Irena Uebler

Irena Übler is an independent product designer, maker and material researcher. Creating unique design solutions for products, raising awareness of sustainable materials, exploring urban territories and creative culture
with design.

Since graduating in 2010 from the University of Applied Science FH Joanneum in Graz, Austria, with a degree of Industrial Design she worked as a freelance designer for various design studios as well as carrying on with her own work [irenauebler.com].

Irena founded the label COMO - modular cork furniture [corkmodular.com] and is part of the team of Precious Plastic Portugal working as designer and educational trainer - doing workshops worldwide on plastic recycling.

Irena and her team from Precious Plastic Portugal won the New European Bauhaus Prize 2022 in the Category for “Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking” with the project REPLAY - creating a recycling system of kids toys [plasticreplay.pt]

Her recent project is PRIMA MATTERS - an experimental laboratory focusing on transforming "waste" materials into product design - was developed as part of the application for the European Capital of Culture Aveiro 2027.

PRIMA was selected to be exhibited at Isola - Milan Design Week 2023, Porto Design Biennale 2023 and at Vienna Design Week 2024.