This is grown. is a project by Jen Keane (US) first showcased at the ARS Electronica Festival 2019 in Linz, Austria. The designer was inspired by a dissatisfaction with plastics and a noticeable uniqueness between logical research and structure indications around natural materials. She uses a technique called 'microbial weaving' which is a new form of textile creation that could replace current the petrochemical based materials with progressively economical ones. Besides that, this technique could maybe even provide us with classifications of materials unheard of. 

Fortunately, I had the chance of seeing a grown upper part of a shoe in person, but, alas, did not meet its creator. The creative scientist had woven the warp of the shoe whilst the bacteria grew the weft, which is lightweight, transparent, and has extreme strength. This could bring real change to our material value systems and means of production. Jen Keane and this project inspire me more to work at the intersection of design and science, technology, and craft. 

The following images of this is grown. were made by me at the ARS Electronica Festival 2019. :)