Project: Sustainable capsule
This project explores memories through unconventional, sensory packaging design. Focusing on experimental methods, the series makes abstract recollections tangible. For the package material I decided to use mycelium — a sustainable, biodegradable fungal network. The capsule-like structure represents a protective vessel for memories. The design resulted from an intensive material-driven process, where I researched the growth patterns and structural limits of the living organism under varying environmental conditions. This intuitive, experimental approach transformed the unpredictable nature of the material into a functional, organic form.
As part of my packaging course, I developed a packaging design centered on the overarching theme of "memories." I broke this theme down into four companies, with each of the four packages interpreting a different sensory impression. My focus was on unconventional packaging methods and an experimental approach. All of the designs highlight the different human senses, making them tangible and experiential. Scents are closely linked to memories — a familiar smell can instantly transport us back to past moments. This phenomenon forms the basis of my first packaging design: a perfume packaging dedicated to my mother's favorite scent. The packaging is made from mycelium. This sustainable, biodegradable material grows into its shape and structure, giving the packaging an organic, almost living quality. The form is reminiscent of a protective capsule that preserves the scent — just as memories rest safely within our consciousness.
Developing the perfume packaging was a highly experimental process, with the material itself at the center of my design exploration. Since I had never worked with this material before, my process began with an intensive phase of experimentation, research, and observation. I built, pressed, and molded various shapes to find out how the mycelium behaves in different structures — how it grows, spreads, compacts, or forms irregularly. I was able to observe how the material's surface changed within just a few days — how it discolored, hardened, or stayed soft — and how strongly external conditions (humidity, air, temperature) influenced this process. This hands-on approach allowed me to get to know the material intuitively and understand its possibilities and limitations. Some results were unpredictable, while others led to new ideas and ways of thinking. The final shape — a capsule-like structure — is the result of numerous trials.
