“Digested Objects” By Will Elliott

Grand Designs Live, opened this weekend with an enthusiastic cohort of 25 Green Grads. Barbara Chandler and Michael Czerwinski founders of Green Grads comment:

“Our vision is to fuel UK environmental action with new talent from UK Universities.”

There are now 150 Green Grads listed on their website and they come from a wide range of disciplines, from art to engineering, materials innovation, animation, graphics, ceramics, glass, textiles, fashion, interior design and architecture.

New for 2024 is a trail-blazing installation of groundbreaking bio-designers, showcasing their work, learning from nature, working with its living organisms, embracing its systems, and using natural resources.

Stars of the show include: Cyanoskin, carbon-guzzling algae paint, algae-filled “living furniture” by Peter Nasielski, and our ‘one to watch’, Will Elliott’s chair “designed by mealworms” 3D printed by Sandhelden using their unique 3D printing sand technology. Will’s post here, gives insight into his process for his first iteration of the chair with the mealworms as his ‘design collaborators’, watch they digest blocks of polystyrene injected with sugar trails to map out the chairs shape. Attracted by the sugar, the mealworms created extra tunnels, adding an unplanned element to the design. The tunnels were then cast, scanned, and manipulated on the computer into their distinctive “sliced” shape.

Will has recently secured Arts Council funding and set up the Biocrafting Studio which uses a combination of scientific rigour and craft techniques to define creative processes for collaborating with nature.

Grand Designs runs until 12th May at Excel London with more information here.

Photograph by Kelly Hill

Following the theme of biodesign, a reminder that the Roca London Gallery ‘Biospaces: Regenerative Resilient Futures’ is now open.

Water lily table by Michael Pawlyn 3D printed PLA. This table is part of Exploration Architect’s work on display at this new exhibition.

Later this month… Jay Blades’ Craftworks launches at Shoreditch Town Hall

Honour the Past | Celebrate the Present | Secure the Future

A free to attend trade show exhibiting the very best of craft — for buyers & designers to explore. If you’re a collector, an interior designer, an architect, a retail or hospitality buyer or someone who appreciates and purchases beautiful pieces of craft – this trade show is the perfect opportunity to discover one of a kind pieces and bespoke collections.

15 - 17th May Register here!

Take a look at what to expect at Clerkenwell Design Week 21-23 May.

Conversations at Clerkenwell

Three days of topical talks featuring industry leaders and emerging talent.

Curated by Katie Richardson, there will be presentations and focused interviews, reflecting a wide range of creative concepts, products and projects. Aiming to explore where design can make a difference, to people, and to our planet.

Just two of our picks from the array of Conversations at Clerkenwell are:

Design Council Presents - Re-Industry: Designing a world of Mass Circularity.

‘With less and less of our waste going back into production and more new materials being mined, we are moving in the wrong direction. How can design help us to “Re-Industry” using tools such as big data and AI to shape consumer behaviour and create circular business models that will drive the green transition.’

Sophie Thomas will be part of this panel discussion on 21st May 14.00 - 15.00

And

Green Grads Presents Designers Den

Green Grads will present a very special edition of their infamous Designers Den. Five designers will pitch their real-life ideas to industry experts: Anglepoise, Another Country, Camira Fabrics, Ercol and Viaduct, along with Nick Munro as their veteran King Komodo!

May 22nd 3-5pm sign up here!

Clerkenwell Design Week, register to visit.

Finally, have you seen our friends at Wild Farmed on Jeremy Clarkson's Farm?

“Yes, Jeremey farming regeneratively with Wildfarmed, means planting two species in the same field ….'“ Mindset shifting in action!

Their story begins in a field in France, where Andy Cato, one-half of the iconic duo Groove Armada, sold his music rights to buy a farm after reading about the horrors of the industrial food system. For years, he toiled, tested, and developed farming methods that now underpin the Wildfarmed Regenerative Standards.

Fast forward to 2018, and Wildfarmed was formed when Andy joined forces with Edd Lees and George Lamb to found a business designed to transform lives and landscapes by producing delicious, healthy, and regenerative flour, bread, pizza, and everything in between.

Today, their team is partnering with bakeries, restaurant chains, and supermarkets, and working with over a hundred growers, spreading the buzz of the birds, bugs, and bees to fields across the land.

Check out Andy and George in episode 2 of the brand new season of Clarksons Farm out this week!

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