Designing materials experiences through passing of time - Material driven design method applied to mycelium-based composites

As part of a research about the relationship between time and design through the topic of materials and processes, this paper presents experimentation on a novel material. New materials are emerging through a Do-It-Yourself approach encouraged by Open source behaviors and trans-disciplinary design. These materials become representative of new values, aesthetics and dynamics, which lead to an emotional bonding with the user and the designer. The need of applying a method suitable for the design of these materials is emerging. New tools for selecting, exploring and designing materials based on experience, senses and emotion are starting to be available and applied. Mycelium-based DIY material have a strong potential and might be a perfect candidate to experiment with an experience-based method, that is the Material Driven Design method. Through this method a material experience related to the passing of time and consistent with the material qualities and characteristics was developed. Combining a novel material with a novel method might lead to development both on the material and on the method itself.