VEGTOPIA

Materials play a crucial role for most product designers, forming the foundation of every creation we bring to life. We often work with processed wood panels, pour ceramic slip into plaster molds, and 3D print using bio-plastic filaments. However, we are largely disconnected from the full journey that raw materials undergo – from planting and harvesting to crushing and processing – long before they ever reach our workshop tables.

In the VEGTOPIA project, I set out to create my own material supply using natural resources that anyone can grow or simply buy at a local grocery store: fruits and vegetables. After an extensive period of experimentation, I developed a technique that enabled me to craft flexible surfaces made from cooked, dried, and pressed layers of lettuce, cabbage, apples, and radish. Once the production process was complete, I preserved the finished surfaces using a bio-based coating material. The result of this experimentation was a fully functional collection, including four wallet designs, face masks, coasters, a small bowl, and a napkin ring. Each object, through its unique aesthetic, provokes reflection on production processes, resource use, and the balance between the natural and artificial environments we inhabit.