Concious, curious and innovative solutions for design and craft through sustainable waste material research.
BIO
Anna Maria Sand Jensen is an award-winning designer and maker working at the intersection of craft, architecture, and sustainability. With a background in Ceramics and Glass from The Royal Danish Academy, her practice focuses on material research and circular design, turning waste streams like eggshells, ash, and ceramics into meaningful architectural elements.
Her ongoing project Unwasted reimagines ceramics as a system of care and connection—collaborating with farmers, industry, and educational institutions to build new material loops.
Anna Maria has shared her work across Europe, including at Politecnico di Milano and European Ceramic Context 2024, and has been recognized by Juni Fonden, Danmarks Nationalbank, and Boligfonden Kuben, with nominations for the Green Concept Award 2025 and Red Dot Award - Sustainable Design 2025 . Her work bridges design, impact, and craft, showing how beauty and sustainability can go hand in hand.
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CV
EDUCATION
2025 -
MAA - Strategic Design and Entrepreneurship
Royal Danish Academy
Institute for Architecture , Design and Conservation
Copenhagen Business School - CBS
Master’s degree program at The Royal Danish Academy and Copenhagen Business School, focusing on strategic design, sustainable innovation, and entrepreneurship. An interdisciplinary and international education, taught in English.
2021 - 2025
BA - Crafts - Glass and Ceramics
Royal Danish Academy
Institutue for Archetecture, Design and Conservation
Professional bachelor's degree program at The Royal Danish Academy, with specializing in ceramic and glass design and craft. An international education, taught in English.
Oktober 2024- January 2025
Intern - Robotics, architecture and production.
Studio RAP, Rotterdam, Holland
Material Researcher at the renowned architectural firm Studio RAP. Worked on developing and researching innovative materials for architectural projects. Contributed to creating material solutions that support both aesthetics and functionality in building expressions, with a focus on sustainability and design optimization.
GRANTS - AWARDS
Spirekasselegat , Boligfonden Kuben (March 2025 ) , Finalist - New Materials Green Concept Awards 2025 (Spring 2025 ) 15. Juni Fondens Hæderspris - Design (October 2024) Danmarks Nationalbanks Jubilæumsfond (June 2024) , Hotelejer Anders Månsson og hustru Hanne Månssons Mindelegat ( June 2024) .
EXHIBITION
March 2025 - Permanent collection
Material District, Utrecht, Holland
Exhibiting Unwasted in the permanent collection of Material District, an international platform dedicated to showcasing innovative materials for design and architecture. The project highlights the use of sustainable and recycled materials, exploring new possibilities in building materials and aesthetics.
September - December 2024
CLAY - Danmarks Ceramic Museum, Middelfart , Denmark
September 2024 - Event
European Ceramic Context 2024, Bornholm , Denmark
Group Bachelor Exhibition with the other student of the CRAFTS department of the Royal Danish Academy. Being chosen to write an article for the museums members magasin CLAY NEW (CLAY NYT).
Exhibition of the process of Unwasted and presentation of the tests and material research.
June 2024 - September 2024
GrønbechsgaÌŠrd, Bornholm Centre for Crafts, Denmark
Jan. 2024
SocialSpace, NGO
Solo Exhibition
Group Bachelor Exhibition with the other student of the CRAFTS department of the Royal Danish Academy. First exhibition of Unwasted.
Collaboration with non-profit mental health organistion. Solo Exhibition w. 4 ceramic and glass works for their Launching Events, in Copenhagen URBAN13 and Dypaang in Århus, Denmark.
Sep 2023 - Apr. 2024
Vejen Art Museum
Group exhibition
ALCHEMISTS’ CONVENTION
A research-based project and group exhibition drawing inspiration, of sculptor Niels Hansen Jacobsen’s (1861–1941) . Working in collaborating with The Conservation Center making XRF scanning analyses of ceramics at the museum.
Exhibiting series of 5 own works “ Characteristics of a tree”, as part of assisting artist Bente Skjøttgaard.
EMPLOYMENT
Oct. 2023
Peach Corner Gallery
Satelite exhibition and book release ALCHEMISTS’ CONVENTION
A satellite exhibition to Vejen Art Museum, in connection with their book release of the book ALCHEMISTS’ CONVENTION , regarding the project and the collaboration.
Sep 2023 - Apr. 2024
PLANETARY BOUNDARIES - Rethinking Architecture and design
Curated exhibited , KADK Copenhagen
Project “ The Aesthetic of Crushing” being chosen among 25 other project, for curated exhibition. Recycled crushed industrical waste, made into archetectual modules and elements. Assisting and working on the project w. Architect Jacob-Sebastian Bang and Nina Husted Ericsen.
June 2023
Folkemødet - The Peoples Meeting of Denmark
Commission work
Being chosen at OPEN CALL, to design the Dialogue Prize 2023 for the Political event of Denmark.
Piece consisting of recycled ceramic, recycled glass and recycled wood
May 2025
Guest lecturer and speaker
Politecnico de Milano -
Department of Design
Giving lecture for 2 year Product Design Students at the design department of Politecnico di Milano. Lecture about sustainability , circular design and the Unwasted project.
2024 - Now
Assistant and Moderator
European Ceramic Context 2024
Assisting Curator Susanne Jøker for European Ceramic Context 2024.
Helping w. Networking, Knowledge Sharing events and Opencall.
Title of the Trienale of 2024: How can ceramic makers, designers and artists adapt to more sustainable practices?
2023
Research assistant
Exhibition project
"The Aethetic of Crushing"
Working with architect Jacob-Sebastian Bang and Nina Husted Ericsen.
Research based work w. reusing , and crushing ceramic construction waste , for exhibition “The Aesthetic of Crushing “. Project chosen to be exhibited at Planetary Boundaries - Rethinking Architecture and Design.
2022
KUV - Student assistant
Artistic Research - The Danish Ministry of Culture
Kunstneriskudviklingsvirksomhed . Artistic Research, funded by The Danish Ministry of Culture. Developing a Health Glazes Library w. Ceramic artist Christina Schou Hansen.
OTHER
2022
Sales responsible and maker
Bornholm Keramik Fabrik
Local Small Business
Maker of ceramics in workshop, and responsible of sales at shop. Locally handmade ceramic functional ware.
January 2025
Green Youth Forum
Danske Iværksættere
Tuborg Fondet
Speaker at WaveMakers - Green Youth Forum. Part of the WaveMakers Business Program - Green Entrepreneurship: Funded by Tuborgfondet & Driven Danske Iværksættere. Collaboration with Corolab, Venturecup, The Danish Ukranian Youth House.