Profile: Evelina Lavergren – Only Natural Design Competitions

Evelina Lavergren

Kontsfack University of Art, Craft and Design

I am an industrial designer based in Sweden with a passion for creating meaningful, human-centered and other than human centered ecologically responsible design. With a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design from Konstfack and Aalto University and a Master’s in Design Ecologies from Konstfack, my practice lies at the intersection of material exploration, systems thinking, and inclusive design. My work is driven by curiosity and a commitment to sustainability - socially, ecologically, and aesthetically. I often work across disciplines and enjoy collaborating with users, researchers, and industry to explore new ways of designing within circular systems. I believe that design can challenge norms, tell stories, and become a tool for systemic change. From prototyping seaweed-based biodegradable shoes for postal workers to redesigning modular workwear for women in construction, my projects aim to expand what products can do - and who they are made for. With a hands-on approach and a research-based mindset, I strive to create designs that are emotionally engaging, physically functional, and rooted in real-world contexts.

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Biological Footprint

Category: Footwear

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2025

Footwear is essential in daily life, but its environmental impact, particularly in terms of microplastic pollution and recycling challenges, is often overlooked. The global reliance on synthetic materials like plastic and rubber contributes significantly to marine pollution which harms sea life and enters the human food chain, posing health risks. Biological Footprint explores the potential of Gotlandic seaweed as a sustainable biomaterial for footwear. By using seaweed which helps absorb excess nutrients in the overfertilised Baltic Sea, this degree project contributes to the improvement of water quality and ecological restoration. The design focuses on how friction created by walking can disperse seeds and nutrients into the soil, promoting regional biodiversity. Targeting postal delivery workers, who frequently move through urban and rural areas, the shoes will help spread native seeds and provide nutrients, supporting local conservation efforts and enhancing the region’s biodiversity, while contributing to the restoration of the Baltic Sea.