Experimental Design
Materials have long provided fertile ground for design experimentation, from material-driven design practices, material exploration to the emergence of the material designer. The changing role of materials themselves, from source of design inspiration to the very means of a technology, has led to materials being attributed living qualities such as agency, behavior and intelligence. Experimentation, whether in the form of setting up and conducting an experiment or experimental play, increasingly finds multiple entry points in the designer’s playbook, reinvigorating the relationship between designers, materials and tools as well as catalyzing new design practices and imagined futures.
Cabbage Plastic
recipe:
60ml water
6g starch
6g gelatin
6g glycerin
Inspired by the Slow Painting Studio display at 2022 Fuoresalone, this project investigated the potential of red cabbage pigment when introduced into a bioplastic recipe. The cabbage’s pigment is pH reactant, meaning it will change from its base purple when different levels of acidic or alkaline solutions are added. The idea behind this experiment is to see if cabbage pigment can be used and further researched as an indication tool for pH levels in various solutions and/or environments.
We also experimented with our bioplastic recipe ratios to see if and how the swatches would dry and react if imbedded with patterns. The photos below show patterns (pigmented with chili powder as a placeholder for the cabbage solution) at various times in the drying process. The chili powder solution indicates a recipe with no glycerin, while the clear plastic contains the full recipe below. Removing the glycerin makes the plastic more rigid, encouraging the sheets to curl as they dry.
Process
After several hours of simmering raw red cabbage in water, we experimented with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar as acids and baking soda as a base. The acid turned the deep purple liquid to vibrant shades of pink, while raising the pH level resulted in bright blues and greens.
