Biomaterials for a Post-Petroleum Future

Explore the potential of biomaterials and develop projects for a future that’s no longer dependent on petroleum and plastics!

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Duration

5 Weeks

TBD

Location

Virtual

Self-paced

Register Until:

TBD*

*2024

Program Fee

TBD

Credentials

Certificate

Learn about Biomaterials and develop and pitch your own project!

Our planet is suffering from petroleum-based products and the systems that support them, but you as an aspiring biodesigner hold the key to a more sustainable future.

During this free 5-week course and design sprint, you’ll immerse yourself in our dynamic, interactive modules and collaborate with like-minded visionaries. Guided by experts, you’ll be introduced to biomaterials and learn how to make your own. Your mission: to craft and present a regenerative, post-petroleum project.

By participating in this challenge, you’ll gain profound insights into sustainable approaches to design, fueling your own portfolio. Plus, you’ll have a chance to pitch to a panel of experts and win a cash prize!

Your Design Journey:

Welcome and Introduction

Week 1:
The Petroleum Problem
Intro to Circular Design

Week 2:
Intro to Regenerative Design
Intro to Biomaterials

Week 3:
Microbiology for Biomaterials
Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology

Week 4:
Product Life Cycle Assessment
Making it Real

Week 5:
Preparing for Your Pitch
PITCH DAY!

What you’ll Learn:

Understand the “petroleum problem”, including how plastics are made and a deeper look into why these products and systems are harmful
An introduction to biomaterials (plant-based materials as well as materials made using synthetic biology and genetic engineering)
How to make your own biomaterials at home
Important skills and concepts in sustainable design such as regenerative development, planet-centric design, and circular design
How to conceptualize a project, conduct a life-cycle assessment, and how to visualize and present a design concept for your portfolio

Your Instructors

Genefer Baxter

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Marco Locatelli

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FAQs

Biomaterials are those materials derived from living organisms including plants, animals, and fungi. They can also be created by organisms or can be made in the lab from re-combinations of starter materials found in nature.
Biomaterials play a role in environmental sustainability as they can serve as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based materials, reducing environmental impact. Their unique properties make them indispensable in medicine, healthcare, and design, offering potential solutions for a range of challenges from health and well-being to ecological preservation.
This course is for aspiring sustainable designers, professional designers looking to upskill, and creatives/enthusiasts interested in sustainability and who want to make a positive impact on the environment. There is no age restriction for participation, and you do not need to have prior biodesign or design experience.
This Design Sprint is a process for innovation as well as a competition, in this case, used to introduce you to new biodesign and sustainability themes, as well as a tool for generating impactful ideas for design solutions. The goal of this Sprint is to explore ways to tackle the petroleum problem to build a more climate-positive future.
The design sprint will last one month between November 13th - December 13th, during which you will create a design proposal with the support of our free biomaterials e-course, expert network, and webinars. This proposal will be in the form of a presentation, through which you will visually convey your concept, process, and any testing you have done.
On December 15th, you will pitch your concept to a panel of judges, and on December 18th, we will announce the winners!
Although we highly encourage you to participate in the Design Sprint and conceptualize a project, you are not required to do so. If you would like to make a project, but do not want to pitch, that’s also ok! This is a free program designed to introduce you to new, sustainable approaches to design, and it is up to you how you use it.
You own whatever you design during the Design Sprint. Aula Future may use photos or descriptions of your work for marketing future design challenges. You can choose to opt-out by informing us via email.