Meet: Sara Howard
- Written byEleanor Harvey
- Published date 10 June 2026
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Sara Howard is a ceramic designer who explores how waste can be transformed into something valuable, shaping a practice rooted in climate resilience and circular production. A Central Saint Martins (CSM), UAL graduate in 2020, she completed both a foundation year and a BA (Hons) in Ceramic Design and has recently joined the committee for the UAL Sustainability Alumni Network.
Her work has evolved from material experimentation at CSM to scaling sustainable manufacturing internationally, and now extends into teaching at her former college. As part of initiatives such as Crafting Coral and Golden Earth Studio, she combines industry knowledge with community-led collaboration to explore more responsible ways of sourcing, using and rethinking materials.
Sara spoke to us about the impact her time at CSM had on her and what she hopes to bring to the Sustainability Alumni Network.
What was a highlight of your time at UAL?
Third year was the moment I really came into my own. The freedom to explore and lead my own research over a full year allowed me to make significant developments in creating ceramics from local industrial waste. The tutors' support and facilities at Central Saint Martins really made that possible. I also want to mention my foundation year where my ceramics journey really began. Learning to design through making in the ceramics workshop at CSM felt so natural to me and I just loved the process!
Tell us about the work that you do now?
The ceramic material I developed from waste in my third year led me to move to Indonesia after graduating, to scale up the use of waste in a factory setting. It began as a one-year research and development project, establishing the waste streams local to the factory and engineering systems to capture and process them. From that, I designed a 14-piece tableware collection that embodied those waste streams, preserving natural resources and diverting waste away from landfill. I’ve continued to design tableware collections for the industry from waste, with a goal to design for bioregions across the world. I also founded Crafting Coral to restore reefs with ceramics and the community, which operates globally. As well as co-founding Golden Earth Studio, which distributes excavated clay from the construction sector in the UK to creatives and represents their work through an online gallery.
Did your experiences at UAL influence your work? If so, how?
Absolutely. My tutors gave me essential knowledge about the ceramics industry and the processes used. Having access to other departments like CAD and the photography studio allowed me to build skills across multiple sectors, which gave me a much more holistic practice and prepared me for the real world.
What does the word 'sustainable' mean to you?
For me, sustainability comes down to climate resilience. Within my own practice that means focusing on how ceramic production can operate in the future, with minimal impact on the planet. More specifically that meant using secondary resources as my primary raw materials rather than letting them end up in landfill. With a growing population and no reduction in demand for ceramic tableware, the big question for me is how we continue to produce with real consideration for our planet, minimising the ecological and social harm that is currently tied up in our convoluted supply chains.
How did you find out about the Sustainability Alumni Network?
I graduated in 2020 without a degree show and the usual ways to connect with like-minded students. The Sustainability Alumni Network has introduced me to some amazing designers who are making a real impact across several industries. It always opens the door to collaboration and genuine support, as we all navigate this unknown and ever-changing sector.
Why did you want to get involved?
I’ve always felt that the roots of my design practice came from CSM, and I continue to work there as a lecturer with the privilege of witnessing new materials that are developed for a climate-resilient future. Having worked globally, it has been wonderful to connect with alumni in different countries and collaborate within the field of sustainability to push the boundaries further.
What do you hope to bring to the network?
I see my role as someone who can show people how to prioritise secondary resources and why it matters to reduce our reliance on virgin materials. We have a real window of opportunity in this decade to scale up with waste streams, in a way that simply would not have been possible before the industrial revolution. I see my expertise in scaling waste streams and production for ceramic production. Working with factories in multiple countries has given me a holistic understanding of the challenges in doing so and how to overcome these.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to respond to the climate emergency?
Focus your efforts where you can make the biggest impact. The sustainability field is vast and there are so many ways to create positive change, but also a lot of barriers. Use your energy in the areas that have the most potential and try not to feel disheartened about the ones you can’t shift. Sometimes politics, governments and accessibility create barriers that can only realistically be solved in the longer term. We all have limited time and energy — use it well!
Can you tell us about a project you're currently working on?
I’m currently growing Circular Ceramics, Crafting Coral, and Golden Earth Studio, with a real focus on making these impact driven initiatives economically viable. A lot of this year has been about building revenue streams to sustain each project. It’s challenging, but I’m genuinely enjoying this process, and it’s helped me get a much clearer picture of the long term impact each project can have.
And lastly, what/who is your dream collaboration and why?
I think I might be working on it right now, but there isn’t much I can say at the moment! It involves a big team and building something from scratch on a little island that has a direct impact on the local community and wider ecologies. I hope to be able to share more on that one soon.
The UAL Sustainability Alumni Network brings together people who are passionate about responsible creative practice. They’re a supportive community who aim to educate, showcase and connect alumni practicing sustainable business, design, and creativity methods.
Find out more about the Sustainability Alumni Network and get involved
