Biodesign at Dutch Design Week 2024

In partnership with

Hello Biodesign Community,

As people gear up for the upcoming Dutch Design Week 2024, we wanted to give you a flavour for the biodesign works on display. To start, we’ve compiled some quick stats and themes that you might find intriguing.

This year, at least 39 works—including two workshops—are categorised under “Bio-design,” representing approximately 9% of the total 438 works presented at the main program of DDW. Additionally, 78 works (18%) are categorized as “circular design,” a discipline that is closely related to biodesign.

While these stats mark a notable increase from previous years, biodesign remains on the fringes of the design showcase. It is undoubtedly a growing and emerging field though.

Furthermore, in line with the emerging focus on designing with non-human living systems, two exceptional projects were honored at the Dutch Design Awards 2024: Yuta Ikeya's Metamorphic and Auke Bleij's Respyre.

👀 Be sure to check out the complete list of all 39 biodesign works 👉🏼 here.

And, to further analyse biodesign presence at this year's event, we’ve identified five main meta-themes derived from the showcased works, along with explanations and examples for each theme.

Theme 1: Revival of Tradition and Craftsmanship

This theme emphasizes the significance of historical practices and artisanal skills in contemporary sustainable design. Projects like AaBe wollen deken van Kempisch heideschaap (translated as “AaBe wool blanket made of Kempen heath sheep”) reintroduce traditional Dutch craftsmanship while incorporating sustainable practices.

By using local wool and time-honored techniques, such projects reconnect consumers with cultural heritage and highlight the value of artisanal skills, demonstrating that modern design can draw inspiration from the past to promote sustainability.

Theme 2: Sustainability and Circularity

Focusing on innovative approaches that minimize environmental impact, this theme showcases design initiatives that encourage circular economies. Sarah Alix Mann’s Better Place Furniture Return project exemplifies this by proposing biodegradable solutions for wooden furniture, allowing it to decompose naturally and nourish the ecosystem.

Similarly, Re-Pit repurposes date seeds, a by-product of the global date palm industry, into sustainable composite materials for 3D printing, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic filaments. By reducing waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and reliance on non-renewable resources, the project highlights the potential of bio-materials to support a circular economy and sustainable product design.

Theme 3: Ecological Awareness and Community Engagement

Highlighting the importance of community involvement in ecological issues, this theme fosters dialogue and participation in sustainability practices.

Microbial Oasis: Architecture for Microorganisms creates 3D-printed habitats from human cells to protect microorganisms threatened by climate change, highlighting their essential role in ecosystem processes like carbon cycling and soil fertility. By positioning humans as active donors to nature, the project fosters ecological awareness and encourages deeper community engagement in the preservation of microbial biodiversity for mutual survival.

Another example is The Pigeon Dialogues: Connecting Rural Futures, a project that bridges the divide between rural and urban perspectives by creating a space for thoughtful, slower-paced dialogue, inspired by the tradition of pigeon post. By gathering and sharing messages from diverse voices in the Dutch countryside, the project promotes ecological awareness and encourages community engagement to envision a sustainable future for all.

Theme 4: Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Innovative Material Use

This theme showcases the convergence of art, science, and design to address sustainability challenges creatively. Initiatives like Vibes from Below illustrate how collaboration between artists and scientists can raise biodiversity awareness through sound art, enriching participants' understanding of soil ecology. Similarly, projects like TRI explore underutilized natural resources, transforming materials like tree bark into sustainable products.

In addition, The BioHybrid Device, developed by IFT Paris, exemplifies interdisciplinary collaboration by merging biological and digital manufacturing processes to create a video game controller grown in living biofilm (SCOBY). This innovative approach explores new production paradigms, replacing plastic with biologically grown materials, and reimagining how technology can be sustainably designed through morphogenesis.

By integrating diverse disciplines, these projects highlight the potential for innovation in addressing environmental issues through creative design solutions.

Theme 5: Redefining Aesthetics and Functionality

Challenging conventional perceptions of beauty and utility, this theme embraces the notion that imperfection and decay can lead to innovative design. Projects such as Cellulite by Agnes van Dijk celebrate the beauty of bio-waste, creating luxurious fashion pieces that critique fast fashion's wasteful practices. The Yellow to Blue, utilizing natural bio pigments, further exemplifies this by reflecting the organic variability of nature in its design. These initiatives encourage a shift in consumer perspectives, showcasing that sustainability can be both beautiful and functional.

Overall, these meta-themes illustrate the dynamic interplay between tradition, innovation, community engagement, and ecological awareness in contemporary design. By exploring how these themes manifest in various projects, we can appreciate the diverse strategies designers employ to promote sustainability and inspire collective action toward a more responsible future.

Coming Up..

In the next round of newsletters, we’ll dive deeper into some of the biodesign works from Dutch Design Week 2024, by presenting exclusive interviews with the very designers behind these innovative projects. Stay tuned and watch this space for more insights into biodesign presence at DDW24!

That’s about it for this edition, thank you for joining us on this journey through the evolving world of biodesign presence at DDW24—let’s continue to explore, engage, and shape a more sustainable future together.

Biodesign Academy

Receive Honest News Today

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Sign up today!