Studio Lionne van Deursen is a material research and product design studio based in The Netherlands. In 2019 Lionne van Deursen graduated in spatial and graphic design at AKV. St. Joost. After she graduated she started Studio Lionne van Deursen to focus on experimental research to give insight in the possibilities of new materials. An ongoing project is a research to a material created by living microorganisms, bacterial cellulose. In the studio this organically grown material is developed and each product is handmade.
During fermentation bacteria spin nano fibers of cellulose and produce a layer on the surface. This biofilm is a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, also known as SCOBY. This biofilm becomes a solid material when dried. It’s biodegradable, strong, has a high flexibility and can easily be shaped and folded in any desired shape. The grown material is only dyed with sustainable dyes like natural pigments and dyes obtained from fruit and vegetables.
During fermentation bacteria spin nano fibers of cellulose and produce a layer on the surface. This biofilm is a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, also known as SCOBY. This biofilm becomes a solid material when dried. It’s biodegradable, strong, has a high flexibility and can easily be shaped and folded in any desired shape. The grown material is only dyed with sustainable dyes like natural pigments and dyes obtained from fruit and vegetables.
As a designer you get more responsibilities when it comes to sustainability. Applying new techniques create new materials that can replace conventional materials. It's not only about sustainable materials, but also about the use of a sustainable production process. In the studio, an organically grown material is developed and the products are handmade. During the design process, the material is used as efficiently as possible, leaving minimal waste of the grown material. The grown material is dyed with natural pigments.
