[WORKSHOP] Living Organisms in Material Production - by Lara Campos

image: micrograph of the surface of the Scoby mushroom, cc by Yuliya prof

It’s time to bring some more life to our biomaterial lab!

Join us for a unique, hands-on workshop exploring how to collaborate with living materials — led by designer and material researcher Lara Campos.

Overview

What if materials weren’t just passive resources? In this workshop, we’ll explore Scoby – the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast used in Kombucha brewing – not as waste, but as a powerful, living binder for biobased materials.

Together with Lara Campos, we’ll dive into new, eco-centric approaches to material making, grounded in ethical, multi-species collaboration.

What to Expect

• Introduction to Scoby and its role in biodesign

• Exploration of local and seasonal materials

• Hands-on experimentation with 3 different bio-material samples

• Insights into the ethics of working with living organisms in design

Lara will share her own framework for responsible, multi-species design — developed through years of research and creative practice.

Our Critical Biomass lab can only host 20 curious minds. Sign up now!

Practical Info

• Date: June, 7 2025

• Time:  14:00-18:00

• Location: Critical Biomass Lab at Timelab

• Capacity: Max. 20 participants

• Fee: 100 euro (incl VAT and materials)

• Language: English