Exhibition & Book:
Collaborative & Conscious Material Design

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Exhibition

The international exhibition Collaborative & Conscious Material Design took place from 18 October to 19 December 2025 at KUMST, Brno. It presented innovative and environmentally responsible materials developed through interdisciplinary collaboration between designers, scientists, and engineers.



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The curated selection features cellulose-based vegan leather cultivated in coconut wastewater, an interactive bioplastic surface responding to UV radiation, stone waste biofabricated by photosynthetic microorganisms, yoga mats made from orange waste, binderless board material from common reeds, and cloud-structured fungal-textile composites.



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Collected through both direct invitations and an open call, the selected projects respond to pressing environmental challenges and push the boundaries of design, materials engineering, and science – showcasing the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in this evolving field – Material Design.



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Book

The exhibition is accompanied by the collective publication (Collaborative & Conscious Material Design) that uncovers the stories behind each project — the development journeys, team dynamics, and the synergies that made interdisciplinary collaboration possible. It highlights practical insights, proven approaches, and the challenges encountered along the way to creating sustainable material solutions. Beyond these case studies, the book also expands on the main themes through expert texts that offer deeper insights, historical context, and concrete examples of environmentally conscious material design.



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Structured into thematic sections, it combines theoretical reflections with practical perspectives, showing how interdisciplinary teams collaborated, what conditions supported their work, and how new sustainable materials were developed. The publication ultimately seeks to inspire both students and professionals to adopt sustainable principles and collaborative strategies in their own practice. Among several expert contributors, the book also featured Valentina Rognoli of Politecnico di Milano (MADE/TRANS, Italy), who also ceremonially launched the book.



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The exhibition and the accompanying publication are the result of the specific research project Collaborative & Conscious Material Design No. FaVU-J-25-8758, carried out at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Brno University of Technology, in 2025.

1 Graphic design credits: Svatopluk Ručka
2  Photo credits: Radek Trlica
3 Photo credits: Radek Trlica 
4 Photo credits: Radek Trlica   
5  Photo credits: Vojta Filko
6  Photo credits: Radek Trlica