Systematic material experimentation with photosynthetic biomineralisation across waste substrates for circular product design

Authors

• Hyejo Shin, Living Systems Lab, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, London N1C 4AA, United KingdomFollow
• Lorraine Archer, Living Systems Lab, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, London N1C 4AA, United Kingdom; Algal Innovation Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, United KingdomFollow
• Matt Malpass, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, London N1C 4AA, United KingdomFollow
• Carole Collet, Living Systems Lab, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, London N1C 4AA, United KingdomFollow

Abstract

In response to escalating planetary challenges, circular bioeconomy frameworks are increasingly vital for sustainable resource management. Biomineralisation, a natural process in which organisms produce inorganic materials, has been extensively studied in engineering but remains underutilised in circular product design. This paper investigates systematic material experimentation with photosynthetic biomineralisation across diverse waste substrates for circular product design. Through a practice-based biodesign methodology integrating biological protocols with design experimentation, the study developed a material sample collection of eleven waste substrates biomineralised by cyanobacteria. The findings reveal that the type of waste substrate influences material formation, consolidation, and aesthetic qualities, informing distinct design potentials. By translating circular bioeconomy frameworks into design practices, this research expands the potential of photosynthetic biomineralisation approaches within biodesign. It demonstrates how design inquiry can mediate between scientific and creative practices to generate new material knowledge for circular futures.

Keywords

biomineralisation, cyanobacteria, circular product design, biodesign

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1528

Citation

Shin, H., Archer, L., Malpass, M., and Collet, C. (2026) Systematic material experimentation with photosynthetic biomineralisation across waste substrates for circular product design, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.1528

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License