Gollackner’s concepts show how design must dare to look beneath an attractive surface — she has developed a particular passion for conceptual work at the intersection of disciplines, driven by a curiosity for new methods, materials, networking and sharing.
With Wasteware, an experimental tableware project, Barbara created a series of pieces made entirely from food waste, using techniques ranging from moulding and pressing to 3D printing — turning something ordinarily discarded into objects of everyday use. Her collection Rest in Beauty follows a similar philosophy, giving new life to leftover, surplus, and overlooked materials. Working across wood, metal, and stone, from rare finds to everyday remnants, she creates simple, functional objects that balance minimalism with warmth, transforming what was once leftover into subtle, enduring design that quietly celebrates the uniqueness of what remains.
Alongside running her studio, Barbara serves on the board of designaustria and teaches at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences.