where climate action meets the future of design

Tag: biomaterials

Laura Clèries

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With 25 years of international experience, Laura combines expertise in materials science, cultural anthropology, and design futures.

She has worked across academia (NYU, UToronto, IED, Elisava), industry, and think tanks (PantoneView, WGSN), holding roles as a professor, researcher, and design leader.


Laura has curated exhibitions, conferences, and publications, contributing successfully to innovation in the Cultural and Creative Industries. She holds a PhD in Materials Science, is fluent in English, French, Catalan, and Spanish, and has received numerous awards for her work. Her research focuses on content curation, innovation strategies, and color, material, and finish (CMF) design.

Squeeze the orange

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Orange peels are a food waste residue abundant in the Mediterranean diet, and we can give them another life: many things are possible with what we consider “waste” today.

Squeeze the Orange is a research project on the reuse of orange peel to make biodegradable and compostable materials for the fashion industry.

Through the work and knowledge shared between makers and designers, they investigated orange waste to design a material that all fashion designers can use. The project was developed in collaboration with restaurants in the Poblenou neighbourhood in Barcelona. Its purpose is to manufacture a completely biodegradable or compostable waterproof bioplastic using dehydrated orange peel to produce clothing and accessories for the fashion industry.


Ressaca

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Ressaca is an immersive installation that takes the viewer into a dystopian world where humanity’s only remaining natural resources are its own waste and dross. Broken and sharp glass is the main construction element of what we intuit to be an eccentric room that sparkles with danger. Vila pushes to the limit a set of semi-utilitarian furniture that threatens and provokes, invites and prohibits in equal parts, an exercise in speculative design that reflects on the future of society.

Founder and Head Designer of Aparentment, Josep Vila Capdevila (1976) is a multidisciplinary designer that has been linked to fashion, advertising, photo-journalism and even music. In 2012, he launched his first collection of objects, Marblelous, which had an impact nationally and internationally. Since then, he has followed a design path towards experimentation and innovation working with noble, robust and lasting materials.

matapalo

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matapalo, by Unlable Design Studio, is a brand from Algiers that markets biophilic pots and installations made of flexible and innovative composite fabrics that stand out for their design, lightness, durability and recyclability.

The product was presented during Underground BDW, a new collective and immersive exhibition during the Barcelona Design Week 2024.

MOMENTS Sidetable

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MOMENTS Sidetable by studio re.d is dedicated to the recycling of leftover panels, such as cutouts from stoves and sinks, that are left over from the production of ceramic kitchen worktops. The design emphasizes the value of the remaining panels as a central element of the side table

In order to save work steps, the processing of the remaining panels is implemented into existing production processes. The ceramic plates are connected to sheet steel elements using screws, which means that the furniture can be easily dismantled at the end of its usage cycle and returned to the circular economy. 

AWARDS: 

BIG SEE Product Design Award 2024 

Nominated for the Green Product Design Award 2024

Reef Rocket

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ReefCycle has developed biologically-grown cement-like material that mimics the chemical structure of reefs, re-growing vital material in days that take millennia to form in nature. The production process combines plant-based enzymes with crushed waste, like culinary shells and glass, to grow a mineral glue that binds waste material together.

Reef Rocket is a bio-cement structure that mimics the naturally occurring oyster reefs that protect shorelines from flooding, filter seawater and promote biodiversity. Nature has the unique capacity to grow durable material without polluting its surrounding environment. Reefs grow to withstand extreme wave energy and corrosive water for hundreds of years.

Harnessing nature to repurpose discard into durable “cements” locally without burning fossil fuels, this process fosters a bio-circular and localised economy. Reef Rocket by ReefCycle provides a cheaper, cleaner and more durable alternative to industrial cement.

Refugio Bees

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Building on Refugio Bees’ work done over the last few years, Apidae proposes a system of objects for raising Meliponini bees. This system consists of breeding boxes, which function as ‘houses’ for the hives, as well as a kit to fabricate potes and piqueras.

Apidae is a project that seeks to improve our relationship with nature, specifically with a group of bees known as Meliponini. This species is known for producing phenomenal honey and being the main pollinators of many native foods in Mexico, as well as being essential for the conservation of the biodiversity of the ecosystems they inhabit.

The potes and piqueras are part of the natural structures that bees build using wax. The potes’ function is to store honey and pollen, while the piqueras help to manage the access that other species have to the hive. The wooden breeding boxes are designed to have a life-cycle of at least twenty years. The potes and piqueras are designed so that the bee-keepers can create potes and piqueras directly from wax produced by mature hives, aiding young hive development.

Mujō

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Mujō’s products are made from a renewable resource: kelp, a fast-growing seaweed that doesn’t require additional water or agricultural land.

Kelp produces oxygen 20 times faster than trees and purifies ocean water, making it an environmentally sustainable choice. The cultivation potential for kelp is vast, about the size of the Amazon rainforest, making the product scalable.

Mujō’s focus is not only on the technology but also on the unique, novel material design and creating an exciting packaging experience for both B2B and B2C customers. Building a circular ecosystem of all stakeholders involved is key, from the producers and consumers to the decomposer.

Mujō is a Berlin-based biomaterial innovation company that develops innovative, seaweed-based packaging materials that biodegrade straight after use. It’s mission is to make a significant contribution to reducing plastic pollution by providing a sustainable and circular alternative to traditional packaging materials. Follow Mujō lab!

Landless Food

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With many of our staple foods having disappeared due to the impacts of climate change, how will we find ways to reconnect with the experience of flavour?

Landless Food is a speculative design project that places us in the year 2050 to ask salient questions about how we will sustain ourselves as a species.

How will the ways in which we pursue joyful food experiences change?⁠ Through her research, project creator Malu Lücking has discovered species of microalgae that can provide us glimpses of flavours past, like crab or prawn, while presenting entirely new flavours as well.⁠

Cellsense

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Cellsense has developed a method to transform algae and cellulose into durable, transparent bio-embellishments with water resistance and appropriate texture. To replace toxic dyes used in traditional embellishments Cellsense has engineered bacteria to produce vivid colours and unique properties like bioluminescence.

Cellsense is a response to the problem of beaded garments: conventional beaded embellishments are produced utilising petroleum plastics and resins, which are then manually assembled into garments. Beaded garments are worn about five times before they end up in landfills—contributing to the microplastic crisis.

Recognising the labour-intensive nature of beadwork, Cellsense has also implemented automation to support ethical labour practices: a bead loom and a robotic syringe can efficiently create large-scale graphic beaded panels in seven minutes, which would otherwise take four hours by hand.

MOWO, move with wood

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MOWO, move with wood, uses wood in a completely new way, using it as an elastic, flexible material that allows movement when sitting. All products are made from molded plywood and do not require any metal or plastic – the wooden elements are connected solely by cords, which combine stability and flexibility.

MOWO is an Austrian brand owned by architect and designer Lisa Stolz. All products are manufactured by a Greek family business that has specialized in the production of molded plywood parts since 1991.

MOWO uses the FSC-certified veneers. The certificate that ensures that the wood products come from forests that are managed according to the strict standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). These standards ensure that the wood is sourced from forests managed sustainably, respecting ecosystems, biodiversity, workers’ rights, communities, and economic sustainability. Follow MOWO, move with wood!

Natsai Audrey Chieza

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As a member of WEF’s Global Futures Council on Synthetic Biology,  Chieza advocates integrating design, culture and biotechnology in policy development.

Chieza is a UK visionary designer and thought-leader working at the forefront of biophilic design. She is the founder and CEO of Faber Futures and a co-founder of Normal Phenomena of Life (NPOL). Launched in 2018, Faber Futures is a pioneering design agency that melds consumer biotechnology advancements with real-world applications. In 2023, Chieza co-founded NPOL, a consumer brand. NPOL makes tangible how biotechnology can generate new, beautiful materials that support climate goals and the cultivation of resilient value chains for the bioeconomy.

Chieza’s approach involves broad-ranging partnerships across biotech, consumer sectors, and cultural institutions. Notable clients and commissioners include Ginkgo Bioworks, Adidas, World Economic Forum, La Biennale, Design Museum and Cooper Hewitt.

Orhan Niksic

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Through Zanat, Orhan fosters community growth by training young artisans and embraces sustainability and cultural preservation, ensuring each handcrafted piece enriches both living spaces and society.

Orhan is a former World Bank manager, who left Washington to revive his family’s legacy in Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Together with his brother Adem, Orhan co-founded Zanat, a company that merges centuries-old woodcarving techniques with contemporary design. Their mission is not only to create beautiful, high-quality furniture but also to breathe new life into the UNESCO-listed “Konjic woodcarving” technique.

The foundation of Zanat goes back to their grandfather, Gano Nikšić, who mastered this ancient method of hand-carving. Today, Orhan’s leadership continues the tradition, expanding the business into a global luxury furniture brand that collaborates with internationally acclaimed designers such as Monica Förster, Harri Koskinen etc., blending modern aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship.

Henriette Waal

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As a curator of Mediamatic’s Bio-Me program, Waal developed a cross-disciplinary platform exploring brewing practices and design with micro-organisms, focusing on yeasts, fermentation, bacterial cultures, and beer brewing.

Henriette Waal holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Design Academy Eindhoven’s Man and Public Space Department and a Master’s degree in Interior Architecture from the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam. She was a finalist for the Dutch Design Awards for her research on rural areas in the Netherlands and received the International Award for Public Art for her innovative placemaking approach.

Alongside founding several socially engaged art and design projects, she has been teaching since 2013 in the Social Design Master Program at the Design Academy Eindhoven and the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague. She currently serves as the Artistic and Research Director of Atelier LUMA in Arles.

BIOCARPET

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The subject of this artistic creation is an experimental textile surface made from wool waste. By employing woolen fibers and utilizing the felting technique, Biocarpet stands out as a remarkable example of how art and sustainability can intertwine.

The “Biocarpet – Apple Murex Egg Casing” is a groundbreaking artwork that merges the wonders of the ocean with the comfort of home textiles. This unique piece is designed to unveil the hidden mysteries of sea worlds and their natural, often invisible structures through a captivating textile sculpture-carpet.

Our urban environments are dominated by synthetic materials that can feel harsh and unwelcoming. Therefore, the design focuses on integrating tactile and biomimetic structures into the carpet, which highlights key themes such as recycling, biodiversity, and the use of natural materials.

BIODEGRAPAK

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Recycling is a multi-step process, involving transportation, sorting, processing, and making materials into new goods. It is difficult to assess its overall energy usage.

Economy is not exactly thriving from all its recycling efforts — because it becomes more expensive than ever to process all of our leftover junk. Biodegrapak is a package designed to be ecological on every level. Consisted of cleared paper pulp, flour and starch and biological seeds. After using the eggs, instead of recycling or throwing it away, the user waters it or plants it so the seeds grow into green plants. The main idea and goal is to create a truly environmentally friendly product.

See George Bosnas portfolio.

Jelena Matic

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Her passion for sustainable design has not only influenced her students’ lives but has also inspired new generations of designs to embed environmental concepts and practices.

Professor Jelena Matic is a prominent figure in Serbia, known for advancing sustainability and circular design education. Her work at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, and involvement in the “Young Balkan Designers” initiative has inspired students and new generations to integrate environmental concepts into their designs.

From 2005 to 2015, Matic led award-winning projects, earning awards, including prestigious ones like the Awards of the Salon of Arts, Golden Key of the Furniture Fair in Belgrade, and awards from the Chamber of Commerce of Belgrade and Ulupuds. Her collaboration with the furniture company Simpo in 2010 resulted in four student-designed pieces entering production, highlighting her influence in both education and industry.