Form Follows Organism

Form Follows Organism: the biological computer’ is a project about biodesign and the shifting role of the (product) designer. Biodesign is based on the principles of biofabrication, a field that emerged out of regenerative medicine technologies. Biodesign incorporates living organisms e.g. bacteria, fungi, algae or cells into the design process. By discovering materials and processes, that nature has designed but hasn’t patented, we can search for new grown materials that are completely compostable and minimize the usage of hazardous resources that can cause huge damage to our ecosystem. Form Follows organism is about applying design knowledge in consumer products and design methodologies. Asking ‘how can we control the process of growing materials or products?’ And ‘how can we design new tools and algorithms that unlock the power of living cells?’

Emma co-created with a yellow intelligent slime mould, to find out if she can use an organism to create smart patterns and designs, based on the biological algorithm. Her product is a new design paradigm, centered on cultivating materials with living cells who are cultured and engineered to synthesize natures materials but with new functional and aesthetic properties.

This project was nominated for the 2015 Drempel award.