Lara Cornell

Lara Cornell is an expert brand and business strategist, helping artisans all over the world create impactful, sustainable, and successful businesses through the Artisan Academie, her online coaching platform, and the Sustainable Artisan Guild, a global initiative for sustainable artisan practices. She is also the best selling author of Maker’s Mark, and working on her second book right now: The Sustainable Maker. A painter and student of lost arts, Lara is savoring SLOW living with her husband and three children in Minneapolis, MN.

Lara is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and continued her education in arts, business and sustainability/impact with Sotheby’s Institute of Art, the MoMA, University of London, University of Copenhagen, and now MCAD

Personal Pronouns

she/her

Describe what you do for work and how your experience with it has been.

My work lives at the intersection of art, sustainability, and education, and no two days ever look quite the same. In the studio, I’m endlessly curious—experimenting with plant-based and food-waste pigments and biomaterials, and sourcing materials that might otherwise go to waste. I can often be found transforming local food waste into art materials and tracking their circularity, which I then share with the community through hands-on workshops and public art installations. I also cultivate a pigment garden, which lets me follow the full cycle of material from seed to finished piece. Each project is a new opportunity to show how creativity, when rooted in care for the land, can be both beautiful and responsible.
Outside the studio, teaching and consulting are just as central to my work. I’ve designed and taught courses on sustainable design and impactful business strategy, guiding artisans and makers to bring regenerative practices into both their products and their business models. My consulting work often takes a collaborative approach—I love sitting down with clients to reimagine their process, align their business with what matters most, and chart a course for growth that’s both artful and ethical.
Founding Artisan & Company and the Sustainable Artisan Guild opened up new ways to bring people together around these shared values. These platforms have grown into supportive communities that foster honest dialogue, resource sharing, and collective learning. Through initiatives like these, I’ve connected with makers worldwide—many of whom are now combining traditional craftsmanship with forward-thinking sustainability.
Through my books, public speaking, events and workshops, I continue to advocate for intentional creating. It’s the ongoing connections—with people, place, and purpose—that keep this work meaningful.

What inspires you/your work?

My work is rooted in a deep respect for the earth and a commitment to soil-to-soil principles. I’m inspired by the challenge of rethinking the linear systems we live in—asking how we can shift from extractive practices to regenerative ones. Every material choice I make is intentional, considering not just where it comes from, but how it can stay in a circular economy, serving its purpose fully before returning to the earth in a way that nourishes it.
Through design thinking, I explore how to create systems and products that honor natural cycles, working with what we have and questioning what’s possible. My work is also fueled by connecting with community and bridging different disciplines, knowing that collaboration and shared knowledge are essential for meaningful change. Continued research and curiosity drive me forward, helping me craft with care, create with purpose, and contribute to a more regenerative, connected, and thoughtful way of living.

How do you network yourself and your art?

I’ve learned not to shy away from reaching out and making connections. More often than not, people are open and happy to chat. It’s important to approach these conversations without expecting immediate outcomes, as building relationships often takes time. Opportunities may arise down the line, but establishing that initial connection is often the hardest part. You never know what possibilities could stem from a simple coffee chat.

Where did you earn your undergraduate degree, and what was it in?

University of Minnesota, Morris. BA in English, French and Secondary Education

How did you hear about MCAD?

I live nearby and have always known of MCAD.

Why did you choose to earn an MA at MCAD?

I took an Intro to Biomimicry class over the summer while I was working on my second book and fell in love with it.

What was your biggest takeaway from the program?

Systems thinking taught me to see the bigger picture—how everything is interconnected. In sustainable design, it means understanding the relationships between materials, processes, people, and the environment to create solutions that are holistic, long-term, and impactful.

Where were you located when you completed the program?

Minneapolis

How has the MA impacted your career/your life?

The program transformed how I approach challenges, teaching me to think systemically and design with intention. It deepened my understanding of sustainability, empowered me to create meaningful, long-term solutions, and gave me the tools to make a positive impact in both my personal and professional life.

How do you incorporate sustainability into your everyday life? What advice do you have for others to do the same?

I incorporate sustainability into my everyday life by slowing down and thinking more intentionally about my choices—recognizing how everything is interconnected and how one action can ripple out to impact so many others. Whether it’s what I buy, how I use resources, or the waste I create, I try to consider the broader system. My advice to others is to start small: be mindful of your habits, question the lifecycle of the things you consume, and remember that every intentional step contributes to a larger, positive impact. There is so much work to be done and we need everyone.

What would you tell students considering pursuing an MA degree in Sustainable Design?

It will change your life.