Emma van der Leest is a Dutch designer and pioneer in the field of biodesign. She combines design, science and sustainability to create innovative solutions. After graduating from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, she discovered her passion for biotechnology and bio-based materials. Her work centres on the use, application and research of biological systems, such as mycelium and bacteria, as sustainable alternatives to traditional materials.

Through her designs, Emma strives for a circular production chain in which waste is minimised and natural processes are harnessed. In 2015, she founded BlueCity Lab, an experimental incubator in Rotterdam where makers and thinkers collaborate on sustainable innovations. Alongside her design practice, she is active as a speaker, curator and lecturer, thereby raising awareness of biodesign.

Emma’s work has been exhibited internationally and she is recognised as an influential voice in the transition towards more sustainable design. By combining creativity with science, she inspires a new generation of designers to see nature as an ally.

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