I am a design anthropologist (Ph.D.) passionate about educational development, futures thinking, visual methods and narrative approaches. I teach and conduct research in the intersections of design thinking, innovation, and visual learning. My work focuses on sustainability, entrepreneurial ecosystems, self-leadership and how narrative and designerly approaches can support meaningful learning and change.
“It matters what stories make worlds, what worlds make stories”
| BIO |
I am a design anthropologist (Ph.D.) engaged in using design, storytelling, systemic leadership theory, and interdisciplinary methods to foster learning, self-leadership, and transformative change.
I currently teach on the Bachelor's programme in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Zealand Academy of Technologies and Business, where I am also engaged in research exploring future labs, sustainability and systemic design thinking as a motor for entrepreneurial agency.
Alongside teaching, I have produced visual materials for museums, private companies, and research institutions, and I have led and contributed to several research and development projects that combine academic inquiry with visual storytelling.
I have worked with research, teaching and supervision at Design school Kolding, PLANET - Lab for Design and Sustainability (DK) focusing on green transition, sustainability and social design.
Prior to that, I worked as a consultant and researcher at KEA. Copenhagen School of Design and Technology where I contributed to the development and coordination of the BA in Communication Design. Here I also co-developed faculty training courses for assistant professors and managed a series of applied research projects.
I hold a Ph.D in Photographic Design Anthropology (2018) from The Royal Danish Academy. Schools of Design, Architecture and Conservation. As Part of my PhD I was visiting scholar at Parsons School of Design, Transdisciplinary Design, The New School, New York. I hold an MA in Photography and Urban Cultures, from Goldsmiths, University of London, and an MA in Visual Communication from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. School of Design (KADK). During my studies at KADK I did a years exchange study at Rhode Island School of Design studying photography and illustration.
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| EDUCATION |
| WORK EXPERIENCE |
2013-2018 PhD project. Photographic Design Anthropology. Becoming through diffractive image-making and entangled visions. A collaboration between KEA. Copenhagen School of Design and Technology and The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. School of Design. Denmark.
2014 Visiting scholar. Parsons. The New School. NYC. US. Six weeks. Exploring transdisciplinary potentials of fine arts photography, social research and design practices.2010-2012 MA, Photography & Urban Cultures. Goldsmiths, University of London. UK
2009-2011 MA, Photography & Urban Cultures, dep. of sociology, Goldsmiths, University of London. UK
2003-2004 Photography and Illustration. Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, US. One year exchange
1999-2005 MA Visual Communication. The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Design. Denmark
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2022 - PRESENT: Freelance film production and communication.
2020 - 2022: Post doctoral researcher at Designschool Kolding. lab for sustainability and Design.
2018-2020 Researcher, consultant and lecturer at KEA Research & Innovation.
2013-2018: Ph.D. candidate. Photographic Design Anthropology. Becoming through diffractive image making and entangled visions in a Copenhagen Immigrant Context. A collaboration between KEA. Copenhagen School of Design and Technology and The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. School of Design. Denmark. (2015: Maternity leave).
2010 - 2013: Lecturer and coordinator, BA Communication Design at KEA Design/Business.
2008-2010: Self employed www.lenehald.com. Did journalistic, photographic and design work for various media and design companies. Clients included: Berlingske Tidende MS, Børnemagasinet, CEFU/The Danish Centre for Youth Research, Cover, DANSK magazine, DANSK daily, Danish Fashion Institute, DTB/Federation of Danish Textile & Clothing, DyhrHagen, ECCO, Fafafa, Interiør/trade mag, MudPie, Niels Brock Business College, Only, Pilgrim, Pej gruppen, Sirene, Soft Gallery, Soundvenue, Style Counsel, TID&tendenser, Vera daghøjskole, Vs magazine, Where2go
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| PROJECTS PUBLISHED IN |
2019 Scenario Magazine July 2019
2018 The Year, Copenhagen 2018 (April), Blankt Papir, ed. Julia Mejnertsen
2017 Charting The Invisible. UPA
2012 To (Un)veil & Envision, The Velvet Cell.
2010 Here Happiness Resides, Stella Magazine
| SELECTED EXHIBITIONS |
2022. Forgreninger, Nicolai Gård, Kolding Stadsarkiv, Nicolai Kultur, Kolding, DK
2019 Året. Group show at DGI byen
2019 Året. Group show at NW Gallery
2018 Grief. Group show at NW Gallery
2017 Charting The Invisible. Apt Gallery, London, UK.
(censored group exhibition)
2017 Far and Wide. Cutting together-apart. Visual sociology exhibit. Canadian Sociological Association Conference, Canada (exhibition of work from my PhD project)
2017 Copenhagen Photo Festival, Cutting together-apart, DK (exhibition of work from my PhD project)
2016 Copenhagen Photo Festival, DK (censored group exhibition)
2015 Movement, Bogotá Arte Contemporáneo, Bogotá, Colombia (censored group exhibition)
2015 Streetopolis, W83 Gallery, New York, US (censored group exhibition)
2014 Movement, Silverprint Gallery, London, UK (censored group exhibition)
2013 Adrift, Gallerie Ruberl, Vienna, Austria (To (un)veil and envision)
2012 Adrift, Old Truman Brewery, London, UK (To (un)veil and envision)
2010 Urban Tracers, Photomonth, Old Truman Brewery, London, UK (To (un)veil and envision)
2010 Copenhagen Photo Festival, DK (censored group exhibition)
| TEACHING, RESEARCH, WRITINGS, WORKSHOPS |
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I am an experienced teacher and communicator. At Designskolen Kolding www.dskd.dk and KEA Copenhagen School of Design & Technology www.kea.dk I have developed and taught several courses and workshops in design anthropology, photography, social engagement, image-making & identity and visual storytelling.
I have done photographic and journalistic work for various media (such as Soundvenue, Elle, Fashion Forum and Berlingske Tidende.)
As researcher I have published in peer reviewed contexts as well as I have explored more collaborative and innovative ways of transmission.
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