About this Event
Designed objects are increasingly being made with materials from nature, specifically nature’s ultimate decomposer, fungi. Fungi is one of the most exciting sources ripe with design potential, and creative applications for fungi-based materials range from biodegradable styrofoams to leather-like textile alternatives.
In this workshop, we’ll explore mycelium (AKA the vegetative fibers of a mushroom) as a material for experimental design applications. You’ll grow a variety of samples, starting from a mycelium substrate, to mycelium grown using experimental techniques, to sculpting mycelium composite materials grown to shape. We’ll also dive into some of the science behind how fungi is evolving alongside us to break down our waste, and discuss the potential of using sustainable mycelium to replace current packaging and building materials.
Meet the Instructors
Ella Sy (she/her) is a chemical engineer driven by a curiosity about materials, sustainability, and the way things are made. She studies at Columbia University, where she researches electrochemical energy storage, and has spent time designing sustainable manufacturing systems across industry. Ella is also the co-founder of Planet Vintage, a sustainable vintage clothing brand featured in Tatler and CNN. Her work across engineering and circular fashion has cultivated a long-standing fascination with the idea that everyday materials can be transformed into something entirely new.
Julia Sy (she/her) is a multidisciplinary creative working across design, film, and digital media. Her work spans documentary filmmaking, set and spatial design, and content strategy, often exploring themes of memory, material culture, and community. She is also the co-founder of Planet Vintage, a vintage clothing platform and pop-up space. Through both her creative and professional work, Julia is interested in how material and spatial design can shape connection, storytelling, and lived experience. Julia is a graduate of New York University.
Carolina Miñana (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based visual, product, and spatial designer originally from the Philippines. Her practice is defined by a multidisciplinary approach that explores the synthesis of technical production, material R&D, and heritage craft. Through a lens of community-based identity and hands-on experimentation, Carolina develops design solutions that are as functional as they are culturally resonant, honoring the structural integrity of craft while challenging the boundaries of contemporary design. She received her BFA in Integrated Design from Parsons School of Design.
Rachel Zheng (she/her) is a consultant and an independent researcher exploring the intersection of materials, design, and sustainability. She concentrated in design during her undergraduate studies, which continues to inform her approach to systems thinking and material experimentation. Rachel is particularly interested in how biomaterials can move beyond research settings and into creative and design contexts, making sustainable practices more tangible and accessible. She continues to explore material experimentation through collaborative workshops and community-based learning.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Genspace, 132 32nd Street, Brooklyn, United States
USD 57.86 to USD 81.88
