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Fungal Fusion 🍄
 Embracing Biomimicry in Visual Design

︎︎︎Overview


This portfolio of experiments investigates the possibilities of integrating biomimicry into the field of visual design. With a focus on fungi, these experiments explore alternative methods for creating typefaces and grid layouts

︎ Experiments

1. Mycelium Cultivation Typography

︎︎︎Experiment Log 1A
︎︎︎Experiment Log 1B
︎︎︎Extended Methodology

    ︎︎︎Alphabet Archive (1A)

    ︎︎︎Alphabet Archive (1B)


2. Mushroom Kit Grid System

︎︎︎Experiment Log 2A
︎︎︎Extended Methodology


3. Mycelium Formation Radial Layout

︎︎︎Experiment Log 3A
︎︎︎Experiment Log 3B
︎︎︎Extended Methodology
Mycelium Formation Radial Layout

3. Extended Methodology


An extended methodology presenting the photographic documentation, detailed processes, and an Observation Log recording the observations and reflections for experiments 3A and 3B.


NOTEBOOK


Mycelium Growth from DAY 1 - DAY 30

DAY 2 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 13 DAY 16 DAY 24 DAY 30



PAPER STOCKS


Mycelium Growth from DAY 1 - DAY 13

Pearl Giant Oyster on Cardboard




DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 13


Pearl Giant Oyster on Watercolour Paper




DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 7 DAY 13


Reishi on Watercolour Paper




DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 13


Reishi on Copy Paper




DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 13



Process:


On Notebook
  1. Boil 500ml of water
  2. Place the book in the watertight container. Once the water has been boiled, instantly pour the water in the container until the book is fully submerged.
  3. Use a heavy cup or weight to continuously submerge the book underwater.
  4. Wait until the water has cooled to room temperature. If you try adding your mushroom spawn too soon, the heat could damage and kill it. So you need to allow it to cool down to room temperature first.
  5. Break up the mushroom spawn into small pieces and place as much mushroom spawn as possible between the pages.
  6. Depending on the size and thickness of the book, add spawn layers to every page or every 20 pages.
  7. Be sure to compress the book slightly between each layer.
  8. This will make sure the spawn has good contact with the pages. It’ll help ensure the mycelium will be able to feed on nutrients in the pages.
  9. Once you've filled the book with mushroom spawn, place the book into the ziplock bag.
  10. Seal off the bag and leave in a dark, humid area. In this experiment, the bags have been placed into a closed shoebox next to a large sunny window. Leave the bag to incubate and grow mycelium.
On Paper
  1. Repeat steps 1- 4, however replace the book with the sheets of paper.
  2. Place each sheet of paper into a ziplock bag each.
  3. Break up the mushroom spawn into small pieces and place as much mushroom spawn as possible on each sheet of paper lying flat down.
  4. Make sure to segregate the spawn well all over each page.
  5. Label each ziplock with the mushroom spawn species and paper stock used. Make sure this label does not cover the paper. Writing the label on a piece of masking tape allows it to be removable and easily adjusted.
  6. Seal off the bag and leave in a dark, humid area. In this experiment, the bags have been placed into a closed shoebox next to a large sunny window. Leave the bag to incubate and grow mycelium.


Observation Log 3A + 3B