Ideas Forum: On Circularity

As designers work to minimize their environmental impact, circularity—the intentional practice of minimizing waste by keeping resources in continual use through reuse, repair, and disassembly—is gaining momentum. But shifting away from the long established “take-make-use-dispose” model is easier said than done. It requires a rethink of all aspects of the design process: from material sources to assembly, and even what we consider to be beautiful and complete.

Join us for an inspiring forum with six creatives sharing real world examples of how circularity has been integrated into their practices. ‘Ideas Forum: On Circularity’ is a true “from the spoon to the city” discussion, with work ranging from the smallest everyday objects to the complexity of buildings and planning, presented as a series of fast-paced presentations (20 slides shown for 20 seconds each), plus a moderated discussion.

Speakers

Daniel Arellano, CAHP, is president of Arcana Restoration Group and Arcana Materials Co. A heritage mason by trade, and history and architecture enthusiast by study, he is working to preserve the value of historic buildings and materials throughout Ontario through restoration work and masonry material salvage. Driven by circular economy principles, he launched Arcana Materials Co. to divert valuable brick and stone from landfills while meeting a growing demand for reclaimed materials, and has become an expert on material reuse with a unique perspective on deconstruction viability and product development.

Talia Berriman is Head of Green Economy at the London Borough of Newham, one of London’s largest and most diverse boroughs. She leads strategic programmes that deliver a just transition, ensuring communities most affected by climate change and inequality are at the heart of Newham’s transition to a green economy. Talia was recognized as part of the ‘edie 30 under 30’ cohort for her work embedding just transition principles across the council through policy development and capacity building. Talia previously managed membership and programmes at UK100, a network of UK mayors and local leaders committed to tackling the climate emergency. She serves as a trustee for Climate Emergency UK CIC, which assesses council climate action, and Tipping Point East, London’s first circular construction hub.

Naoko Fukumaru is a ceramic conservator and Kintsugi artist based in British Columbia, Canada. Kintsugi is a 500 year old Japanese practice of repairing broken ceramics with urushi lacquer and gold. Rather than hiding damage, it embraces an object’s history, transforming brokenness into a visible expression of time, use, and care. With more than 30 years of ceramic conservation experience, including at institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Detroit Institute of Arts, she brings that expertise into her art. Through Kintsugi, Naoko transforms broken ceramics into powerful artworks exploring resilience, memory, and transformation. Her practice reimagines restoration as a sustainable and philosophical approach, challenging ideas of perfection, disposability, and value while connecting Japanese aesthetics with contemporary conversations around circularity.

Deborah McGregor is Anishinabe from Whitefish River First Nation, and a Professor at the University of Calgary, where she is Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Indigenous Planetary Well Being. Dr. McGregor’s research has focused on Indigenous knowledge systems in diverse contexts including environmental and water governance, environmental and climate justice, health, and Anishinaabe legal traditions. She remains actively involved in a variety of First Nation initiatives, continuing to serve as an advisor and engaging in community-based research and initiatives.

Judith van den Boom is a practical idealist whose methodology is rooted in regenerative practice, living systems partnerships, and situated pedagogies. She leads the MA in Regenerative Design program at Central Saint Martins, London, building a community dedicated to place-based transformation through connecting science, design, and communities. Her work fosters collaboration across people, places, and disciplines, particularly between ecological sciences and design, exploring how we shift from closed loops to living cycles. What if we stopped designing loops and started designing relationships? For over 15 years, Judith has developed design pedagogies and implemented frameworks, collaborations, and partnerships across institutions, industry, and practice in the UK, Canada, USA, China, and Europe, advancing new relational and regenerative approaches to design.

Åshild Wangensteen Bjørvik has 23 years of experience as an architect, serving as partner and CEO of Mad arkitekter since 2016. She has led several large-scale urban projects, including the Mad building in Oslo and Media City Bergen, and has also worked on the pioneering reuse project at Kristian Augusts gate 13. As CEO, her main goal is to build high-performing teams, and create an innovative and fun place to work. She brings valuable experience from various professional advisory groups, and has also lectured at the Oslo School of Architecture. She particularly enjoys discussing the future of sustainable architecture, and the role of craftsmanship in a circular economy.

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This talk is eligible for 1.5 OAA Structured Learning Hours. When registering, please include your full name as registered with the Ontario Association of Architects to ensure your certificate of participation is credited properly. Please also include an email address you check frequently to ensure you receive your certificate in a timely manner.

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‘Ideas Forum: On Circularity’ is organized by DesignTO in partnership with the Toronto Society of Architects, and supported by Entro. The DesignTO Festival is supported by the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto.

About DesignTO

DesignTO is a charitable arts organization celebrating 17 years of shaping a more sustainable, just, and joyful future through design. From January 22-31, 2027, the DesignTO Festival offers 100+ free events and exhibitions across Toronto, showcasing hundreds of artists and designers. As Canada’s largest annual design festival, DesignTO has welcomed over 1.2 million attendees, garnered 2.7 billion in media reach, showcased 7,500+ artists and designers, and generated $600 million in tourism impact since 2011.