CONCEPT

"Ocean Breath — A Living Interface"

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For my final project, I will explore the intersection of WEARABLES & BIOFABRICATED MATERIALS through the use of Sargassum seaweed as both material & narrative medium.

CONCEPT VISULATION

MINDMANP

MOODBOARDs

COMPONANDS

THE PROJECT

The project proposes a interactive instalation / body-worn, biofabricated structure derived from Sargassum, positioned on the torso—close to vital organs—as an interface between the human body & the ocean. The wearable reacts subtly to bodily data such as breath, heartbeat, or movement, translating internal rhythms into gentle motion, texture shifts, or light.

In doing so, the body becomes a temporary host for a marine material, blurring the boundaries between human physiology, digital systems, & oceanic life.

Sargassum exists in a state of contradiction: it is both pollutant & resource, both excess & opportunity.

By transforming it into a wearable artifact, the project reframes this invasive presence as a material for reflection, care, & regeneration. The softness, fragility, & organic irregularities of the biofabricated seaweed contrast with the precision of sensors, code, & digital fabrication, creating a dialogue between nature & technology rather than a hierarchy. At its core, the project questions how we relate to environmental crises when they are no longer distant, but physically present on our bodies. Wearing Sargassum close to the skin invites a slow, embodied awareness of oceanic systems, ecological imbalance, & our own biological rhythms. The digital layer does not dominate the material, but listens to it—amplifying its presence rather than controlling it. Ultimately, the project exists in the space between care & discomfort, technology & ecology, problem & potential. It suggests that new relationships with materials—especially those born from environmental excess—can emerge when we allow them to enter intimate, personal, & sensory spaces. The body becomes a site of negotiation, where digital systems, biofabricated matter, & environmental narratives intertwine.

THE PROJECT

5 W's

WHY

“Turning necessity into opportunity.”

Rather than viewing Sargassum solely as an ecological nuisance, this project understands the algae as a versatile, bio-based resource. Through its material & design-driven translation, the project aims to raise awareness of the underlying environmental issue while opening up a new perspective on excess, waste, & value creation.

WHAT

Wearables + Biofabrication

Development of a small collection of biofabricated, interactive objects based on Sargassum that can function both as body-worn accessories & as an interactive spatial installation. The works operate at the intersection of material research, bodily proximity, & spatial experience, exploring how marine biomaterials can act as meaning-carrying interfaces.

WHO

Laura Muth

Designer with a multidisciplinary background in material research, biofabrication, & sustainable systems, combining existing expertise with new approaches from the field of wearables.

WHEN*

January – March

January: Research, planning, material exploration
February: Biofabrication, prototyping, concept validation
March: Final prototypes, storytelling, presentation

WHERE

Mexico – IBERO / IDIT

The choice of project focus is closely linked to my location. The Fabricademy in Mexico provides not only the institutional framework but also a direct connection to the Sargassum issue along the Mexican Caribbean coast, which serves as the real-world starting point for the project.

WHOM / TARGET / STAKEHOLDER GROUP

The project operates at the intersection of object, wearable, installation, & research format. Accordingly, it addresses multiple layers of target groups—not only “users,” but also actors within a broader system.

Primary

Exhibition visitors / wearers Design & art students

Secondary

Material researchers Cultural institutions Sustainability organizations

Local

Coastal communities (Mexico) Academic institutions (IBERO / Fabricademy)

Systemic

Design discourse Future material practices

MORE QUESTIONS THEN ANSWERS

RELEVANCE

Zukunftsinstitut - Megatrends

The Zukunftsinstitut is a leading European think tank for future studies, known for its Megatrend Map, which identifies long-term societal, cultural, & economic transformations shaping the future. These megatrends provide a systemic framework to understand complex changes beyond short-term trends.

Positioning this project within selected megatrends—such as Ecological Intelligence, Knowledge Culture, & Identity Dynamics—helps contextualize the work within broader societal shifts. It highlights the relevance of biofabricated materials, embodied environmental awareness, & research-based design practices as part of a larger transformation toward regenerative, responsible futures.