Biomatters: a new age of biosynthetic-technology for the textile and apparel industry

Hansell, Hannah (2017) Biomatters: a new age of biosynthetic-technology for the textile and apparel industry. [Exhibition/show]

4213:93125
Biotunic

Biotunic

Download (9MB) Preview

4213:93126
StudioBio - The Living collection Campaign

StudioBio - The Living collection Campaign

Download (10MB) Preview

4213:93127
Mycellium Dress

Mycellium Dress

Download (10MB) Preview

4213:93128
MA Show - University of Brighton

MA Show - University of Brighton

Download (235kB) Preview

4213:93129
Biofoiling Sample

Biofoiling Sample

Download (19MB) Preview

4213:93130
StudioBio - The Living Collection

StudioBio - The Living Collection

Download (10MB) Preview

Creators:
Hansell, Hannah
Description/Abstract:

Biomatters explores how the role of design could change in the textile and apparel industry if synthetic biology is established as a new technology and production method. The field of synthetic biology is an industry developing methods for ‘reprogramming’ cells to produce bespoke materials, medicines and biofuels. There is much rhetoric around designable biology as a world changing and world saving sustainable technology, but there are also a number of questions that surround its claims and ambition that need to be answered (Ginsberg, 2014). Biotech is a fast moving industry that needs to be questioned and scrutinized; design can play a key role here. I feel there is further need to review how design practice will change in my industry, if we start working with life as raw material, machine and operating system (Ginsberg, 2014).

This research project explores this emerging industry from the perspective of fashion and textile application in order to seek sustainable solutions, new materials and circular models, to tackle key industry issues. It investigates whether reprogrammed microbes could become our ‘factories of the future’ (Lee, 2005) fostering a new design paradigm based on cultivation, growth and living cells. What it will mean if we begin to ‘biofacture’ (Collet, 2017) materials and apparel. And what the shift from hand-made and man-made to ‘grow-made’ (Collet, 2017) will mean for design practice within my industry.

Item Type:
Art/Design Item
Date:
September 2017
Locations / Venues:
Location
From Date
To Date
MA Show 2017, Brighton University, Brighton, UK
September 2017
Depositing User:
Mrs Hannah Hansell
Date Deposited:
29 Jan 2018 16:35
Last Modified:
01 Mar 2022 08:49
Art/Design Categories:
Exhibition/show
URI:
https://research.uca.ac.uk/id/eprint/4213

Actions (login required)

Edit View Edit View
University Staff: Request a correction | UCA Research Online Editors: Update this record