Welcome to NordFo's conference at Konstfack in Stockholm, Sweden 23–25 september 2026.
Logotype created by Jospehine Skapare, 2026
The theme of the conference is Material Intelligence
Lectures, paper presentations and workshops with a focus on socio-material perspectives of sloyd/crafts, drawing inspiration from, for example, embodied learning and posthuman theories.
Material agency, affordance, new materialism, the importance of sloyd/handicraft skills in today's society and creative encounters between material and human beings are concepts and themes that are highlighted during the conference days.
Keynote lectures are in English, paper presentations in language by choice.
This site will be updated continuously with more information about the programme, link to abstract submissions, accommodation, registration and payment of conference fee.
Any questions are referred to the email address nordfo2026@konstfack.se.
Welcome!
Siri Homlong and Annelie Holmberg from the The Department of Visual Arts and Sloyd Education at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design
Programme (preliminary)
Wednesday 23 September: Theme: Perspectives on the materials of sloyd
The craftsman/slöjdare Jögge Sundqvist starts with the storytelling performance "Rythm & slöjd" about his struggle with and against the material when he with his knife shapes a craft object in wood material, within "the four walls" he works. Then a lecture by Associate Professor Simon Ceder on sociomaterial theory, material agency and assemblage, with examples from current sloyd research.
Thursday 24 September: Theme: Handicrafts and the brain
Professor Marte Gulliksen on her work with woodcarving when her ability to see 3-dimensionally disappeared, and brain researcher Professor Henrik Jörntell on connections between the brain and the rest of the body in relation to fine motor skills, health and the importance of craftsmanship in this context.
Friday 25 September: Theme: Material Intelligence from tradition to future
Name of lecturer is not entirely complete, but there will be presentations of some current research projects based on sustainability, material and craft skills.
Some dates
No later than 26 January 2026: We welcome suggestions for themes for paper sessions in relation to the focus of the conference, or from Special Interest groups (SIG) who want to take the opportunity to meet during the conference.
2 March – 20 April 2026: Submission of abstract
11 May 2026: Latest notification of accepted abstract
4 June 2026: Deadline Early bird registration 3.500 SEK
16 August 2026: Deadline conference registration (4.000 SEK full price)