Universidad de Buenos Aires
PROJECTS 2022
Smyko
Manuel Giménez Dixon, Gisela Tabacman, Martina Kolesnik, Nick Denham. Paula Morazzani
The project proposes biodegradable mycelium as a replacement for cellulose acetate in cigarette filters.
Antifreeze Puffballs
Marco Mancini, Delfina Freude, Clara Scoltore
This project tackles the issue of crops lost due to frost by creating a mechanism to disperse antifreeze proteins during cold weather.
InstructorS 2022
Heidi Jalkh
Heidi Jalkh is an experimental designer trained in Industrial Design. She was born in Medellín, Colombia and is currently based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her professional practice as a designer is the product of many interests: craft, bio-inspired material fabrication, interdisciplinary research, and teaching. Heidi sees materials as a creative trigger and her passion for them goes beyond their application. She is interested in material fabrication, exploring its variables, looking to accentuate functional and intangible aspects of materials that can emerge as sensory experiences. In her research she is interested in making significant connections between the fields of biology, design, and engineering with the aim of achieving a higher level of integration between form, behavior and material. In 2020, Heidi was selected to be part of the Global Community Bio Fellows Program, organized by the Community Biotechnology Initiative of the MIT Media Lab.
Leonardo Majul
Leonardo Majul is a researcher at the Institute of Mycology and Botany of the University of Buenos Aires. He completed his PhD and Licenciature in Biological Sciences at the UBA. In his thesis work he developed environmentally friendly wastewater treatments with White Rot Fungi. His research interests include fungal physiology and biotechnology, with projects that explore fungal enzyme production using cellulosic waste, new technologies for fungal solid-state fermentation and the ligninolytic enzyme production with white rot mushrooms. He leads biological research in the interdisciplinary group “Sistemas Materiales” of the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism at UBA, with a focus on the production of fungal biomass biomaterials. He is also a team member and science communicator of the “Fundación Hongos de Argentina para la Sustentabilidad” (Foundation Mushrooms of Argentina for Sustainability).
Lara Fernandez Vallone
Lara Fernandez Vallone is an Industrial Designer who graduated from the University of Palermo. She is a specialist in Logic and Technique of Form and is a member of the Latin American Association for the Studies of Form (ALEPH). Lara is a Professor at the University of Palermo in the field of Design of Objects and Products and is also part of the Degree Project Evaluation Team in the Faculty of Design and Communication. She is also a member of the Materials Systems Research group at UBA. Lara works as an independent designer providing design services to established companies, start-ups, and factories. She is specialized in complex products (medical, technological, informatics).
Agustina Ruiz
Agustina Ruiz is an Industrial Designer who graduated from the National University of Mar del Plata. Based in Buenos Aires since 2010, Agustina founded her design studio where she develops and creates different interdisciplinary projects for Argentina and Japan. She developed the brand 7RAYOS in 2015, where she designs and produces design products for the home. During the creative process, she explores materials, works on morphology, uses manual techniques, and incorporates new technologies and sustainable production processes. Her designs have obtained distinctions such as "Argentine Good Design Seal" and were exhibited in national and international events and exhibitions such as Wanted Design NYC, Design Festa Tokyo, NY Now, among others. Alongside her professional practices, Agustina is a design teacher in different universities and is currently part of the “Sistemas Materiales” research group, which seeks to develop biofabricated, bio-inspired, and responsive materials.
Gisela Pozzetti
Gisela Pozzetti is a textile designer graduated from the Universidad de Buenos Aires. She is a specialist in logic and technique of form and specializes in social and design trends. She is a professor at Universidad de Buenos Aires, UADE, and Universidad Nacional de las Artes in the fields of trends, textile and fashion design, textile and fashion history, and textile arts. Gisela works as an independent designer providing design services to established companies.
Teaching assistants 2022
Sofia Aristizabal Lanza
Sofia Aristisabal Lanza is an Industrial designer who graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. She was born in Bogotá, Colombia and currently lives in Argentina. Since 2019, she has been part of the research internship program of the Sistemas Mateiales group.
Natalia Ruiz
Natalia Ruiz was born in Nací en Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. She is a graphic designer from the University of Buenos Aires. She is specialized in UX design and she finds herself constantly studying to approach a more empathic and accessible design. Since 2019, she has been part of the research internship program of the Sistemas Mateiales group. Natalia currently works as a freelance designer generating brand design, identity for social networks and communication pieces for different fields.
Aldana Kremer
Aldana Kremer is a fifth-year student of Biological Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. She is currently directing her studies towards the area of biotechnology and her main interest is development from fungi and microorganisms. Under the coordination of Sistemas Materials, she participated in the Biodesign Challenge 2021 as part of the "Marsheets" team. Her project investigated the application of a halophyte from southern Argentina for the design of new foods.