Lena Balcerak
Product design
University of Fine Arts in Poznań
Graduates: 2026
Specialisms: Product Design / Design Research / Design and Technology
My location: Poznan, Poland
Lena Balcerak
First Name: Lena
Last Name: Balcerak
University / College: University of Fine Arts in Poznań
Course / Program: Product design
Graduates: 2026
Specialisms: Product Design / Design Research / Design and Technology
My Location: Poznan, Poland
About
Hi, My name is Lena. As of this year, I am a graduate of the Bachelor's program in Design at the Magdalena Abakanowicz University of the Arts in Poznań. I always used to say that I like making things, but it was only during my studies that I truly understood what that means and how things are actually made. In design, I'm most interested in exploring materials. I believe in design that is gentle — objects we barely notice, yet rely on every day. Through a balance of craft and technology, it's possible to create valuable solutions. I value conversations with people and close relationships with friends, which inspire me in my creative work.
Paper is a material woven into everyday life, so much so that we stop to notice it. We take it for granted, and its ubiquity in everyday life, in my opinion, is making it adaptable. The work is oriented toward an experiment of following the properties of paper and examining how they can enrich electronic objects. In a world where electronics surround us in such scale can devices be designed differently, from materials rooted in both culture and human senses. I began my process with a series of material experiments: investigating how paper reacts to light, sound vibrations, and electric current, alongside attempts at shaping a sheet of paper. The results revealed properties that typically go unnoticed. The project comprises three objects: a speaker, a lamp, and a clock. In all, paper actively shapes the object - defining its form, character, and the nature of the user's interaction with it. Paper has the potential to become a material that humanizes electronics, melt them in their surroundings, and reduces the distance between the user and the device - creating objects that feel genuinely close to human.
Competitions
