unexpected perspectives is an ongoing objective in her work.
HUMAN MATERIAL LOOP – RETHINKING MATERIALS
Zsofia Kollar is an innovator and advocate for sustainability in the realm of materials and circularity. As the Director and CEO of Human Material Loop, she has made significant strides in reshaping the way we think about resource utilization and waste management. With a keen passion for innovation and circularity, Zsofia is dedicated to promoting more sustainable practices. She firmly believes that the future demands a fundamental shift in the way we approach materials, and her work at Human Material Loop exemplifies this commitment.
SPEAKER FOR INNOVATION
As a respected public speaker, Zsofia shares her insights on innovation, circularity, and material usage with audiences around the world. Her talks inspire and educate others on the importance of rethinking our approach to materials, and advocating for a future where waste is minimized, and resources are used more efficiently.
BUILDING ECOSYSTEMS
Zsofia’s vision extends beyond mere environmentalism; she envisions a world where stakeholders in various industries come together to form resilient ecosystems. In her view, collaboration and cooperation are key to fostering innovation and creating a sustainable future. Zsofia Kollar’s work and message serve as a powerful reminder that by working together and embracing innovative practices, we can build a more sustainable and harmonious world for future generations.
DESIGN IS CREATING SOLUTIONS
Design isn’t just about making things look appealing, or just about usability, or even just delight. As a designer, Kollar feels responsible for offering a different narrative, challenging perceptions, and altering the norms. She founded Human Material Loop with a mission to show that people are part of the ecosystem and not above it. She published Object-Oriented Identity to make us think about our consumer identity. She is challenging the perception and the value system we live in. Currently, her major focus as the founder of Human Material Loop is to bring their innovation to a global audience.
CONSUMERISM
She is blogging about objects in her blog – Object Identity
MATERIAL SCIENCE
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
DEZEEN Awards Shortlist – Material Innovation – 2023
WDCD – Circular Challenge – Finalist – 2023
Dutch Design Awards – Design Research – Nominee – 2022
Distributed Design EU – Winner – 2022
ImpactHub Ams – BMC – Winner – 2022
Rossana Orlandi – Guiltless Plastic Award – Finalist – 2021
SELECTED MEDIA
ACADEMIC QUEST LECTURES
Willem de Kooning Academie (Rotterdam), Università Ca’ Foscari (Venice), Artez (Zwolle), Maastricht University (Maastricht), Hogeschool Utrecht (Utrecht), MaterFad (Barcelona), National College of Art and Design (Dublin), ArtEZ University of the Arts (Arnhem)
TALKS X WORKSHOPS X EXHIBITIONS X WRITINGS
WORKSHOP TALK
Materiality is pow(d)er! – Symposium
An orientation around materiality in a graphic design (educational) context
can take on many forms. What can the examination of materiality trigger in a
design education context? Where, when, and how can debate, experiments and
works around this theme gain urgency and impact students’ future learning?
These are some of the questions that triggered the Materiality is Pow(d)er?
Project month program and symposium at Graphic Design Arnhem (GDA).
Focus Filmtheater, Grote zaal 1
22.01.2023. ARNHEM, NETHERLANDS
WORKSHOP
RETHINKING HUMAN HAIR – DUBLIN DESIGN WEEK
The “Neomateria” project promotes innovation, sustainability and creativity through materials, putting the transformative capacity of artists, designers and makers at the centre of the scene.
15-17.11.2023. DUBLIN, IRELAND
TALK
WRITING
RETHINKING HUMAN MATERIALS – WDCD
ZSOFIA KOLLAR ON THE CULTURAL LEGACY & CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF HUMAN HAIR
For years, the planet has been running out of natural resources at an alarming rate. The evidence suggests that human activities have already altered 70% of the Earth’s land surface, leading to degraded ecosystems and devastating losses in biodiversity.
24.10.2023. WHAT DESIGN CAN DO BLOG
TALK
TALK
PITCH PERFECT AND BOOST THE EUROPEAN BIOECONOMY 2023
The ‘Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy’ event is a one day event of intense cross-border and cross-sectoral pitching, matchmaking and networking, with the aim to link industry to innovative (biobased) technologies, innovators to investors and to create new partnerships for the future and the further development of innovative, cross-border and cross-sectoral industrial value chains in the biobased economy.
EXHIBITION
HUMAN WEAVES – HUMAN MATERIAL LOOP X MONA REICH X WORTH EU
SALONE DEL MOBILE, MILAN
18 – 23.04.2023 – MILAN, ITALY – Via Sirtori, 32.
TALK
INNOVATION CAFE -EINDHOVEN – HUMAN MATERIAL LOOP
FUELLING INNOVATION Connecting top talent + ideas + opportunities = fuelling innovation
06.04.2023 – EINDHOVEN – EHV Innovation Café
TALK
FUTURE OF CREATIVE BUSINESS 2023
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUSINESS, HUMANITIES, TECHNOLOGY, & CREATIVITY
We all have different experiences that shaped our lives and who we’ve become. We all have personal stories of our past that paved new ways to what will come NEXT:
The way we do business;
The way we connect with people;
The way we find our place in, and peace with the planet.
05.04.2023. UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS
WORKSHOP
Neo-Matter. Residency & Workshops – MATERFAD
Neo-Matter Residency & Workshops 2023 consists of a programme for professional craftspeople, a practical immersion in the field of new materials. Organised by MATERFAD and CCAM, with the collaboration of the Embassy of the Netherlands.
21-24.02.2023. Centre d’Artesania de Catalunya
WORKSHOP
WINTERLAB ZWOLLE – Inner & Outer acts – What is the value of human waste?
Winterlab is an interdisciplinary project week in which more than 400 students, with ArtEZ Art & Design , Theater in Education , Music in Education and Studium Generale from Zwolle, collaborate with various (art) practices.
23-27.01.2023. ArtEZ Art & Design
EXHIBITION
DUTCH DESIGN WEEK – Dutch Design Awards – Nominee
Dutch Design Awards honours the best Dutch designs across eight categories. It awards design initiatives and designers in the Netherlands each year, in first place by relevance and impact, but also to the extent to which they relate to their own field.
21-29.11.2022. MicroLab Hall – Kastanjelaan 400, Eindhoven, NL
EXHIBITION
Object-Oriented Identity Frozen Fountain
Book Launch together with APE
12.03.2022.Frozen Fountain, Prinsengracht 645, 1016HV Amsterdam NL
No Traces Left – What is the value of human waste? Lecture at Royal Academy of Art
FEM-START Up Award 2021 Nominee
Impact Hub Amsterdam BMC Pitch Winner
TEDxAmsterdamWomen -Talent Night 2021 Finalist
Rossana Orlandi – Guiltless Plastic Award 2021 – Responsible Innovation Projects – Finalist
What design can do – No Waste Challenge – Finalist
Art Room Mina – The World Needs strong woman – Spatial Intervention, Amsterdam NL
OBJECT ROTTERDAM – Zsofia Kollar x Sidney Nislow exhibition, Rotterdam NL
DUS: De Kop #15 in Noord Public talk about human hair textile at Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam NL
Generations 2020 x MOAM – Curated group exhibition at Capital C, Amsterdam NL
The Beauty Dinner: Neo Futurist Dinner – Beauty mirrors at Mediamatic, Amsterdam NL
DUS: De Kop – Public talk about human hair textiles at Doka, Amsterdam NL
Working Hard or Hardly Working – Group exhibition – Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven NL
Under Construction – BNO YA! Group Exhibition – Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven NL
A night at the Nightingale – Special Guest Artist – Neverneverland De Nachtegaal Amsterdam NL
Radical Cut-Up – Not a single narrative – Looiersgracht 60, Amsterdam NL
Familiar Faces Lecture Series – Create your own MacGuffin – Royal Academy of Art, The Hague NL
Radical Cut-Up by Lodown Magazine Release – Stedelijk Museum, 2018, Amsterdam NL
Radical Cut-Up – Melkweg Expo, 2018, Amsterdam NL
PRACTICE, MY POLITICS- Diversity – Salone del Mobile 2018, Milan IT
Art = Artis by Moam – Secrets of the Platan – Artis Royal Zoo, Amsterdam NL
Eye See You – Reflections on the gaze – Not in New York, Rotterdam, NL
Dutch Design Week 2017 – Disposition, Eindhoven NL
London Design Fair 2017 – Material Spaces: Ma-tt-er + SPACE10, London UK
ARTLAB Munich – GALERIE BENJAMIN ECK, Munich DE
Graduation Show 2017 – Royal Academy of Art, The Hague NL
Open Day 2017 – Royal Academy of Art, The Hague NL
RESET – Salone Internationale del Mobile 2016, Milan IT
WHAT IS OUR POSITION IN THE ECOSYSTEM?
We ought to question the objects we own and surround ourselves with. To what extent do they represent our identities? Did we make these objects, or have these objects created us and our culture?
#circulareconomy #hair #textileindustry #materialinnovation #ecosystem #futureproof #science
RESEARCHER
Zsofia Kollar (she/her) is a designer, researcher, published author, the founder of Human Material Loop, a material science company focusing on the utilization of human hair for various industries, as well as a tutor at the Royal Academy of Art, the Hague. She holds a BA in architecture and design and an MA in interdisciplinary design. Her independent design studio, Studio Zsofia Kollar focuses on conceptual projects with clients such as the Dutch Ministry of Education, the Dutch Military, Amsterdam Royal Zoo, and Mediamatic. Presenting materials from different and unexpected perspectives is an ongoing objective in her work.
HUMAN MATERIAL LOOP – RETHINKING MATERIALS
Zsofia Kollar is an innovator and advocate for sustainability in the realm of materials and circularity. As the Director and CEO of Human Material Loop, she has made significant strides in reshaping the way we think about resource utilization and waste management. With a keen passion for innovation and circularity, Zsofia is dedicated to promoting more sustainable practices. She firmly believes that the future demands a fundamental shift in the way we approach materials, and her work at Human Material Loop exemplifies this commitment.
SPEAKER FOR INNOVATION
As a respected public speaker, Zsofia shares her insights on innovation, circularity, and material usage with audiences around the world. Her talks inspire and educate others on the importance of rethinking our approach to materials, and advocating for a future where waste is minimized, and resources are used more efficiently.
BUILDING ECOSYSTEMS
Zsofia’s vision extends beyond mere environmentalism; she envisions a world where stakeholders in various industries come together to form resilient ecosystems. In her view, collaboration and cooperation are key to fostering innovation and creating a sustainable future. Zsofia Kollar’s work and message serve as a powerful reminder that by working together and embracing innovative practices, we can build a more sustainable and harmonious world for future generations.
DESIGN IS CREATING SOLUTIONS
Design isn’t just about making things look appealing, or just about usability, or even just delight. As a designer, Kollar feels responsible to offer a different narrative, challenging perceptions, and altering the norms. She founded Human Material Loop with a mission to show that people are part of the ecosystem and not above it. She published Object-Oriented Identity to make us think about our consumer identity. She is challenging the perception and the value system we live in. Currently, her major focus as the founder of Human Material Loop is to bring their innovation to a global audience.
CONSUMERISM
She is blogging about objects in her blog – Object Identity
MATERIAL SCIENCE
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2023
DEZEEN Awards – Material Innovation | Shortlist
WDCD – Circular Challenge | Finalist
2022
Dutch Design Awards – Design Research | Nominee
Distributed Design EU | Winner
ImpactHub Ams – BMC | Winner
2021
Rossana Orlandi – Guiltless Plastic Award | Finalist
SELECTED MEDIA
ACADEMIC QUEST LECTURES
Willem de Kooning Academie (Rotterdam), Università Ca’ Foscari (Venice), Artez (Zwolle), Mastricht University (Maastricht), Hogeschool Utrecht (Utrecht), MaterFad (Barcelona)
TALKS X WORKSHOPS X EXHIBITIONS X WRITINGS
WORKSHOP TALK
Materiality is pow(d)er! – Symposium
An orientation around materiality in a graphic design (educational) context can take on many forms. What can the examination of materiality trigger in a design education context? Where, when, and how can debate, experiments and works around this theme gain urgency and impact students’ future learning? These are some of the questions that triggered the Materiality is Pow(d)er? Project month program and symposium at Graphic Design Arnhem (GDA).
Focus Filmtheater, Grote zaal 1
22.01.2023. ARNHEM, NETHERLANDS
TALK
TEDX Impact AMSTERDAM
The Impact Program is suitable for people from all walks of life with an ambitious and entrepreneurial nature. It specifically caters to those in need of guidance to jumpstart benevolent solutions within the Amsterdam region. We are not talking about idealistic dreams and utopian fairy tales but rather initiators of disruptive innovations and concrete ideas. We like to call these great minds “Pioneers”.
24.11.2023. AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
WORKSHOP
RETHINKING HUMAN HAIR – DUBLIN DESIGN WEEK
The “Neomateria” project promotes innovation, sustainability and creativity through materials, putting the transformative capacity of artists, designers and makers at the centre of the scene.
15-17.11.2023. DUBLIN, IRELAND
TALK
TALK
WRITING
RETHINKING HUMAN MATERIALS – WDCD
ZSOFIA KOLLAR ON THE CULTURAL LEGACY & CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF HUMAN HAIR
For years, the planet has been running out of natural resources at an alarming rate. The evidence suggests that human activities have already altered 70% of the Earth’s land surface, leading to degraded ecosystems and devastating losses in biodiversity.
24.10.2023. WHAT DESIGN CAN DO BLOG
TALK
TALK
PITCH PERFECT AND BOOST THE EUROPEAN BIOECONOMY 2023
The ‘Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy’ event is a one day event of intense cross-border and cross-sectoral pitching, matchmaking and networking, with the aim to link industry to innovative (biobased) technologies, innovators to investors and to create new partnerships for the future and the further development of innovative, cross-border and cross-sectoral industrial value chains in the biobased economy.
EXHIBITION
HUMAN WEAVES – HUMAN MATERIAL LOOP X MONA REICH X WORTH EU
SALONE DEL MOBILE, MILAN
18 – 23.04.2023 – MILAN, ITALY – Via Sirtori, 32.
TALK
INNOVATION CAFE -EINDHOVEN – HUMAN MATERIAL LOOP
FUELLING INNOVATION Connecting top talent + ideas + opportunities = fuelling innovation
06.04.2023 – EINDHOVEN – EHV Innovation Café
TALK
FUTURE OF CREATIVE BUSINESS 2023
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUSINESS, HUMANITIES, TECHNOLOGY, & CREATIVITY
We all have different experiences that shaped our lives and who we’ve become. We all have personal stories of our past that paved new ways to what will come NEXT:
The way we do business;
The way we connect with people;
The way we find our place in, and peace with the planet.
05.04.2023. UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS
WORKSHOP
Neo-Matter. Residency & Workshops – MATERFAD
Neo-Matter Residency & Workshops 2023 consists of a programme for professional craftspeople, a practical immersion in the field of new materials. Organised by MATERFAD and CCAM, with the collaboration of the Embassy of the Netherlands.
21-24.02.2023. Centre d’Artesania de Catalunya
WORKSHOP
WINTERLAB ZWOLLE – Inner & Outer acts – What is the value of human waste?
Winterlab is an interdisciplinary project week in which more than 400 students, with ArtEZ Art & Design , Theater in Education , Music in Education and Studium Generale from Zwolle, collaborate with various (art) practices.
23-27.01.2023. ArtEZ Art & Design
EXHIBITION
DUTCH DESIGN WEEK – Dutch Design Awards – Nominee
Dutch Design Awards honours the best Dutch designs across eight categories. It awards design initiatives and designers in the Netherlands each year, in first place by relevance and impact, but also to the extent to which they relate to their own field.
21-29.11.2022. MicroLab Hall – Kastanjelaan 400, Eindhoven, NL
EXHIBITION
Object-Oriented Identity Frozen Fountain
Book Launch together with APE
12.03.2022.Frozen Fountain, Prinsengracht 645, 1016HV Amsterdam NL
No Traces Left – What is the value of human waste? Lecture at Royal Academy of Art
FEM-START Up Award 2021 Nominee
Impact Hub Amsterdam BMC Pitch Winner
TEDxAmsterdamWomen -Talent Night 2021 Finalist
Rossana Orlandi – Guiltless Plastic Award 2021 – Responsible Innovation Projects – Finalist
What design can do – No Waste Challenge – Finalist
Art Room Mina – The World Needs strong woman – Spatial Intervention, Amsterdam NL
OBJECT ROTTERDAM – Zsofia Kollar x Sidney Nislow exhibition, Rotterdam NL
DUS: De Kop #15 in Noord Public talk about human hair textile at Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam NL
Generations 2020 x MOAM – Curated group exhibition at Capital C, Amsterdam NL
The Beauty Dinner: Neo Futurist Dinner – Beauty mirrors at Mediamatic, Amsterdam NL
DUS: De Kop – Public talk about human hair textiles at Doka, Amsterdam NL
Working Hard or Hardly Working – Group exhibition – Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven NL
Under Construction – BNO YA! Group Exhibition – Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven NL
A night at the Nightingale – Special Guest Artist – Neverneverland De Nachtegaal Amsterdam NL
Radical Cut-Up – Not a single narrative – Looiersgracht 60, Amsterdam NL
Familiar Faces Lecture Series – Create your own MacGuffin – Royal Academy of Art, The Hague NL
Radical Cut-Up by Lodown Magazine Release – Stedelijk Museum, 2018, Amsterdam NL
Radical Cut-Up – Melkweg Expo, 2018, Amsterdam NL
PRACTICE, MY POLITICS- Diversity – Salone del Mobile 2018, Milan IT
Art = Artis by Moam – Secrets of the Platan – Artis Royal Zoo, Amsterdam NL
Eye See You – Reflections on the gaze – Not in New York, Rotterdam, NL
Dutch Design Week 2017 – Disposition, Eindhoven NL
London Design Fair 2017 – Material Spaces: Ma-tt-er + SPACE10, London UK
ARTLAB Munich – GALERIE BENJAMIN ECK, Munich DE
Graduation Show 2017 – Royal Academy of Art, The Hague NL
Open Day 2017 – Royal Academy of Art, The Hague NL
RESET – Salone Internationale del Mobile 2016, Milan IT
Zsofia Kollar – Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.
©2023 Amsterdam, NL
