Lecture: GROWING DESIGN – THE NATURAL ALCHEMY OF BECOMING

Partnering with Funga to deliver a re-generative material culture

We live in a time of separation, from fellow humans as well as from Nature. The Anthropocene, as inevitable result of core factors such as mankind's activities and overall selfish behaviors, is dominantly impacting on climate, ecosystem and society at large, as we face major disruptions and challenges such as - to name few - the extinction of entire species, the loss of biodiversity, the depletion of natural resources, the incremental increase of global temperatures, increasing inequalities, perpetrated discriminations, etc. As part of this complex condition, one thing is for sure: the future isn't about erecting barriers, but it is rather about learning to come together, understanding our relationship to Nature and its many agents, deciphering their interconnected functioning and becoming once again pivotal part of it all.

Based on such context, the keynote presentation will function as space for inspiration, critical reflections, factual demonstrations, and collective creative production, encouraging the audience to actively engage in questioning dominant narratives and traditional production paradigms.

By diving into the kingdom of Fungi and unraveling some of the opportunities that emerge from processes of active entanglement and cooperation with such skilful teachers and companions, we will jointly explore how their very body – and the transitionally regenerative processes that fungal mycelium embodies and triggers – can support us in promoting a radical paradigm shift, leading to a revised notion of growth, as deriving from radical transformations rooted in sensorial encounters. Thus, contributing to positively impact both human and non-human societies, seeking balance between the role of the individual and the complexity of the relational ecosystem he's immersed in.

Lecture: The Future is Fungi – co-creating the next era of environmental innovations for humanity

Lecture: Bio-Based to Brand Ready: Mycelium Materials for the Next Generation “Like fungi, startups grow in unexpected ways.

Join the founders of MycoFutures as they trace their path from a Newfoundland mushroom farm to a global biomaterial innovation company developing a mycelium-based leather alternative, with a mission to prove that prioritizing people and planet can also drive profit.

In this talk, they explore the ups and downs of building and scaling a circular startup, the value of storytelling and resilience, and the partnerships that helped them grow. With the launch of their first Austrian designer collaboration, they reflect on how the exciting intersection of science, business and sustainability is bringing new products to market. This talk offers a dual lens on running a business inspired by nature, with insights drawn from both the fungal world and the startup ecosystem.”