For 6 months, I worked extensively with a small inter-displiplinary team in a start-up environment to research, develop, and test a prototype to submit to the BioDesign Challenge, a global innovative competition. As a designer on the team, I mainly led art direction and developed branding while assisting with research, experiments, and testing.

After many weeks of research, pivoting ideas, and iteration, we prototyped a multi-layer biomaterial composed of lignin nanofibrils, natural fabric, and a durable water repellent (DWR) finish. Mimicking the multi-layer foundation of current outdoor gear, we replaced the use of harmful microplastics and synthetic materials with natural solutions. Our innovation reimagines the future of textiles by transitioning away from a reliance on synthetic materials by finding solutions in natural systems.

Laura Daily, Mikayla Matriano, Dana Mayfield

WINTER + SPRING 2023 • 20 WEEKS