Fungi a la design

Fungi – à la Design

Exploring Aesthetics & Tactility in Mycelium Materials

In my Bachelor’s thesis Fungi – à la Design, I investigated how surface treatments can make mycelium-based materials more attractive and accessible for design products.

Mycelium has enormous potential: it is biodegradable, non-toxic, and can be grown locally on agricultural residues with minimal resources. It offers properties such as strength, insulation, and fire resistance—making it a promising alternative to plastics like Styrofoam. Yet, despite these advantages, mycelium has not reached widespread market acceptance. One reason: its natural look and feel often do not align with contemporary aesthetic expectations.

Through a series of experiments, I developed a small design collection that tests different surface treatments and aesthetics. The goal: to discover how tactile and visual qualities can enhance mycelium’s appeal, making it a material not only for sustainable innovation but also for desirable design objects.

This project seeks to bridge the gap between scientific material research and product design—showing how fungi can shape the future of sustainable materials.