Biodesign and Cultural Memory

I recently had the opportunity to interview Andrea Bandoni about her work at the intersection of Amazonian craft, design research, and biotechnological innovation. The following is a synthesis of key insights from that conversation, highlighting the depth of her practice and the cultural stakes of her research.

In contemporary design, where sustainability is imperative, Andrea Bandoni stands out. Her years of Amazon research have led to a form of biodesign that reveres traditional knowledge rather than merely borrowing from it.

The Unconventional Path

Bandoni's route to academia was non-linear. Before her PhD, she ran a studio and taught design, gaining real-world insights that now inform her research.

Her works, recently presented at the WAD? International Conference and published in Research Directions: Biotechnology Design, bridges academic rigor with practical application. Her methodology is both systematic and holistic. It breaks down complex processes while maintaining their interconnections.

Rediscovering the Cuia: Resurrecting Lost Knowledge

Bandoni's recent research centers on cuias, vessels made from the fruit of the cuieira tree (Crescentia cujete). These objects represent endangered artisanal traditions.

As a Brazilian with ties to the region, Bandoni navigates collaboration with riverine communities with rare sensitivity, aided by her cultural and linguistic fluency.

One form, a segmented, pumpkin-like cuia documented by an 18th-century naturalist Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira, sparked an inquiry into whether these fruits could be molded while still growing.

Bandoni successfully recreated this ancestral technique, revealing a profound collaboration between people and plants.

This revival then opened new avenues for understanding both historical craftsmanship and contemporary biodesign.

From Cuia to Contemporary Design

Her research later expanded to traditional cuia containers. Working with these materials required a shift from controlled experiments to intuitive practice.

Local artisans taught her to “listen” to the material. For example, by tapping cuias to judge ripeness.

These lessons revealed how traditional practices hold insights that modern science is only beginning to grasp.

For Bandoni, biodesign isn’t about applying technology to nature. It’s about engaging with knowledge systems already in tune with ecology.

The Challenge of Preservation

Bandoni confronts a stark reality: traditional techniques are vanishing as younger generations move away from craft.

She sees real potential in bridging ancestral knowledge with contemporary design to create economically viable paths forward.

Her museum research also reveals structural hurdles. Bureaucracy often limits access to historical artifacts.

Yet, persistence has enabled her hands-on engagement. This is crucial for understanding material forms from the inside out.

Beyond the Vessel: The Future is Ancestral

Beyond cuias, Bandoni experiments with Amazonian materials like pirarucu fish scales; lightweight yet strong and increasingly valued in sustainable fashion and design.

Her work follows a guiding principle inspired by Indigenous Brazilian thought: “The future is ancestral.”

In the rush for innovation, we often overlook solutions refined over centuries. For Bandoni, these are not relics. They are models for sustainable design today.

The Intersection of Design, Science, and Cultural Memory

Bandoni operates at the intersection of design, anthropology, materials science, and cultural preservation. Her work challenges the assumption that innovation only looks forward. Often, the most powerful solutions lie in overlooked traditional practices.

As biodesign evolves, Bandoni’s work is a call to recognize sophisticated, time-tested solutions. Her deep engagement with Amazonian crafts offers a template for respectful, sustainable innovation.

In an age dominated by tech-driven design, Bandoni's approach is a powerful counterpoint. It is an invitation to slow down, listen, and learn from generations who lived in harmony with nature.

Her path from studio to rainforest shows a way forward: honoring cultural memory while shaping ecologically wise futures.

Extending the Conversation

To explore more of Andrea Bandoni’s innovative work at the intersection of biodesign and cultural preservation, including visual documentation of her research, process photographs, and upcoming exhibitions or talks, visit her portfolio:

👉 andreabandoni.com

For those particularly interested in the visual journey of her biodesign explorations in the Amazon, follow the dedicated Instagram account.

This curated visual narrative offers glimpses into her fieldwork, material experiments, and collaborations with local artisans.

Andrea's work extends beyond physical objects to digital curation as well. Her online exhibition "Objects of the Forest" at https://www.objectsoftheforest.com/ presents a thoughtfully assembled collection of Amazonian objects, contextualizing traditional crafts within contemporary design discourse and providing another dimension to understanding the rich material culture she studies.

Credits

• Photos by: Andrea Bandoni, Alanna Vinhas, Lauro Cohen, and Marcela Cotta

• Cuia Artisans: Silvane Maduro, Lélia Maduro, and Marinalva Souza

I'm deeply grateful to Andrea for taking the time to share her work, experiences, and reflections in such an open and thoughtful way. Her insights made this piece possible, and I hope it does justice to the depth of her research and vision.

Raphael

Founder, Biodesign Academy