AWARD YEAR
2021
CATEGORY
Play & Learning
GOALS
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption & Production, Life On Land
KEYWORDS
Toy, biomaterial, development, mycelium
COUNTRY
United States of America
DESIGNED BY
Emily Takara, Trisha Sathish, Anne Hu
WEBSITE
https://giybiobuddies.weebly.com/
GIY BIO BUDDIES KIT
simple explorations with biomaterials will spark interest in sustainable design
The Grow It Yourself GIY Bio Buddies Kit is a speculative kit that includes the materials and instructions necessary to engage people of all ages and experiences in biomaterial explorations. The kit focuses on growing and creating with kombucha leather, aka SCOBY, and mycelium, the root like structure of mushrooms.
We believe that simple explorations with biomaterials will spark interest in sustainable design. Phrases like "engineering", "technology", and "biodesign" can seem intimidating. Our goal is to create a playful biodesign experience that makes science more accessible for everyone, especially children. Through our explorations with the biomaterials kombucha leather and mycelium, we are working to design an engaging, approachable, and fun toy kit.
If we're going to fight the plastic problem, we need to start at the roots: toys. We grow up with plastic toys that we throw away after a year; No one thinks twice about the plastic waste generated by toys.