Ceri Almrott
LightNews LightNews
banner
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Ceri Almrott
@cerialmrott.bsky.social
660 followers 1.2K following 120 posts
Designer & Design Lecturer at TU Dublin, Researcher in Low-Tech Design and Sustainable Practices. Exploring appropriate technology, design education, and material innovation for a resilient future. Member of the European Sustainability Science Lab.
Posts Replies Media Videos
cerialmrott.bsky.social
I am pleased to share that my students’ research on circular economies in design education, co-authored by @keith-colton.bsky.social and me, will be presented at #E&PDE2025 in Malta next week.

🔗 doi.org/10.35199/EPD...

#EduSky #HigherEd #DesignEducation #CircularEconomy #EandPDE2025 #AcademicSky 🌍
Collage of three photos showing plastic waste being shredded, processed, and reformed using yellow workshop recycling equipment in the Materials Intelligence Lab. Hands hold shredded plastic and feed it into an injection moulding machine.
September 3, 2025 at 10:33 AM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
It’s been tough to push beyond an outline lately between a journal abstract, a funding application, and a pile of life admin, but revisiting moments like this reminds me why the work matters.
#academicsky #edusky
Five participants of the Low-Tech Hackathon in Châlons-en-Champagne play table football on the rooftop terrace at Mess des Entrepreneurs. They are laughing and focused on the game, with drinks and outdoor tables visible in the background.
August 29, 2025 at 9:07 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Pulling together my slide deck for September’s #EPDE conference hosted by the #ied and #thedesignsociety, where I’ll be presenting on the #Low-Tech #Hackathon we ran in Châlons-en-Champagne. This photo captures some of the energy of that event, students gathered around questioning, testing, learning
A group of people stand together in the matériauthèque in Châlons-en-Champagne during the Low-Tech Hackathon. They are gathered around a wooden frame holding dismantled Bird e-scooters, looking closely and discussing. The setting is an industrial warehouse space with concrete walls and scattered furniture in the background.
August 29, 2025 at 9:07 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Sometimes the hardest part of writing isn’t the words, but making space for them. After weeks stuck in routine, I took my notebook outside. A change of place, a patch of sunshine and the thoughts began to untangle. Clarity often comes when we step out of our usual patterns. #EduSky #AcademicSky
A bright green notebook, stuffed with pages of notes, is placed on a wooden table with the words “Saotharlann do Ghníomh Inbhuanaitheacht" in Irish and the English translation: "Sustainability Action Lab” printed in white. Beside it are red, green, and black pens.
August 15, 2025 at 10:14 AM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Low-Tech Ideation Workshop – What’s Inside

Designing with less can do more.

Inside the workshop kit:
🧠 Root cause & systems worksheets
🎲 Card-based ideation game
♻️ Circular economy mapping

Plan a full session in minutes.
🔗 github.com/cgalmrott/Lo...
#EduSky #HigherEd #lowtech #sustainableDesign 🌍
A tabletop scene showing colourful ideation cards, hand-drawn product sketches, and printed circular economy mapping worksheets from the Low-Tech Ideation Workshop. A cardboard box and stationery items are also visible.
July 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Embodiment Game: How It Works
3 roles 3 rounds 1 big lesson in empathy

User – Rolls for character + impairment
Device – Follows constraints
Designer – Observes + reflects

Explore usability through play

github.com/cgalmrott/Em...

#EduSky #HigherEd #design #usability #inclusiveDesign #seriousgames
Open game booklet showing Embodiment Game rules and instructions. Two custom dice rest on the page. A whiteboard marker and tray are visible in the background.
July 4, 2025 at 10:24 AM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
It’s Year 2 #PrototypingAndModelmaking time again: 400% scale LEGO Maxifigs built with 3D printing, CNC, vac-forming, resin casting & more. Students reverse-engineer, prototype, and problem-solve from CAD to final build. Always impressive. #ProductDesign #DesignEducation #EduSky #AcademicSky
May 1, 2025 at 2:39 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Today we celebrate Saint David’s Day, a reminder to ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain’ (Do the little things) Whether it’s a bowl of cawl a Welsh Cake or a quiet moment of reflection it’s a day to appreciate Wales and Welsh culture.
#StDavidsDay #DyddGŵylDewi #Cymru #DewiSant
A view of Colwyn Bay, Wales, taken in August 2022 after travelling by ferry from Dublin, across the Irish Sea. The sandy beach stretches out towards the sea, with shallow tidal pools reflecting the blue sky. A rocky seawall lines the right side of the image, where a few people are walking along the shore. In the background, a coastal town is visible on a hillside, partially covered by green vegetation. The sky is a mix of blue and white with scattered clouds casting soft shadows on the beach. A moment of reflection on that journey home, arriving by ship to the Welsh coast.
March 1, 2025 at 10:07 AM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
This lab isn’t about finding the ‘best’ material it’s about understanding materials in context. The right material for a product isn’t just about performance; it’s about #sustainability, #accessibility, #repairability, and long-term impact.
#SustainableDesign #MaterialNarratives #DesignResearch
The black-and-white logo for the 'Materials Intelligence Lab.' The design features two overlapping triangles intersected by a diagonal line, symbolising layered material exploration, structural intelligence, and the intersection of design and research. A small black filled section adds contrast, representing precision and focused material innovation. Below the graphic, the lab name is written in a light, modern sans-serif font, reflecting the lab’s minimalist and forward-thinking approach to material narratives and experimentation
February 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
The lab will be a place to investigate #MaterialNarrative, where materials come from, how they age, and how they are perceived. #Explore new applications for waste & alternative materials and build hands on material intelligence among designers, helping them make more informed, sustainable choices.
A test rig prototype in progress, constructed from plywood, metal components, and hydraulic elements, designed for exploring multiple ideas in a hands-on, iterative process. The surrounding workspace is filled with tools, materials, and components, reflecting an active design exploration. This prototype serves as a tangible way to engage with design narratives—testing not just functionality, but also interactions, material behaviours, and potential user experiences. The iterative nature of this setup aligns with the ethos of the Materials Intelligence Lab, where experimentation informs deeper material and design understanding.
February 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
This is why I’m excited to introduce the #MaterialsIntelligenceLab; a space dedicated to #exploring, #experimenting with, and #understanding materials in a design context. Unlike traditional materials labs focused on testing, this lab is about #discovery.
A young maker exploring the use of tools and materials in their craft, carefully guiding a hand plane along a wooden workpiece. Fine shavings curl away, evidence of hands-on learning and material interaction. The well-lit workshop in the background reflects an environment of exploration—one that aligns with the ethos of the Materials Intelligence Lab, where understanding materials through direct engagement is key to informed, sustainable design.
February 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
How well do we really understand the materials we design with?

We often think about materials in terms of their properties: strength, weight, durability, but true material intelligence goes beyond technical specifications. It’s about understanding how materials shape design and influence UX
Me at 18, deep in hands-on material exploration in a woodworking workshop. I'm wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, leaning over a wooden workbench as I carefully trace a shape onto a stack of MDF boards using a pen. A curved cardboard template helps guide my marking, part of an iterative process of shaping and refining a design. The workshop, filled with wooden benches, tools, and a vise in the background, was a space where I was beginning to understand materials not just as objects, but as something to experiment with, test, and push beyond their conventional uses.
February 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Proofing day! This is my advance copy of Lessons in Low-Tech: A Handbook for Sustainable Education. The tabs mark edits before final print - it's getting close! On my way back to my desk from a meeting in East Quad, TU Dublin Grangegorman. #LowTech #SustainableEducation #BookProofing #AcademicSky 🌍
A close-up of my proof copy of Lessons in Low-Tech: A Handbook for Sustainable Education, held in one hand. Pink and blue sticky tabs mark pages that need edits. The background shows the indoor steps of East Quad at TU Dublin’s Grangegorman Campus.
February 4, 2025 at 5:06 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
#StBrigidsDay bank holiday here in Ireland – a time for new beginnings and creativity. After the high of receiving my book proof, I’m back to writing, this time exploring final-year #ProjectSupervision and the role of coaching in shaping future designers.

#Writing #DesignEducation #AcademicSky
Sitting at the dining table in a tranquil setting, perfect for a productive writing session. A Surface tablet displays a document with an introduction section, while handwritten notes on loose sheets of paper and a pencil rest in front of it. To the left, an open notebook contains structured notes, alongside a vintage-style pencil sharpener. A brown backpack sits open with a pen visible inside. A wireless mouse, a small ruler, and a pair of wireless earbuds are scattered on the table top.
February 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
It’s here! Just unboxed the proof of Lessons in Low-Tech! Holding it makes all the work feel real. This book is about designing smarter, simpler, and more sustainable. Can’t wait to get it into people’s hands. What’s one Low-Tech design you love?🌍 #LowTech #SustainableDesign #AcademicSky #author 💙📚
A printed proof of Lessons in Low-Tech rests on a wooden table, its blue cover featuring white botanical illustrations. Beside it, a kraft notebook, a sharpened yellow pencil, and a white mug filled with coffee create a simple, thoughtful workspace arrangement. The scene is softly lit, evoking a warm and intentional aesthetic. A person holds an open copy of Lessons in Low-Tech, revealing a spread with a large photograph of a craftsman working in a traditional tool shed. The opposite page features a structured layout with the heading "The Three R’s: Reliability, Repairability, Resilience," alongside a radar diagram and module objectives. The book rests on a wooden table, accompanied by a kraft notebook, pencil, and a steaming mug of coffee, creating a quiet moment of engagement with the material.
January 29, 2025 at 3:01 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Looking ahead to Sem 2 the focus shifts to working with clients and refining concepts. Building on last semester, we'll be pushing for deeper resolution - translating ideas into impactful, polished outcomes. Excited to see students rise to the challenge! #DesignEducation #CreativeProcess #ClientWork
Photo of a design studio white board showcasing student work from a previous semester. The board features sketches, diagrams, personas, value propositions, mind maps, and process frameworks. Highlights include drawings of modular designs, problem trees, and visual representations of design concepts focused on waste management and resource efficiency. This snapshot captures the iterative process and creative energy that will continue to evolve in Semester 2.
January 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Repair culture isn’t just about fixing things; it’s about designing with care, responsibility, and longevity in mind. This is from a Repair Café I took part in. Spaces like this empower communities to mend, adapt, and rethink how we interact with objects. #RepairCulture #SustainableDesign #LowTech
A wooden workbench in a workshop setting, with various tools and materials neatly arranged. On the bench are a cutting mat, a set of precision screwdrivers in a case, and rulers. A piece of cardboard labelled "Furniture" is attached to the side of the bench with pink tape. In the background, there are more tools, a cordless drill, and a laptop. Below the bench, a toolbox is partially visible. The scene conveys a hands-on, creative space focused on repair and making.
January 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to get into the #workshop (and even longer since I was able to #make something for me.

This was a piece from the summer where I was teaching someone to make their first #chair and try their hand at #upholstery for the first time.
Alt Text for Image 1: A handcrafted chair inspired by a Crannac chair design, featuring a teak wooden frame with a bright blue paracord-wrapped backrest in the style of Danish cord weaving. The seat is upholstered in a soft blue fabric. The chair is placed outdoors on a concrete surface with a blurred background of farm structures and vehicles. Rear view of a handmade chair influenced by a Crannac design, from teak. The backrest is wrapped in vibrant blue paracord, imitating Danish cord weaving, paired with a cushioned blue fabric seat. The chair sits on a rough concrete surface, with farm buildings and equipment softly blurred in the background.
January 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Almost there! Just uploaded the digital proof of Lessons in Low-Tech - ready for the printers first thing Monday morning. It’s been a challenging but incredibly rewarding project, and I can’t wait to see it in print soon!
A laptop screen displaying a file upload in progress on the HEAnet FileSender website. The file being uploaded is titled "Lessons in Low-Tech (digital proof).pdf" with a size of 24.1 MB. The upload progress bar shows about 50% completion. Overlay text on the image reads: "Almost done!!!!" and "Should be going to the printers first thing Monday morning."
January 11, 2025 at 3:18 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Wildwood by Roger Deakin. It's a beautiful rambling wander across the globe framed by the fascinating fauna of forests. There is something about the style that reminds me of Laurie Lee, one of my favourite authors and I love that.,
Cover of Roger Deakin's Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees. The design features a stylized illustration of blue and teal tree trunks and branches against a light beige background. The title and author's name are centered in elegant serif font, with a quote at the bottom reading, 'Wonderful. Full of delight and joy and wisdom' from the Sunday Telegraph."
December 29, 2024 at 9:49 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
#Repair, #share, and #reduce are key to transforming our consumption habits. Envision products built to last and designed for community sharing, extending their lifespan and fostering communal responsibility. More libraries for tools or clothing could revolutionise ownership as a shared experience.
December 22, 2024 at 9:20 PM
cerialmrott.bsky.social
Product Design Lecturer & Researcher focused on #LowTech, #Sustainability, and #Degrowth. Exploring how design education and appropriate technology can shape resilient futures. Connecting with creatives, academics, and storytellers to share ideas and spark discussions! #DesignEducation #Innovation
December 21, 2024 at 2:20 PM