Material, Color, & Care: A Biodesign Methodology

The materials we choose are an essential part of biodesign; materials may be grown from living systems or sourced from natural ecosystems. To avoid creating similar climate problems with equally damaging or worse consequences, biodesigners can’t simply replace synthetic materials with bio-based ones - they need to consider nature as a partner. The culture of making an object, using and disposing of it will need to shift to a culture of care, empathy, partnership and sometimes a release of control. Biodesign has potential to disrupt current design systems and practices, however it is still a niche discipline yet to be integrated in traditional design pedagogy. I propose designing with a materials, color, care (MCC) philosophy to replace the traditional CMF (color, material, finish) approach.The MCC approach changes the focus from aesthetics and manufacturing to material lifecycle for climate-positive design. Materials, colors and finishing can be made with biological methods and natural biomass. Additionally, we can develop new rituals which care for our living collaborators. The biodesigner can translate the MCC methodology into any discipline, and ideally works collaboratively across fields. Hands-on research is essential to understanding a nonhuman collaborator and reconnect designers with the material source. The perspective of a biodesigner who has intimately worked with a species and understands its sentience, habits and needs, is better equipped to develop respectful systems-level change for all stakeholders. MCC can help integrate biodesign philosophy into traditional design education, training the next generation of designer to work in tandem with natural systems.