With presentations by Biofabricate and speakers such as Raphael Kim, Ermi van Oers, Kit Baybrooke, Mark Post, and Maurizio Montalti, we delve into current themes such as biodesign and AI, bioenergy, empathic design, living materials, and systems change.

Suzanne Lee is a pioneer in biofabrication and founder of Biofabricate, a platform that connects designers and scientists to explore sustainable materials. She is known for her work with microbial cellulose, grown from bacteria for clothing and other applications. She advocates for biotechnology as a driver for more sustainable production processes.

Ermi van Oers is a biotech designer and founder of Nova Innova. She combines nature, science, and design in innovative projects like POND and Living Light. Her work, which has won 14 awards, strives for a renewed symbiosis between humans and nature and reveals the hidden intelligence of the living system.

Prof. Dr. Kit Braybrooke (they/them) is a designer, digital anthropologist, and head of the MA Transversal Design at IXDM Basel. Their work explores how technology enables more-than-human collaboration. Through fieldwork in areas such as hacker labs and the circular economy, they connect critical systems with co-creation. Kit leads We&Us and initiated Art Tech Nature Culture.

Professor Mark Post is a pioneer in cultured meat and tissue engineering. He presented the first cultured meat burger in 2013 and is chief scientific officer and co-founder of Qorium and MosaMeat. As a physician and professor, he has worked at Utrecht University, Harvard University, MIT, and Maastricht University, among others. His work connects medical innovation with sustainable food production and has received international recognition and funding.

Maurizio Montalti is a designer, researcher, and entrepreneur known for his groundbreaking work with mycelium. He is the founder of Officina Corpuscoli and Chief Mycelium Officer for SQIM, which develops biofabrication technologies for interiors, fashion, and mobility, among other applications. His work connects design and biotechnology and is recognized, exhibited, and awarded internationally.

Raphael Kim is the founder of Biodesign Academy, where he trains designers and scientists in the responsible application of AI in protein engineering and biodesign. With a background in biotechnology and interaction design, he connects science and design. He has held various academic roles at Imperial College London, Delft University of Technology, and the Royal College of Art. Based in Stockholm, he develops educational materials and advocates for sustainable and ethical innovation.

Emma van der Leest is a Dutch biodesigner, curator, and educator who works with organisms like mycelium and algae. She is the founder of BlueCity Lab and teaches internationally. Her work connects design, science, and sustainability and focuses on a circular future in which nature functions as a partner rather than a resource.

Jessie van Hattum is a moderator and expert in sustainability and food transition. With a background in behavioral change and experience as a sustainability expert at Albert Heijn, she helps companies move forward strategically. She leads discussions about climate and innovation with energy and depth, asks insightful questions, and translates complex themes into stories that truly resonate.

In fifteen years, biodesign has grown from a speculative design practice into a field where science, technology, and creativity intersect in a structured way. What began in DIY labs and academic circles has partly translated into industrial applications, with companies producing living materials like mycelium or cultured leather at scale. But this growth also brings challenges: life is not passive material. It demands care, empathy, and collaboration, with organisms and with each other.

The rise of AI adds a new layer to this. Algorithms help us simulate biological processes, but also raise fundamental questions about autonomy, responsibility, and more-than-human perspectives. And while the market cries for scaling up, true impact often lies in system change: rethinking values, infrastructures, and ownership.

At the same time, biodesign remains a cultural force. Artists and critical designers keep the field reflective, imaginative, and human. In this way, biodesign grows, not only as a discipline, but as a living ecosystem, constantly evolving, nourished by collaboration, speculation, and care.