Bio-Fashion, Industry Breakthroughs, Soil Fabrics, and Your Danish Adventure

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Hello Biodesign Community,

As the working week winds down, consider how nature quietly surpasses us—mushrooms forming lightweight, eco-friendly bricks, and bacteria turning waste into biodegradable plastics. In biodesign, microbes are subtly transforming fashion and architecture. It’s a quiet revolution, where nature shows its strength not in brute force, but in ingenuity and sustainability.

Today’s Nutshell:

• DDW 2024 Interviews Out Now: Polybion, Agnes van Dijk, and Linda Kaplanová

• Biofabrication and Sustainability: A Critical Perspective

• Publications Spotlight: 'Of Other Reefs' and 'Soil Fabric Typology'

• Call for Papers: PLATE Conference 2025 (Denmark)

• Learn Algae Yarn: EMI Biolab Course

• Looking to Hire? Announce Job Postings by emailing [email protected]

DDW 2024 Interviews Out Now: Polybion, Agnes van Dijk, and Linda Kaplanová

As Dutch Design Week 2024 kicks off today, don’t miss our exclusive interviews with innovative contributors.

In our conversation with Axel Gómez-Ortigoza Aguirre, co-founder of Polybion, we explore the journey from waste to high-performance textiles, showcased in Ganni A/S’s SS25 collection. Axel discusses the challenges of scaling biological materials and the future of eco-materials in fashion. 👉🏼 Read here.

We also preview Agnes van Dijk's project Cellulite, which uses bio-waste and residual materials to challenge the fast fashion obsession with perfection by embracing decay. 🍊🍃 Agnes shares her inspiration and process of transforming bio-waste into wearable art. 👉🏼 Read here.

Finally, Linda Kaplanová offers insights into VLNA’s creative use of locally sourced Czech wool by students from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, highlighting sustainability and collaborative design. 🌱🧵 👉🏼 Read here.

These interviews are now live on our blog—check them out for a closer look at the exciting projects at DDW 2024! And stay tuned; we have more interviews coming in the next few days!

Re-thinking Biofabrication for Sustainability

In her article, Dr. Miriam Filippi from ETH Zurich's Soft Robotics Lab calls for a rethink of biofabrication practices to enhance sustainability. Although biofabrication can promote eco-friendly methods using living cells, current practices are often resource-intensive.

Dr. Filippi discusses the advantages of bio-hybrid materials across fields like biomedicine and robotics, noting that living cells are biodegradable, energy-efficient, and self-replicating. However, traditional methods often result in significant waste.

To improve sustainability, she recommends computational approaches that predict outcomes before experimentation. By using machine learning and simulations, researchers can optimize processes and reduce resource use while developing effective bio-hybrid systems.

At Biodesign Academy, we recognize that working with biological materials doesn't automatically ensure sustainability. As we move towards a more sustainable future, biofabrication practices will face increasing scrutiny.

Are you ready to navigate this complex landscape responsibly? Achieving true sustainability in biofabrication requires innovative thinking, continuous improvement, and ethical practices

Publications Spotlight: 'Of Other Reefs' and 'Soil Fabric Typology'

This week, we highlight two significant papers from The journal Research Directions: Biotechnology Design that contributes to evolving research directions in biodesign.

1. Of Other Reefs: Designing Habitats in Blasted Seascapes

By Rasa Weber

In the face of unprecedented changes to coral reefs in the Anthropocene, Rasa Weber advocates for a transformative approach to marine conservation. Traditional methods often treat coral reefs as "sick patients," emphasizing restoration through a lens of human control and natural purity. In contrast, Weber promotes convivial conservation, which recognizes the interconnectedness of marine habitats and encourages a more humble understanding of ecological relationships.

This paper introduces Sympoïetic Design, a methodology that focuses on designing living systems in open environments, specifically aiming to reshape marine habitats to support diverse, non-human lives. By embracing the complexities of these ecosystems, we can foster a more sustainable and inclusive future for coral reefs.

2. Developing and Characterizing a Typology of Soil Fabrics

By Penmai Chongtoua and Lola Ben-Alon

Chongtoua and Ben-Alon tackle the environmental challenges posed by synthetic textiles, which constitute a significant portion of global textile fibers and contribute to carbon emissions and waste. They introduce BioMud Fabrics, a novel line of biodegradable textiles made entirely from earth- and bio-based materials. This paper outlines a rigorous research-by-design methodology, including material characterization and structural analysis, to develop these innovative fabrics. By integrating material science with fashion design and architectural practices, this research aims to promote a shift toward a more circular material paradigm, highlighting the potential of bio-based solutions in the textile industry.

Journal "Research Directions: Biotechnology Design" is Awesome!

The journal Research Directions: Biotechnology Design is a valuable resource for the biodesign community. With many papers available as open access, it caters to diverse interests within the field, making cutting-edge research accessible to a broad audience.

Call for Papers: PLATE 2025 Conference (🇩🇰Denmark🇩🇰)

Submissions are now open for the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE 2025), taking place at Aalborg University, Denmark, from July 2nd to 4th, 2025.

Submission Details

This year features a one-stage submission process for full papers or extended abstracts due by November 29th, 2024. After initial screening, accepted entries will undergo a double-blind review, with notifications sent by the end of January 2025. Final submissions are due by March 26th, 2025.

Thematic Sessions

• Design for Longer Lasting Products

• Enduring Consumption

• Business Models for Longevity

• Repair and Maintenance

• Product Lifetime Modelling

• Policies for Longer Lifetimes

Submission Guidelines

Papers should be 2,500 to 3,000 words, and extended abstracts up to 1,000 words. All submissions must be anonymous. Accepted papers will be published open access by AAU Open publishing.

For more details, visit the PLATE Conference website or contact [email protected]. Don’t miss this chance to engage with cutting-edge research in sustainable product design!

Algae Yarn Couse by Emi Bio Designer

Unlock sustainable textile design with the Algae Yarn Courses created by Emi, a biodesigner passionate about plant-based materials. This video course guides you through crafting transparent and opaque eco-friendly yarns, both uncolored and enhanced with organic dyes. Learn through step-by-step tutorials, join an exclusive community of like-minded creatives for ongoing support, and showcase your skills with a course participation certificate by sharing your creations.

Looking to Hire?

Are you in the market for new talent in biodesign? Whether you're seeking full-time employees, part-time staff, or interns, our growing community can assist you in finding the perfect candidates.

Just send your job posting to [email protected], and we’ll highlight it in our newsletter. Together, we can help you connect with the ideal team members in biodesign.

So that’s it for today - we invite you to explore the latest insights on biodesign innovations, from our DDW 2024 interviews to new developments in sustainable materials and upcoming events. We look forward to sharing more with you next week.

Best wishes,

Biodesign Academy

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