Reef Rocket

Reef Rocket by 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 by ReefCycle 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.

Refugio Bees

As a continuation of the work Refugio Bees have 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.

Mujō

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

Mujō is a Berlin-based biomaterial innovation company that develops innovative, seaweed-based packaging materials that biodegrade straight after use, naturally and harmlessly. The company envisions a future where packaging materials of today become the resource of tomorrow.

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Landless Food

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.

Cellsense

Cellsense has developed a proprietary 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.

MOWO, move with wood

Wood, but thought completely differently! 🌿 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.

With three different stools, MOWO offers a wide range of new sitting experiences that bring movement to the desk and thus enable healthy sitting.

MOWO uses FSC-certified veneers. The certificate ensures that the wood products come from forests that are managed according to the strict standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). These standards take into account environmental aspects such as the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, social aspects such as the rights of workers and communities, and economic aspects to ensure the sustainable use of forest resources.

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Natsai Audrey Chieza

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

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

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.