Design and Biofacture, Horizon 2050:
Carole Collet is a researcher, designer and curator whose main interest lies in exploring biological principles and living technology through design to create a more resilient future. After pioneering and directing the MA Textile Futures course at Central Saint Martins College for 10 years, Carole is now a full time Reader and Deputy Director of the Textile Futures Research Centre at Central Saint Martins College, University fo the Arts, London.
Design Philosophy and Design Practice:I believe that design can be a meaningful interface between people, planet and technology. My interest is in exploring the potential of emerging scientific fields and disruptive technologies through the lens of design to develop new proposals for a sustainable future. My current key focus is to investigate how synthetic biology and living technology can radically change the way we design our everyday products now and tomorrow. What are the ethical implications of biotechnologies and how should designers engage with this new practice?
“The enthusiasm with which Collet embraces science is pioneering an exiting new direction for textile practice. As she straddles the divide between nature and science, moves between playful expression and intellectual discourse and works within a vast repertoire of materials, Collet seems to be creating a new discipline where design, science and sustainability meet.”
(Textile Futures, Bradley Quinn, Berg 2010)
I develop design led research projects for the short, medium and long term futures through:
Speculative Design Research: research into key drivers such as technology trends, environmental challenges, population growth and migration, development of speculative design proposals for design exhibtions.
Applied Research and Design Projects: Design projects for exhibtion or for R&D
Publishing: peer reviewed conference papers, articles for exhibition catalogues or on line contribtion
Exploratory Design Workshops: Over the past 10 years i have run design workshops for students, designers and scientists to explore new design territories informed by the cross pollination of design and science disciplines.
Curation of Exhibitions/Events:I am currently curating ‘En Vie, Le Design Ultime?’ an exhibition for the Espace EDF Fondation, opening in Paris in April 2013.
Public Talks and Debates.