Design and living organisms. Grow-made processes of biocompatible materials

The application of Nature Inspired Design Strategies, such as Biomimicry, which considers natural systems as a paradigm for sustainability, is generating exciting results in recent years, and it offers designers alternative perspectives for the generation of hybrid artefacts. Therefore, this contribution aims to investigate how Design plays a central role in the diffusion of alternative and sustainable production models. In particular, focusing on the latest experiments related to the production processes of biocompatible materials that utilize the self-assembly properties of living organisms: the use of algae and bacteria, the cultivation of mycelia on substrates for the production of biomaterials. Furthermore, this contribution aims to investigate how knowledge can be shared for the development of alternative models for the manufacture of biocompatible materials. In detail, the contribution aims to provide an overview of the different approaches taken, to investigate the potential of growing material production methods and to analyze the role that designers play in the development of new materials and processes for sustainable production.