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Jounral
Workshop
January 2024
Fungal-based composites
Exploring mycelium with creative minds!
A revolutionary material in terms of sustainability originates from an unexpected source. Among many benefits, fungi have been studied for their role in multiple situations, from environment detoxification, to symbiotic relationship with plants and benefits for human health. Nevertheless there is more to it. Mushrooms, the reproductive part of fungi, possess root-like microfilaments that, when entangled, form a white texture known as mycelium.
Mycelium is clearly noticeable when fungi nourish themselves by decomposing organic structures, such as agricultural waste. Acting as a binder of these organic compounds, the mycelium becomes a pioneer of a new typology of biomaterials. Nowadays, the customisation of its materialisation process enables us to explore properties similar to traditional materials, such as wood, plastics or leather and even more, to propose new characteristics like regenerative, self-healing or living materials.
MA students from Elisava University School of Design and Engineering were invited to create prototypes of fungal-based composites by growing mycelium from different local sources and moulds. The students could reflect on their experience by proposing potential applications inspired by the resulting samples, ranging from cosmetic packaging, to acoustic panels and fashion garments.
Credits
Workshop for MA students Elisava School of Design and Engineering#workshops #mycelium #research #biomaterials #DesignThroughNewMaterials
Workshop
May 2023
Affective Recycling with #NaturaEndins
How working with
materials perception can enrich social practices
It was a pleasure to collaborate with the Design Museum of Barcelona (DHUB) and the cultural association Apropa Cultura for the workshop 'The Kitchen of Materials: An Exploration of Affective Recycling,' carried out within the framework of #NaturaEndins.
The workshop was designed to provide resources for professionals working with vulnerable individuals. Through practical and reflective activities, they were invited to explore materials from an artistic and emotional perspective. To do so, we transformed the museum workshop into a creative kitchen where we could experiment with textures, smells, colors, and sensations. We achieved this by manipulating, pressing and grinding ingredients to transform them into bioplastics, inks, or paper. The workshop concluded with an open debate on how working with materials can enrich practices in their work environment
Credits
Workshop “The Kitchen of Materials: An Exploration of Affective Recycling” #workshops #materialsdesign #designbarcelona #biomaterials
Talk
May 2023
Biodesign and biofabrication
New materials for sustainable futures
On May 2023, I had the opportunity to visit the automotive company CUPRA to share my experience in the biomaterials sector. The session could provide a general understanding of the “bio-context” and the emerging concepts of "biobased," "biomaterial," or "vegan leather."
Materials are a reflection of societies. Biomaterials are an opportunity to change our relationship with the environment and explore co-creation with nature. This scenario allows us to re-think traditional materials such as wood, leather, or plastic, through the collaboration with, for example, microrganism technology. However, in a world where misinformation is abundant, it becomes essential to cultivate a critical sense and distinguish between trends and "greenwashing" culture. By showcasing inspiring cases, biofabrication ingredients, and pioneering companies, we were able to generate discussion about the new materials on the market.
Visual composition
April 2019
The invasion of dates
This composition comes from a personal reflection about how the perception of materiality is affected depending on its context. “Expiration dates” in food is commonly used to indicate the time frame in which an organic matter is edible.
