About this Event
Intro to Biodesign - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER - WEDNESDAYS
Curious about biodesign, living materials, and biomaterials? Join us for a 4-week introductory seminar exploring a series of different making methods within biodesign. This workshop series will provide you with recipies, techniques, demos, and entry points to bringing biodesign into your work or practice.
This weekly online series offers a foundational overview of key concepts, materials, and living systems that are redefining how we think about design and innovation. This series is fully online to provide access to students based outside the UK.
Each class is designed to be around 1hr with time at the end for material and project Q&A.
All sessions are recorded so you can participate synchronously or asynchronously.
Schedule
November 25th – 9–10:30 PM GMT / 4–5:30 PM EST / 1–2:30 PM PST
December 2nd – 9–10:30 PM GMT / 4–5:30 PM EST / 1–2:30 PM PST
December 9th – 9–10:30 PM GMT / 4–5:30 PM EST / 1–2:30 PM PST
December 16th – 9–10:30 PM GMT / 4–5:30 PM EST / 1–2:30 PM PST
Week 1 – Introduction to Biodesign
Explore the core principles of biodesign through key concepts and real-world case studies. We'll learn about what is going on at the cutting edge of biodesign and the key debates within the movement. This will be the only lecture heavy class in the sequence. There will be optional readings from the key texts that biodesigners draw from.
Week 2 – Introduction to Biofabrication
Learn how organisms like mycelium are used for fabrication. We'll learn how mycelium works, grows, and can be used as a fabrication material. This will include demos of cultivation and fabrication methods. This class will give you an introduction the problems and strengths of designing with living and growing materials, whether it's mycelium, algae, or bacterial cellulose.
Week 3 – Introduction to Biomaterials
Discover the diverse world of biomaterials and their applications across design, architecture, and product development. We'll learn how to make and sculpt with different biomaterials and think about different recipies for different needs. In the class we'll work on making a simple bioceramic material. Ingredients and instructions will be shared with participants so you can follow along practically at home if you wish.
Week 4 – Introduction to Living Systems
Dive into ecological design strategies, including phytoremediation, root system fabric, and composting as dynamic, living processes. We'll have a look at ways to work with living systems combined with creative composting demos, and strategise how to bring the living into our own practices.
Whether you're a designer, artist, scientist, or simply curious, this seminar will give you an introduction and entry points to many different kinds of biodesign practices!
This session you can choose to just attend the lectures or get additional project support time with the instructor and a small group of students. Project support blocks will be 2 hours long and include critique sessions, bespoke feedback on your own work, and tailored demos to the biodesign practices the group is interested in. The timing of the project support blocks will be decided by the students and instructor to make sure that different time zones and schedules are accounted for. Students based in Berlin may have the option for in person project support session and access to the instructor's living materials.
Project support is recommended if you are completing a thesis or exhibition
Meet your Instructor
Kirsten Tingle is a biodesigner and artist specialising in mycelium fabrication and regenerative painting. She is a mycelium researcher and lecturer at Lifefabs in Camden, and frequently guest lectures on biodesign philosophy practice across the UK and Europe.
Kirsten was a 2024 grant recipient from The British Mycology Society, an artist in residence at The Francis Crick Institute, and holds a masters in Biodesign from Central Saint Martins.
https://www.kirstentingle.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kirstentingle
Event venue & nearby stays
Kupfer, 58 Dace Road, London, United Kingdom
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