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The expert's view: Aesthetics and business creativity

An illustration and a photo of a building

Hello Daniel Hjorth, who is about to inaugurate the new centre, Centre for Aesthetics and Business Creativity (ABC) at LUSEM 19 November at Skissernas Museum!

Why is research about aesthetics and business creativity important?

“Research about aesthetics and business creativity (ABC) is important since it is not only about research but has to start with research. It has to start with research since the new knowledge we need in education and practice comes from the rich dialogue between practice and research that has defined business administration since birth. However, since birth, aesthetics has been located outside the voice of research in business administration. As for most of society since early industrialization, aesthetics has been located in the ‘weekend-culture.’ The new centre will drag aesthetics into the work-week and make it matter for how creation of more existentially sustainable, meaningful and valuable products and services are accomplished. This knowledge has been missing from the research voice in the mentioned dialogue. The future competitiveness of Swedish business centre around its capacity to embrace an ethics and aesthetics of care – for the material, for the maker, for making, and for the user – when it offers new value.”

What will happen initially at the center, and what will you focus your research on?

“Initially, two PostDoc researchers, Alexandra Huang-Kokina and Robin Porsfelt, will start and be part of building this centre. Research-wise, we are focusing on the LUDICH (Lund University Digital Interactive Concert Hall) innovation project, that I was part of securing funds for and have studied from the start. This is an exciting innovation process including Malmö Symphony orchestra and several partners in the region. On this, we collaborate with Inter Arts Centre (IAC) at Lund University, and with Future by Lund. Apart from this, the centre focuses on craft research and learning from craft when building a more sustainable (also existentially sustainable) future economy-as-part-of-society. Here we collaborate with EGOS, Kyoto University, and the Hephaestus EU-horizon project that I have been a co-applicant for. The centre will also host visiting researchers (thanks to the Hamrin Foundation) and will welcome Prof. Damian O’Doherty in December, and Prof. Mollie Painter in March 2025. The Centre also organizes seminars and start with one in the afternoon (15.00 – 16.30), November 20th. We will also start the work on developing educational initiatives on the ABC-topic.”


The opening event will take place 19 November. 

Opening Event: The Centre for Aesthetics and Business Creativity (ABC) – lusem.lu.se

The seminar will take place 20 November.

Seminar on Aesthetics and Creativity – lusem.lu.se/internal


A collaboration with and a donation from Lindéngruppen has enabled the creation and running of the Centre for Aesthetics and Business Creativity (ABC).