reflection
National Geographic
Our first idea for the Studio Biodesign Challenge course was to address single-use plastic cups. Probably every other designer on the planet has thought about it and actually achieved some kind of success. But as we started our research we saw that either it had been done through a bioplastic or it was a challenge that was not so exciting for us.
National Geographic
We began to look at working with San Cristobal, a marginalized community on the outskirts of Bogotá. A typical poor Colombian town that lacks basic water and electric infrastructure resulting in extreme habitational issues for the community. Inherent geographic isolation and suspicion of outsiders proposed solutions made the community difficult to work in any form of continuity. The problem manifested in an eight-week effort vaporizing and no project results to show. We had to start again from zero.
Finally after reading the paper Caulobacter crescentus (2012) we had a sudden insight, the kind when you know you have found a valuable in your hands. Natalia’s family owns a shoe factory and she was aware of the manufacturing process and one innate flaw, the glue. The invisible agent that medium that holds a shoe together. As we researched the footwear industry we found many unpleasant facts, and adhesives kept drawing our attention. We saw an opportunity to create a bio-designed adhesive that would not be an occupational hazard and be free of an environmental impact. Although our concept and process began much later in the semester than our fellow students, we felt our idea was strong and dedicated all our energy. Unfortunately, the quarantine was ordered on March 16 as we began to start experiments and prototypes in labs and workshops at Los Andes. Nonetheless, we maintained effort and continued our project virtually. We are very excited to continue with Vivifica and hope to reach a working prototype in the future.