Carlotta vom Brauck

In today’s society, death is often ignored, making many people uncomfortable and fearful. Existing urns often reinforce negative associations. I want to develop an urn that changes this perception and offers a more positive approach. A key aspect of my degree project is the choice of material, wool. Since there is an overproduction of wool, I explore how this natural, renewable resource can be used effectively. During my experimentations, I focused on surplus wool unsuitable for textiles. Wool is biodegradable and dissolves in the soil, which is important for forest cemeteries. This allows ashes to be integrated into the natural cycle of the earth. Wool also has unique haptic and psychological properties; it conveys warmth, cosiness, and softness, unlike conventional urns. My goal is to design a sustainable urn that makes the transition between life and death more peaceful.

Carlotta vom Brauck has studied one year at Konstfack within the framework of the MeDES programme (Master of European Design). This is an explorative project that is not a final degree project but that leads to the completion of the MEDes programme. More information at www.masterofeuropeandesign.com