Rasa Weber   

is an experimental designer, researcher and diver based between Zurich (CH) and Berlin (DE), exploring the narrative and choreographic potential of materials, ecologies, and environments. Her design concepts are characterized by a strong narrative approach and critical ecological thinking. She regularly teaches at international universities and is currently a research associate and doctoral candidate at the Zurich University of the Arts as part of the Swiss National Science Foundation project »Interfacing the Ocean« and a research associate at the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity« at the Humboldt University in Berlin. She works interdisciplinary in the fields of design, materials research, marine biology, and design anthropology.

She recently published her first book together with Flore de Crombrugghe »333 Saftige Papayas. Ein unvollständiges Kompendium der dicken Dinger.« at März Verlag. 

In her practice-based doctoral thesis »SymbiOcean« (supervised by Karmen Franinović, ZHdK and Karin Harrasser, University of Arts and Design Linz), she explores the design of artificial reefs and their potential for the development of a new design methodology, which she calls Sympoïetic Design, focusing on the creation of convivial spaces and the inclusion of various multispecies actors. Her research creates tangible invitations for humans, animals, microbes, animate and inanimate matter in the ocean.

She is one of the founders of They Feed Off Buildings, a design and architecture collective, in collaboration with Luisa Rubisch. As founder of the studio Blond & Bieber, she worked with textile designer Essi Glomb on bio-based material and color concepts. 

Rasa is a 2nd Dan in Aikido (Tenshinkan - Watanabe Sensei, 

Martin Gruber).

PhD PROJECT

«SYMBIOCEAN. Sympoietic design practices with/in troubled waters.»

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Karmen Franinović (Interaction Design, ZHdK) and Prof. Dr. Karin Harrasser (Cultural Theory, Kunstuniversität Linz)

Research Project: Interfacing the Ocean.

                                Swiss National Science Fund 2024-2027.

                                Zurich University of the Arts.
                                PIs: Karmen Franinović & Roman Kirschner  

                                PhDs: A. Bertin, A. Oestreicher & R. Weber.

Affiliations: Zurich University of the Arts

                     Linz University of Arts and Design

Research Associate: Matters of Activity. Cluster of Excellence.

                                    Humboldt Universität zu Berlin.

Member: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Designforschung
                Deutsches Konsortium für Meeresforschung

COMMISION 

IKEA I LXSY Architekten I Bruzkus Batek Architekten I Studio David Thulstrup I Studio Werner Aisslinger I Goethe Institut Los Angeles I Goethe Institut Toronto I Los Angeles Fashion Week I Amsterdam Fashion Week I Designblok Prague I Werkstudio Axel Kufus I Kunsthalle Praha I Vollebak UK a.o.

COLLABORATION 

Atelier Marie Drouet I Polynesian Institute of Biomimicry I Jordan Lab, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior I Paraiso Dive Cartagena I Blue Apple Beach Resort I Curaçao Divers Global Coral Reef Alliance I Keracol UK I Hien Le I Michael Sontag I Schmidttakahashi I Vladimir Karaleev I Dawid Tomaszewski I Perret Schaad I Trippen I Swarovski I Jurlights I Fraunhofer Institut für Grenzflächen und Bioverfahrenstechnik I Schlaflabor der Charité Berlin I G.Tecz I Festool a.o.

TEACHING 

Zurich University of the Arts I University of the Arts Berlin I University Anhalt Dessau I Berlin International University I OCAD University Toronto I University of Leeds UK I Royal College of Arts UK KhB Weißensee DE I KEA Copenhagen School of Design and Technology DK I Cee Cee Berlin DE I Textilskole Holte DK I AKI Academy of Arts and Design NL a.o.

AWARDS 

Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis Nom. 2020 (Urban Terrazzo) 

AD Interior Award Nom. (Best Concept) 2020

German Design Award Nom. Newcomer 2019 (TFOB) 

Kreativpiloten 2019 (Urban Terrazzo)

Creative Prototyping Stipendium (Urban Terrazzo) 2017 - 2018

Bundespreis Ecodesign 2018 (Urban Terrazzo)

Green Product Award Finalist 2018 (Urban Terrazzo) 

German Design Award Nom. as Newcomer 2016 

German Design Award Nom. Best Communication 2015 (Algaemy) 

Make Me! Award 2015 (Algaemy)

Core 77 (Algaemy) 

Bundespreis Ecodesign 2014 (Algaemy)

DMY 2014 Nom. für „Young Talents“

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

2023 - 2027 Interfacing the Ocean I Swiss National Science Fund

                    Project Grant, PIs: K. Franinović & R. Kirschner

                    Interaction Design I Zurich University of the Arts

2023            PROCOPE Mobility Grant I France I Government of                                   France-Embassy of France in Germany I DAAD

2023            Auslandsstipendium Kunstuniversität Linz

2018 - 2019 Kultur- und Kreativpiloten 2019 I „Urban Terrazzo“     

                    Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie I U-Institut

2017 - 2018 Creative Prototyping Stipendium I „Urban Terrazzo“ 

                     Europäischer Sozialfond, Stadt Berlin, UdK                           

2010 - 2017 Begabtenförderwerk Villigst e.V. - Studienstipendium

                    Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

2012 - 2013 DAAD & ERASMUS

                    Design Academy Eindhoven