You are listening to Behind the Design the Studio Lessons. Which brings us to the end of season 4. I want to thank all of my guests for taking the time to chat and give us a behind the scenes look into their design journeys.

We’ve had some truly insightful conversations. And despite the uncertainty that continues to surround us at the time of recording there is a lot of hope and optimism and just getting on with things because we cannot and will not let a pandemic stop us from expressing ourselves and achieving our potential.

This is episode #5 where I am joined by designer Natsai Audrey Chieza.

ABOUT Natsai:

Natsai is a designer working at the intersection of technology science and nature and society. She is the founder of Faber Futures an R & D agency that is creating new spaces and strategies that relate to climate change and biodiversity loss, and the social structures that underpin our human survival. In our conversation, Natsai explains bio-design talking us through this exciting emerging technology and the implications it has on devising and creating better sustainable design solutions for our world.

We talk about:

• The meaning of bio-design and why it matters
• Looking at alternatives to harmful materials and substances such as plastic and petroleum
• Finding solutions to problematic processes on an environmental and social level
• Cultivating and designing with living organisms
• What is it like to work with biology in a creative context where you start and what do you do
• Working with nature not against it
• The correlation between design and science how the two meet
• How she got into bio-design
• The real-world applications of bio-design and the other materials that can be created and applied
  the problems of fashion being a heavily polluting industry
• Responsible production in industry
• Why Natsai chose to start her company Faber Futures
  How having her own practice enables her to explore her ideas and work with the right teams and clients

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

MA Central St Martins
University College London
Adidas x Stella McCartney
Bolt Threads developed Mylo in partnership with Ecovative
TEDTalk Fashion Has A Pollution Problem - Can Biology Fix It?
CooperHewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
The Design Museum
Gingko BioWorks
Central St Martins MA Biodesign
Bio-Integrated Design (Bio-ID) Bartlett School of Architecture
BioDesign Challenge
Global Community Bio Summit MIT

Where you can go to find out more about Natsai and Faber Futures:

https://faberfutures.com

Get the full show notes at: www.atelier55design.com/podcast 

Behind the Design is brought to you by atelier 55

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This is episode #4 where I am joined by object designer and academic Dr Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri.

ABOUT Pam:

Pam is a multi-award-winning accessories designer, educator, and author, with her own label called Vanhu Vamwe. Her experiences of working with artisans and feeling personally part of the problem of exploiting vulnerable communities led Pam to study a PhD where she could explore the impact designers working with artisans have on their lives and how to make the process better by bringing true, sustainable value to these communities.

We talk about:

• The struggle with having too many ideas, choosing what to focus on, and managing her time will juggling multiple projects
• The creativity of discipline
• Quitting her job and going back to university to study fashion
• Not being allowed  to explore her creativity as a child, and the changing attitudes to pursuing a creative career particularly for those from an African background
• The role of culture and the futuristic aspect of her designs
• Her thoughts on cultural appropriation and finding common ground
• How sustainable design shows up in her work and the need to be transparent in her work with different cultures
• The difference between partnerships and collaboration
• How your attitude shapes your work
• Doing her country proud, and being recognised as a designer and not just a black designer
• How accountability partners and her faith help to keep her grounded
• Publishing a book
• How she challenges herself to grow and develop her craft
  
  

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

Loughborough University
Nottingham Trent Design School
Abury
A Woman with No Country

Where you can go to find out more about Pam and her work:

Vanhu Vanmwe

Get the full show notes at: www.atelier55design.com/podcast 

Behind the Design is brought to you by atelier 55

Continue the conversation, follow atelier 55 on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atelier55design/

Instagram: @atelier55design

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/atelier55design/