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The Monocle team rounds up highlights from this year's edition. Expect Design Innovation Medal winner Natsai Audrey Chieza, the landmark pavilion ‘Vert' and a visit to Kindred record store. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Natsai Audrey Chieza spent her youth in Zimbabwe in a close-knit extended family where she and her cousins were “in each others' pockets.” In her teenage years the national economy crashed, necessitating a family relocation to the UK, and she began learning the skill of “not belonging.” Architecture studies proved alienating so she found a way to combine them with her love of fashion (to the consternation of her professors.) Rejecting the prescribed path of a professional architect, she instead pursued a postgraduate program in Material Futures that set her on a path of designing with bacteria. Now, she's founded Faber Futures, a biodesign studio, and Normal Phenomena of Life, an artful lifestyle and fashion brand that also functions as a working prototype of a new model bioeconomy. She's spent her whole life quietly not doing what was expected of her, and in this space of outsiderness she's been very busy creating new paradigms for how we might collaborate with nature and new models for the equitable stewardship of these new biotechnologies. So, in terms of cultural infrastructure, she is an architect after all! Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript (with links!) of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more evergreen episodes! Subscribe to our free substack for updates, bonus content, and new episode alerts.For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever Resources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
View show notes, transcript, and more on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/natsai-audrey-chieza Steve Jobs perfectly described the creative process when he said, “Creativity is just connecting the dots”. Innovation and new ideas are often found by combining the familiar in new ways. Natsai Audrey Chieza, founder of Faber Futures, is doing just that. Natsai started her education as an architect, became fascinated by materials and transferred into biology, and today is designing new textiles, design processes, and manufacturing methods by harnessing biological technology. She's a rare individual who can hop between disciplines to design in new ways. We talk with Natsai about the work she and her team at Faber Futures are doing to help governments and large organizations design more sustainable products using bacteria, fungi, and algae as building tools, and how biophilic design technology could help us address climate change. Bio Natsai Audrey Chieza is a visionary designer and thought leader. She is the founder and CEO of Faber Futures and a co-founder of Normal Phenomena of Life (NPOL). Launched in 2018, Faber Futures is a pioneering design agency that melds consumer biotechnology advancements with real-world applications. In 2023, Chieza co-founded NPOL, a consumer brand offering biotech products online. NPOL makes tangible how biotechnology can generate new materials that can be beautifully designed to support climate goals and the cultivation of resilient bioeconomy value chains. Chieza's approach involves broad-ranging partnerships across biotech, consumer sectors, and cultural institutions. It uses collaborative, story-driven strategies to catalyse engagement and concrete action on critical issues. Notable clients and commissioning bodies include Ginkgo Bioworks, adidas, the Design Museum, MIT Media Lab, and the World Economic Forum (WEF). As a member of the WEF's Global Futures Council on Synthetic Biology, Chieza advocates the integration of design and culture in policy development for bioeconomies powered by biotechnology. Her insights and leadership are sought after on various stages, including as a speaker at SxSW, TED, and Design Indaba. Chieza's contributions to biophilic design have earned her significant media coverage and accolades, including the 2019 INDEX award, known as the Nobel Prize for design. Premium Episodes on Design Better This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you'd like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription, where you'll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to our monthly AMAs with former guests, ad-free episodes, and our new enhanced newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgraid to paid Visiting the links below is one of the best ways to support our show: Methodical Coffee: Roasted, blended, brewed, served and perfected by verified coffee nerds
Natsai Audrey Chieza spent her youth in Zimbabwe in a close-knit extended family where she and her cousins were “in each others' pockets.” In her teenage years the national economy crashed, necessitating a family relocation to the UK, and she began learning the skill of “not belonging.” Architecture studies proved alienating so she found a way to combine them with her love of fashion (to the consternation of her professors.) Rejecting the prescribed path of a professional architect, she instead pursued a postgraduate program in Material Futures that set her on a path of designing with bacteria. Now, she's founded Faber Futures, a biodesign studio, and Normal Phenomena of Life, an artful lifestyle and fashion brand that also functions as a working prototype of a new model bioeconomy. She's spent her whole life quietly not doing what was expected of her, and in this space of outsiderness she's been very busy creating new paradigms for how we might collaborate with nature and new models for the equitable stewardship of these new biotechnologies. So, in terms of cultural infrastructure, she is an architect after all! Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript (with links!) of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more evergreen episodes! Subscribe to our free substack for updates, bonus content, and new episode alerts.For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever ResourcesSpecial thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio is the platform that allows you to create exceptional sites with smart tools that streamline your workflows.Gild Insurance is revolutionizing the small business landscape and putting the power back in creative entrepreneurs' hands with Credited and Healthcare for Creatives.Please say Hi on social! X, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydeversIf you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Description: Karl and Erum engage with Natsai Chieza, visionary leader at Faber Futures, to navigate the evolving landscape of biodesign where the organic intricacies of biology meet the transformative capabilities of technology. We delve into the nuances of integrating bioproducts seamlessly into everyday life, reflect on the renewed appreciation for nature's intrinsic value in our post-pandemic world, and highlight the pioneering strides made by Ginkgo Bioworks. Together, we dissect the intricate process of scaling biotechnological innovations and share the enchanting narrative of crafting with bio pigments. Embark on this exploration with us as we reveal the art of harnessing life's designs, confront the pressing demands of the climate emergency, and envisage the burgeoning trajectory of the bioeconomy. Grow Everything brings to life the bioeconomy when hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories from the field and interview leaders and influencers in the space. Life is a powerful force and it can be engineered. What are we creating? Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything Topics Covered: 00:00:00 - Dive into Biodesign with Natsai Audrey Chieza 00:02:14 - The Green Thread: Biotech's Role in Sustainable Manufacturing 00:04:35 - The Aesthetics of Biology in Architectural Design 00:06:58 - Textiles and the Environment: A Biotech Perspective 00:09:12 - The Wonders of Biomanufacturing Explored 00:11:46 - The Growth of Natsai's Biodesign Vision 00:14:02 - Bridging Disciplines for Breakthrough Innovations 00:16:25 - Biology as the Core of Creative Product Design 00:19:33 - The Craft and Science Behind Biofabrication 00:22:47 - Biotech's Role in Shaping Daily Experiences 00:25:05 - The Dynamic World of Biotech Entrepreneurship 00:27:53 - Ethical Considerations in Biotech Advancements 00:30:18 - Audience Insights: Merging Art with Biotechnological Science 00:34:01 - Biology's Disruptive Influence on Business Norms 00:37:29 - From Concept to Commerce: Biotech's Path to Market 00:40:11 - Overcoming Obstacles in Biotech Scale-Up 00:42:50 - Balancing Economy with Eco-Friendly Biotech Practices 00:45:11 - Building a Greener Biotech Supply Chain 00:47:52 - The Fusion of Design and Biology in Biodesign 00:50:48 - Debating Biotech's Value Proposition and Reach Episode Links: Website World Economic Forum Faber Futures (company site) Normal Phenomenon of Life (company site) Ginkgo Bioworks (company site) Natsai Chieza (LinkedIn) World Economic Forum Synthetic Biology (council site) Have a question or comment? Message us here: Text or Call (804) 505-5553 Instagram / TikTok / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / GrowEverything website Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com Support here: Patreon Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/messaginglab/message
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In this third instalment of Where Next? Conversations with Map Project Office, host Oli Stratford is joined by Natsai Audrey Chieza, Afaina de Jong, Nick Rolls and George Garner to discuss the shifting roles of designers, and to ask whether the discipline is done with stuff. With a rise in digital products and services, new social and commercial models, and dynamic shifts in how we live and work, how is design responding? Studios are now being called upon to design everything from a company's systems and workflows, through to developing strategies for clients that prioritise creativity. In response to these changes, how has the role of “the designer” evolved and remained relevant to businesses? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
La biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza crée des prototypes pour l'avenir, en inventant un monde où l'homme et la nature peuvent coexister. Dans cette présentation débordante d'imagination, elle nous partage la vision de son laboratoire d'innovation, qui œuvre à l'intersection de la nature, de la technologie et de la société pour créer des matériaux et des modèles durables pour demain. Natsai Audrey Chieza nous invite à réfléchir au monde que nous souhaitons, et aux changements systémiques et aux coopérations nécessaires pour qu'il voit le jour.
La biodiseñadora Natsai Audrey Chieza crea prototipos del futuro, imaginando un mundo donde la gente y la naturaleza vayan de la mano. En esta charla tremendamente imaginativa, comparte la visión de su laboratorio innovativo, que trabaja en la intersección de la naturaleza, la tecnología y la sociedad para crear materiales y modelos sostenibles para el futuro. Chieza nos invita a pensar qué mundo queremos realmente, y qué cambios sistemáticos y colaboraciones necesitamos que pasen para que exista.
Biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza prototypes the future, imagining a world where people and nature can thrive together. In this wildly imaginative talk, she shares the vision behind her innovation lab, which works at the intersection of nature, technology and society to create sustainable materials and models for the future. Chieza invites us to consider what kind of world we wish for -- and what systemic changes and collaborations need to happen for it to exist.
Biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza prototypes the future, imagining a world where people and nature can thrive together. In this wildly imaginative talk, she shares the vision behind her innovation lab, which works at the intersection of nature, technology and society to create sustainable materials and models for the future. Chieza invites us to consider what kind of world we wish for -- and what systemic changes and collaborations need to happen for it to exist.
Biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza prototypes the future, imagining a world where people and nature can thrive together. In this wildly imaginative talk, she shares the vision behind her innovation lab, which works at the intersection of nature, technology and society to create sustainable materials and models for the future. Chieza invites us to consider what kind of world we wish for -- and what systemic changes and collaborations need to happen for it to exist.
Biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza prototypes the future, imagining a world where people and nature can thrive together. In this wildly imaginative talk, she shares the vision behind her innovation lab, which works at the intersection of nature, technology and society to create sustainable materials and models for the future. Chieza invites us to consider what kind of world we wish for -- and what systemic changes and collaborations need to happen for it to exist.
This is episode #5 where I am joined by designer Natsai Audrey Chieza. ABOUT Natsai: Natsai is a designer working at the intersection of technology science and nature and society. She is the founder of Faber Futures an R & D agency that is creating new spaces and strategies that relate to climate change and biodiversity loss, and the social structures that underpin our human survival. In our conversation, Natsai explains bio-design talking us through this exciting emerging technology and the implications it has on devising and creating better sustainable design solutions for our world. We talk about: The meaning of bio-design and why it matters Looking at alternatives to harmful materials and substances such as plastic and petroleum Finding solutions to problematic processes on an environmental and social level Cultivating and designing with living organisms What is it like to work with biology in a creative context where you start and what do you do Working with nature not against it The correlation between design and science how the two meet How she got into bio-design The real-world applications of bio-design and the other materials that can be created and applied the problems of fashion being a heavily polluting industry Responsible production in industry Why Natsai chose to start her company Faber Futures How having her own practice enables her to explore her ideas and work with the right teams and clients Links and resources mentioned in this episode: MA Central St Martins University College London Adidas x Stella McCartney Bolt Threads developed Mylo in partnership with Ecovative TEDTalk Fashion Has A Pollution Problem - Can Biology Fix It? CooperHewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum The Design Museum Gingko BioWorks Central St Martins MA Biodesign Bio-Integrated Design (Bio-ID) Bartlett School of Architecture BioDesign Challenge Global Community Bio Summit MIT Where you can go to find out more about Natsai and Faber Futures: https://faberfutures.com Get the full show notes at: www.atelier55design.com/podcast Behind the Design is brought to you by atelier 55 Continue the conversation, follow atelier 55 on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atelier55design/ Instagram: @atelier55design Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/atelier55design/
Natsai Audrey Chieza is a designer who has built an extraordinary career by working with bacteria. She grew up in Zimbabwe, before moving to the UK at the age of 17 and training as an architect at Edinburgh University. Subsequently though, she changed tack and completed her MA on the Material Futures course at London’s Central Saint Martins. Now through her experimental studio, Faber Futures, she operates between biology, design and our wider society, working, for instance, with microorganisms to find new, ecologically-sound, processes for dying our clothes. As one magazine put it: ‘For Chieza, designing with biology presents unique opportunities to address significant ecological challenges, squaring the circle of sustainable production and finite resources.’ Her work has been exhibited in places such as the V&A, the London Design Museum, and the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation. She also has a wildly successful TED talk under her belt. More recently she has set up a multi-media storytelling platform with Ginkgo Bioworks, entitled Ferment TV, looking at the future of synthetic biology, Covid 19, Black Lives Matter and an array of other issues.In this episode we discuss: growing up in Zimbabwe; racism in the design world; changing the way we consume; learning to work with bacteria; and why our future is biological. It’s kind of eclectic but hugely important.Discover more about Natsai here.And you can find out more about me and sign up to my newsletter here.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/materialmatters)
Natsai Audrey Chieza is Founding Director of Faber Futures, a multidisciplinary design agency operating at the intersection of nature, technology, and society. “I’m interested in futures, and I’m interested in how we actually structurally make changes that can bring forward futures that are more equitable. My approach is to, if you like, be what we think [the future] is. It is through this process of doing that you can better articulate how you think it could work. It is through the process of doing that you can actually build a network to make it work. This goes back to the decision to put the speculative aside and start just being it through practice. This became a necessary and strategic device to get shit done, because then you are in the lab, making and experimenting and someone is going to want to know more.”
Kan du lave mad af luft? Kan du kommunikere med fisk med lys? Skal din næste kjole designes af en bakterie? Mød vinderne af årets INDEX:Award.Kan design forbedre vores liv? Det mener folkene bag INDEX:Award. #designtoimprovelife er missionen for den internationale designpris, som har hjemme i København. Siden 2005 er prisen blevet uddelt til design af teknologi, som gør livet bedre for mange. Og her tænkes ikke på gode stole eller smukke lamper, men på designløsninger som kan give højere livskvalitet og nye muligheder for verdens fattigste.Mød finske Solarfoods, der laver proteinpulveret Solein af el, luft og vand. Britiske Pisces, der "taler" med fisk via LED og forhindrer overfiskning. Og britisk Project Coelicolor, som arbejder med bakterier og syntetisk biologi for at gøre modebranchen mere bæredygtig. Medvirkende:Pasi Vainikka, CEO og Co-Founder, Solar FoodsDan Watson, Founder og CEO, SafetyNet Technologies. Natsai Audrey Chieza, founder, bio-designer og leder af Faber FuturesLink:INDEX:Award vindere https://theindexproject.org/
Meet the rock star fashion materials of the future: algae, bacteria and fungi. That’s according to Natsai Audrey Chieza, founder of biodesign consultancy Faber Futures, who spoke at BoF VOICES. To watch Natsai's talk at VOICES 2018 click here. Sign up for BoF’s Daily Digest newsletter here: http://bit.ly/BoFnews. Ready to become a BoF Professional? For a limited time, enjoy 25% discount on an annual membership, exclusively for podcast listeners. Simply, click here: http://bit.ly/2KoRRBH, select the Annual Package and use code PODCASTPRO at the checkout. For comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail: podcast@businessoffashion.com.For all sponsorship enquiries, it’s: advertising@businessoffashion.com.
Natsai Audrey Chieza is a designer on a mission -- to reduce pollution in the fashion industry while creating amazing new things to wear. In her lab, she noticed that the bacteria Streptomyces coelicolor makes a striking red-purple pigment, and now she's using it to develop bold, color-fast fabric dye that cuts down on water waste and chemical runoff, compared with traditional dyes. And she isn't alone in using synthetic biology to redefine our material future; think -- "leather" made from mushrooms and superstrong yarn made from spider-silk protein. We're not going to build the future with fossil fuels, Chieza says. We're going to build it with biology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Natsai Audrey Chieza est une créatrice en mission : réduire la pollution dans l'industrie de la mode tout en créant de beaux et nouveaux vêtements. Dans son laboratoire, elle a remarqué que la bactérie Streptomyces coelicolor produit un pigment d'un rouge-violet saisissant. Elle l'utilise à présent pour créer une audacieuse teinture grand-teint qui réduit le gaspillage d'eau et l'écoulement de produits chimiques par rapport aux teintures traditionnelles. Elle n'est pas la seule à utiliser la biologie synthétique pour redéfinir le futur de nos matières ; pensez au cuir fabriqué à partir de champignons et à du fil ultra-résistant à partir de protéine de soie d'araignée. « Nous n'allons pas construire le futur avec l'énergie fossile, affirme-t-elle. Nous allons le construire avec la biologie. »
Natsai Audrey Chieza es diseñadora de profesión, cuya misión es reducir la contaminación en la industria de la moda, al tiempo que crea maravillosas prendas para lucir. En su laboratorio, Chieza notó que la bacteria Streptomyces coelicolor produce un pigmento de un sorprendente color rojo púrpura, con el cual está desarrollando una tintura para telas, de colores intensos e indelebles. Esta tintura se diferencia de las tradicionales porque reducen el gasto de agua y el uso de químicos. Pero Chieza no es la única en valerse de la biología sintética para redefinir nuestro futuro material; hay otros emprendimientos que están haciendo "cuero" a partir de hongos y un hilo de alta resistencia a partir de la proteína de la araña de seda. Según Chieza, no lograremos construir el futuro con combustibles fósiles, sino con la biología.
Natsai Audrey Chieza é uma designer com um propósito: reduzir a poluição na indústria da moda e, ao mesmo tempo, criar novidades incríveis para vestirmos. Em seu laboratório, ela notou que a bactéria "Streptomyces coelicolor" produz um pigmento lilás avermelhado, que agora ela está usando para desenvolver um tingimento arrojado, com cores que não desbotam, que reduz o desperdício de água e a geração de resíduos químicos, comparado com os tingimentos têxteis tradicionais. E ela não está sozinha ao usar a biologia sintética para redefinir o futuro dos nossos materiais: imaginem só isso -- "couro" feito de cogumelos e fios super-resistentes feitos da proteína da seda da aranha. Não vamos construir o futuro com combustíveis fósseis, afirma Chieza. Vamos construí-lo com a biologia.
나차이 오드리 치자는 패션업계에서의 오염을 줄이면서도 멋진 옷들을 만들어내기위한 미션을 가진 디자이너입니다. 그녀는 실험실에서 스트렙토마이시스 코엘리컬러 (Streptomyces coelicolor) 박테리아가 적색-자주색 염료를 만드는것을 발견하고 현재 전통적인 염효에 비해 물 낭비와 화학 유거수를 줄이는 선명하고 염색이 빠른 패브릭 염료를 개발하는데 코엘리컬러 박테리아를 사용하고 있습니다. 물질적 미래를 재정의하기 위해 합성생물학을 사용하려는 것은 그녀 혼자만이 아닙니다. 생각해보세요 -- 버섯으로 만든 가죽과 거미줄의 단백질로 만든 튼튼한 실들을요. 화석연료로 우리의 미래를 건설하지 않을 것이라고 치자는 말합니다. 우리는 생물학으로 이루어낼 것입니다.
Natsai Audrey Chieza is a designer on a mission -- to reduce pollution in the fashion industry while creating amazing new things to wear. In her lab, she noticed that the bacteria Streptomyces coelicolor makes a striking red-purple pigment, and now she's using it to develop bold, color-fast fabric dye that cuts down on water waste and chemical runoff, compared with traditional dyes. And she isn't alone in using synthetic biology to redefine our material future; think -- "leather" made from mushrooms and superstrong yarn made from spider-silk protein. We're not going to build the future with fossil fuels, Chieza says. We're going to build it with biology.