Upgrade Yourself Monthly: How to Grow Sustainable Materials Through Biodesign
Join us for our November Upgrade Yourself Monthly with biodesigners BLUNIK studios to explore where science meets creativity. If you’re interested in the future of sustainable design – this one is for you.
For 18-30 year olds
| Dates | Wed 4 Nov 2026 |
| Times | 6–9pm |
| Space | River Rooms New Wing |
| Price | Free |
Please note this event is for 18–30-year-olds.
Curious about the ways in which art interacts with science? In this workshop and talk we'll be exploring what bio-design is and the creative pathways into it. You'll get an introduction into bio-design approaches, including DIY labs and how you can work with living organisms to create materials and colour, followed by a hands-on workshop using microbial-grown leather from waste materials to create a sample you can take home.
Join us to:
- Discover pioneering research led by Imperial College London and the Living Construction Group on producing microbial-grown leather from waste materials*
- Gain hands-on experience working with living materials through processes such as pattern-making and heat pressing.
- Explore how regenerative design principles can inform your own creative practice.
- Create your own unique biomaterial sample to take home.
Please note: No prior experience needed- this is a dynamic and fun intro for creatives.
As always, free drinks and food provided by Butch Salads will be available throughout the evening.
* This research is part of the UKRI BBSRC Sustainable Style Project: Sustainable Style for Clean Growth: Innovating Textile Production through Engineering Biology
✨ And here’s the bonus:
All attendees will receive a free ticket to SKATE at Somerset House – one of London’s most iconic winter experiences. Glide across the ice in a stunning cultural setting, surrounded by music, lights, and the magic of the season.
To get involved in the session, please sign up below:
To get involved in the session, please sign up below.
Sign up will close 10am Tuesday 20 October 2026, successful participants will be notified by Wednesday 21 October 2026.
While we’d love to host everyone, places are limited. We’re committed to championing underrepresented groups within the creative industries and will prioritise applicants from these groups. If you're chosen, you'll need to confirm your attendance - otherwise, your spot may be offered to someone else. Please check your spam folder!
About BLUNIK Studios (Weronika Turowska)
Weronika Turowska is a biodesigner, material researcher, and maker. She is a graduate of the MA Biodesign programme at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, and currently works as a Senior Research Assistant within the HBBE Living Construction Group at Northumbria University. She is part of the UKRI BBSRC-funded project Sustainable Style for Clean Growth: Innovating Textile Production through Engineering Biology. Through UAL’s MEAD Fellowship, she additionally explores ways of making biodesign knowledge more accessible by developing design-oriented protocols and alternative approaches that enable designers to engage with living matter beyond traditional laboratory environments.
with thanks to The Linbury Trust