BioFabricating Materials🌿

Session Nutshell 🌰🐚

This week’s focus on biomaterials had me buzzing with excitement! The idea of growing your own materials from what’s around you is just so fascinating. It’s like turning your kitchen into a mini science lab or a sustainable magic show! ✨🌱

Having stumbled across tons of inspiring references in the past—think kombucha leather, mushroom packaging, or colorful bioplastics—I couldn’t wait to roll up my sleeves and try crafting some of these wonders myself. It’s one thing to read about it, but it’s another to get your hands messy and see the magic unfold.

That said, I had a small hiccup: I missed the global session because I was traveling 😢✈️ to the beautiful landscapes of Norway! (Trust me, the fjords and northern lights made it hard to feel too guilty🇳🇴🗻) But fear not—I caught up on the recording and came prepared, thanks to a little foresight during the Biochrome Week with Gunjan. Together, we brainstormed and sketched out some ideas that were just waiting to come to life this week.

Below, I’ve listed some of the standout references from my research—things that had me thinking, “Whoa, how is this even possible?” If you’re curious about biomaterials or need a little inspiration to kick-start your own experiments, dive in! 🧪✨

Completely in awe with Julija Karas ,Viviane Labelle & Lisa Boulton's works bio materials

Assignment Deep Dive 📝

Learning Outcomes

Research skills: the participant has acquired knowledge through references and Concept development

Technical skills: Master techniques for growing and crafting personalised materials

Process skills: Anyone can go through the process, compare and explore the recipes

Final outcome: create a material chart

Originality: Has the design been thought through and elaborated?

Students Checklist ✅

✅ Include some inspiration: research on artists, projects, platforms that work with biomaterials, local ingedients and resources

✅ Produce at least one crafted and one grown material

✅ Crafted material - explore the different recipes and understand how to adjust them based on the ingredients

✅ Grown material - explore the different recipes and understand how to adjust them based on the ingredients

✅ Document your recipes, the ingredients and process and if there have been changes, document your unexpected discoveries

✅ Name your materials, classify them by typology and display them in a systematic order of samples

✅ Submit some of your swatches to the analog material library of your lab. (20cm x 20cm approx.)

Project Inspiration 💡✨

Honestly, this week left me brimming with ideas—it was like a creativity explosion! 💥💡 But more than jumping straight into creating a finished piece, I was drawn to the process. I wanted to channel my energy into experimenting, testing, and discovering. 🔬🧪

The goal? To play around with different recipes and techniques, and make a whole bunch of swatches that showcase a variety of bio-materials. 🖌️🌱 It felt like being a chef, but instead of gourmet dishes, I was “cooking” up biodegradable and sustainable options! 🍵🌍

Process Understanding 🧠✨

I firmly believe in diving deep into the "why" and "how" before jumping into the "do." 🧐🔍 So, naturally, my first step was to thoroughly research how biomaterials are made, ensuring I understood every detail before rolling up my sleeves. After an extensive dive into the world of bio-magic 🌱✨, I narrowed my focus to these materials that not only sparked my curiosity but also aligned perfectly with the assignment criteria:

1. Agar-Based Bio-Plastic 🪄
2. Potato Starch-Based Bio-Plastic 🥔
3. Gelatin and Glycerin Bio-Plastic 🍮
4. Banana Peel Leather 🍌👛
5. Spinach Leaf Plastic 🥬
6. Kombucha Leather 🍵👜

With the materials decided, I knew it was time to get organized. To keep the process seamless (and my workspace sane 🧹), I followed a simple and systematic approach:

Here’s the Breakdown:

1. Make a list of all the recipes and dyes you want to create (keeping those colorful ideas flowing 🌈).

2. Gather your tools and ingredients ahead of time to avoid the dreaded “missing something mid-experiment” moment. 🧰👩‍🔬

3. Set up your workspace to match your project scale—whether it’s a tiny corner of your kitchen or a big studio table, give yourself space to play! 🛠️🔬

4. This structured approach not only kept things efficient but also made the entire process stress-free and enjoyable. 🧠✨ Time to get hands-on and bring these ideas to life! 💪🌍

The Process 🎨✨

For me, the process wasn’t just about the outcome; it was about enjoying the experimentation, embracing imperfections, and letting creativity guide the way. Whether a recipe turned out perfectly or needed some tweaks, every step was a learning experience, and I couldn’t wait to see where it would take me. Let’s dive in! 🌱✨

Recipe 1: Agar-Based Bio-Plastic

🧪 Key Ingredients:

1. 1 teaspoon agar powder 🌱
2. 3 tablespoons water 💧
3. 1 tablespoon glycerin 🧴
4. 1 drop food coloring (I went with green! 💚)

Instructions:

Prepare the Mixture:

1. In a small pan, mix the agar powder with water. 🥄
2. Heat on low while stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. 🔥👩‍🔬
3. Add glycerin & continue stirring until the texture is smooth and silky. ✨
4. Add a drop of food coloring for a touch of personality—I opted for a green tint to keep it fresh and earthy! 🌿

Form the Material:

1. Pour the mixture onto a flat surface or into a mold, depending on the shape you want. 🧪

2. Spread evenly (or as evenly as you can!) and let it cool. Leave it to set for about 24 hours to allow it to fully harden. ⏳

I left the mixture dry for over a week which was a longer time as opposed to what was mentioned in the recipe

Final Output:

The result? A beautifully green, glossy bio-plastic that looked as fresh as spring! 💚 While I was thrilled with the vibrant color, I realized my mold was a bit small, or maybe I laid the material a tad too thick. Next time, I’ll aim for a thinner layer for more flexibility, but I’m pretty happy with this outcome too! 🎉

Key Takeaway:

This recipe taught me the importance of precision—both in spreading the mixture evenly and choosing the right mold size. A thinner layer might have been more flexible, but even as it was, the result had a beautiful aesthetic and held its form well. This material feels perfect for experimenting further with textures and finishes in future projects! 🧪💡

Recipe 2: Potato Starch-Based Bio-Plastic 🌸🥔✨

🧪 Ingredients:

1. 1 large potato (for extracting starch) 🥔
2. 1 tablespoon vinegar 🍶
3. 1 tablespoon glycerin 🧴
4. 2 cups water 💧
5. 1 drop food coloring (I went with pink! 💖)

Instructions:

Extract the Starch:

1. Start by grating the potato into a bowl of water. Let it soak for 10 minutes to release the starch. ⏳💧
2. Strain the potato water into another bowl, separating the solids.
3. Let the water sit for another 10 minutes until the starch settles at the bottom. 🥣
4. Carefully pour off the water, leaving behind a gooey, concentrated layer of starch—the star of this recipe! 🌟

Prepare the Bio-Plastic Mixture:

1. In a pan, combine the potato starch, water, vinegar, and glycerin. 🧪
2. Heat the mixture on low while stirring continuously. Soon, you’ll notice it thickening into a glossy, pliable texture.
3. Keep stirring until it reaches a smooth consistency. 🔥👩‍🔬

Form the Material:

1. Pour the mixture into a mold or spread it evenly on a flat surface. 🧴
2. Let it cool and set for 24–48 hours. Patience is key! ⏳

Final Output:

The final product was so intriguing! What started as a soft pink turned into a muted yellow-orange tone after drying, which was an unexpected but fascinating result. 🍑✨ The texture of this material really stood out—it felt smooth, stretchy, and almost rubber-like. I was pleasantly surprised by how durable it was, and I can’t wait to explore how it holds up in different applications!

Key Takeaway: This recipe was as much about the process as it was about the outcome. The transformation of a humble potato into something so functional and creative felt like pure magic! ✨🌍

Recipe 3: Gelatin and Glycerin Bio-Plastic 💧✨

🧪 Ingredients:

1. 3 tablespoons gelatin 🥄
2. 1 tablespoon glycerin 🧴
3. 1/2 cup water 💧
4. 1 drop food coloring (I opted for blue! 💙)

Instructions:

Prepare the Mixture:

1. Start by heating water in a pan until it’s warm (but not boiling). 🔥💧
2. Gradually dissolve the gelatin into the water, stirring to avoid clumps.
3. Add glycerin and continue stirring until the mixture is fully combined and smooth. 🥄✨
4. Add a drop of food coloring to give it a pop of color—I went with a calming blue hue. 💙

Form the Material:

1. Pour the warm mixture onto a flat surface or into molds of your choice. 🧪
2. Spread evenly if needed and let it cool at room temperature for at least 24 hours to harden. ⏳

Final Output:

The end result was visually appealing, with its smooth surface and striking blue hue! 🌊✨ However, the texture left much to be desired—it remained sticky and slimy despite drying for a full day. While the material had potential, the tactile experience wasn’t ideal, which made it less enjoyable to work with or imagine using in practical applications.

Key Takeaway:

This recipe is a great starting point for exploring gelatin-based biomaterials, especially for experimenting with color and form. 🎨 However, achieving the right balance between flexibility and dryness requires further tweaking. Perhaps experimenting with drying times or adjusting the glycerin ratio could lead to a better texture. For now, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of usability, but it was a valuable learning experience! 🧠✨

Recipe 4: Banana Peel Coffee Leather 🍌✨

🧪 Ingredients:

1. 4 banana peels 🍌
2. 1 tablespoon coffee grounds ☕
3. 1 tablespoon glycerin 🧴
4. 1 tablespoon vinegar 🍶
5. 2 cups water 💧

Instructions:

Prepare the Banana Peels:

1. Start by boiling the banana peels in water for 30 minutes to soften them. 🔥💧
2. Drain the water, then blend the softened peels into a smooth, thick paste. This will form the base of the "leather." 🥣✨

Create the Leather:

1. In a pan, heat the banana peel paste on low heat.
2. Gradually add the glycerin, vinegar, and coffee grounds, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens. 🥄
3. Once smooth, spread the mixture evenly onto a flat surface or into a mold.
4. Allow it to dry completely for 1–2 days until it hardens into a flexible, leather-like texture. ⏳

Final Output:

This recipe was a rollercoaster! 🎢 The process was a bit overwhelming—especially the smell while cooking (imagine boiling bananas and coffee—it’s a unique combo! 😅). At first, I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, and the appearance during the process wasn’t super appealing. But the final result completely surprised me!

The material hardened beautifully and had an impressive flexibility that genuinely felt leather-like. Plus, the coffee grounds added a rich, natural tone that I absolutely loved. ☕✨ This might be one of my favorites so far, despite the challenges during preparation!

Key Takeaway:

Banana Peel Leather is a perfect example of how unexpected materials can transform into something both functional and beautiful. 🌍✨ The flexibility and durability of the final product exceeded my expectations, and the natural color from the coffee was a bonus! While the preparation wasn’t the most pleasant, the results made it all worth it. Definitely a recipe I’d explore further! 🍌✨

Recipe 5: Spinach Leaf Plastic 🥬✨

🧪 Ingredients:

1. 2 cups fresh spinach leaves🥬
2. 1 tablespoon cornstarch 🥄
3. 1 tablespoon vinegar 🍶
4. 1 tablespoon glycerin 🧴

Instructions:

Prepare the Spinach:

1. Boil the spinach leaves in water for about 30 minutes until they become soft and mushy. 🔥💧
2. Drain the water, then blend the softened leaves into a smooth paste. This will act as the base for the bio-plastic. 🥣✨

Create the Plastic:

1. In a pan, mix the spinach leaf paste with cornstarch, vinegar, and glycerin. 🧪
2. Heat the mixture on low heat, stirring constantly until it thickens into a pliable consistency. 🥄✨

Form the Material:

1. Pour the mixture into molds or spread it thinly onto a flat surface. 🧴
2. Let it cool and dry for 1–2 days until it hardens. ⏳

Final Output:

This recipe was a sensory adventure, to say the least! 😅 The smell during preparation was extremely strong—let’s just say it wasn’t my favorite aroma. 🐄💨 The paste itself wasn’t visually appealing either, with its earthy, greenish-brown tones reminiscent of… well, cow poop. But I powered through! 💪✨

The final product, after drying, was quite a transformation. The color darkened into a rich brown-black with subtle hints of green in the thinner areas. 🌿✨ Despite the less-than-pleasant process, I was impressed with how the material turned out. Its thin, papery texture and earthy look gave it a unique, natural charm.

Key Takeaway:

Spinach Leaf Plastic is not for the faint of heart (or sensitive noses! 😂), but the results were worth the effort. 🌱✨ The material’s color and texture evolved beautifully over time, making it a fascinating experiment. I’d recommend this for those who are curious about experimenting with leafy greens as bio-materials—but maybe do it in a well-ventilated space! 🥬✨

Recipe 6: Kombucha Leather 🍵✨

🧪 Ingredients:

Instructions:

Final Output:

Key Takeaway:

Project Assembly 🛠️✨

Work in Progress:

I’m currently planning an exciting project using the kombucha leather! 🍵✨ After seeing how beautifully the material turned out, I’m brainstorming ideas to transform it into something both functional and visually appealing. Whether it’s a small accessory, a piece of art, or even a prototype for wearable fashion, the possibilities feel endless!

Come back soon to see more !