More Than Food
"More Than Food" is a thesis project exploring the transformative potential of living materials, focusing on koji fungus to redefine sustainability within the home.
Rooted in the concept of the 'living room' as a dynamic space, this project explores themes of transformation, life cycles, and ecological coexistence. Using koji, traditionally a fermentation agent, as a medium, I developed a functional artifact—a lampshade made from koji-infused paper-mâché clay—that transforms over time in texture, color, and light diffusion. A cookbook and ritual handbook accompany the design, guiding users through the material's lifecycle.
This project taught me to embrace the unpredictability of living materials, enhancing my skills in material-driven design, autoethnography, and sustainable thinking. Failures during experimentation were critical learning points, leading to the successful development of a transformative material.
"More Than Food" reflects my passion for integrating ecological principles into design and fostering connections between humans and nature. It reaffirmed my belief that design can bridge living and non-living systems, inspiring users to engage with natural cycles in meaningful ways.
Expertise Areas
Designing artifacts like the lamp shade and accompanying handbook, focusing on transformation, impermanence, and ecological connection through the use of koji fungus.
Developing and refining the paper-mâché koji clay material and integrating it into functional artifacts that demonstrate its transformative properties.
Creating a ritual handbook and user-centered narratives to foster deeper connections between users, artifacts, and natural cycles.
