Microbial.Studio is a framework to work with microorganisms to explore new design applications from growing pigments to making biodegradable products.

This website intends to function as a repository of design experiments, which can be reproduced in a studio in safe and ethical ways. We grow raw ingredients, make compostable materials, and work with microbial labor to make ecologically-friendly and less-extractive designs.

The project is initiated by researchers and designers from University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design. Our case studies are developed with a number of collaborators across different institutions. Please visit individual experiments for full credits.