Kingdom Fungi capabilities as materials for design

Abstract

Background Living organisms such as algae, bacteria, and fungi are used to construct novel materials that offer possibilities for innovation. The article aims to explore mycelial growth and analyze the necessary conditions for its development and durability showing its visual potential as a material to be included in a design project. We have explored the aesthetic and metabolic opportunities offered by some species of filamentous fungi for the integration of this kingdom in the design and production of new materials. Methods Taking processes commonly implemented in biology and adopting them into design processes, we grow filamentous fungi and isolate them into pieces designed to display and ensure their natural development. The process was made through biological science methodology, preparing a PDA culture medium, optimal for the specific growth of these living organisms. The inoculation and incubation of some species of filamentous fungi, mainly of the species Fusarium Proliferatum, was carried out to generate a mother culture, exposing them to stress variables such as changes in temperature, incidence of sunlight, humidity, amount of oxygen received, among others. to generate differences in their morphology and pigmentation. Subsequently, the colonies obtained were transferred to each of the designed and prepared artifacts through spores transferred with a mycological loop. These artifacts were sealed to encapsulate the fungus and wait for the colonization of the piece. Results Perpetuity is evident after nine years of cultivation; the colonies remain in the container preserving their morphological character and the pigmentation presented from the beginning of incubation with a slight variation in the saturation of the colors. Conclusions Depending on the species of fungi used and the stimuli applied by the designer, a wide variety of textures, shapes, and colors can be propitiated, generating new product languages and artifacts where their aesthetic qualities are maintained over time.