Normal Phenomena of Life

Each time we inhale, roughly 50% of the oxygen drawn into our lungs was produced by algae. Combining expert craftsmanship with radical technology, this triptych of letterpress prints pays homage to the producers of this vital life source, representing, on paper, the role algae plays in converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. Limited edition of 24 triptychs. Designed, hand-set & printed letterpress by Smith's Rules. Black Algae offset ink by Living Ink 280gsm BFK Rives Grey printmaking paper 560x760mm. Only available at normalphenomena.life https://lnkd.in/ekuSkS7v #normalphenomenaoflife #thisisliving

We invited master printmaker Kelvyn Smith to explore the stories that might emerge when working with an ink made from algae. Manufactured from the waste-biomass of millions of algae cells – a byproduct of a natural blue food colourant production, Living Ink offset algae ink has the same depth of colour, viscosity and weight as its petroleum-based alternative. Continue reading in our journal: https://lnkd.in/evzRxdik #normalphenomenaoflife #thisisliving

We are happy to share that NPOL has been nominated by awwwards. in the category of the Best E-commerce Website of 2023. Each year, the world-renowned jury behind the prize, together with the voters, give recognition to the cutting-edge industry projects of the past 12 months. We would like to use this opportunity to thank each pair of hands involved in crafting this project throughout, especially our partners Studio Airport and September Digital, for their joint effort to materialise the palimpsest of ideas it took to breathe life into the Normal Phenomena of Life brand. NPOL’s brand ethos and digital architecture marry biological expressiveness with spirited and mindful innovation enacted by new biotechnologies and interdisciplinary collaborations. Guided by the poetic manifesto—which pays tribute to the immanent wisdom of living—the platform exists as a material record of ethically-driven practices across industries and scales of impact. Head to the voting page to leave your mark! Link: https://lnkd.in/e7_3hJ8Z

The Exploring Jacket. Cut from silk and batch dyed with wildtype Streptomyces Coelicolor, each Exploring Jacket is one-of-a-kind. This pigment-producing microbe grows to create bespoke patterns ranging from blue to red in colour. The Exploring Jacket and Musette is a product of a collaboration between Mbeu—Faber Future’s R&D lab— and fashion designer Louise Bennetts . Designed for adventure and exploration, this silk, hooded technical smock of modular design is intended to take you to places you have no business to be, much like Faber Futures’ founder Natsai Audrey Chieza's own journey into the field of biotechnology. The jacket and accompanying musette are ethically manufactured in London, UK by Fabrika. This ground-breaking NPOL Original is available now. Only at normalphenomena.life #ThisisLiving #normalphenomenaoflife

Leveraging the pigment-producing properties of microorganisms, Mbeu—Faber Futures’ R&D Lab—specialises in fermentation technologies and methods that create various finishes on textiles: from prints to uniform dyes and bespoke patterns. Mbeu’s primary organism is Streptomyces coelicolor, a pigment-producing wild-type bacteria that produces a colourfast blue to red dye finish when fermented on textiles. Since the process is synergistic with the organism’s ability to utilise only the water and nutrients it needs to grow, it promises a more resource-efficient production method for dyeing textiles. Mbeu is powering the unique burlesque of pigments that define our Exploring Jacket, the latest of our NPOL Originals. Available now at normalphenomena.life #ThisisLiving #normalphenomenaoflife

“A fistful of soil overflows with about 100 million bacteria, 100,000 protozoa, 10,000 nematodes and potentially 5000 different insects or worms. It teems not only with life but also with creative potential.” - James Cartwright Mbeu, Faber Futures’ R&D lab is exploring new models to build regenerative, circular and localised infrastructure to supply the fashion industry with bacterially-dyed textiles. The Exploring Jacket and Musette, crafted with Mbeu’s microbial dye technology, demonstrates current possibilities and serves as a stepping stone for further innovation and development in the field. Learn more about the thinking and process behind the latest NPOL Original release here: https://lnkd.in/e38kTpX7 #thisisliving #normalphenomenaoflife

Our NPOL Original Lessons from the Living World is a collaboration between algal ink manufacturers Living Ink and designer and printmaker Mr Smith. Kelvyn Smith (aka Mr Smith) is a craftsman, designer, maker, typographer, printmaker & wordsmith. He creates exquisitely crafted contemporary typographic printed matter using wood letter & metal type in his Somerset workshop. Scott Fulbright Scott Fulbright is the CEO and Co-Founder of Living Ink , a biotechnology research and product company developing the first environmentally safe and sustainable colour pigment grown from algae. NPOL invited Kelvyn to explore the possibilities and stories that might emerge when working with Living Ink’s algae-based ink, resulting in the Lessons from the Living World triptyque of fine art prints. Available now Only at normalphenomea.life #normalphenomenaoflife

Normal Phenomena of Life is the product of deep collaboration between Faber Futures and Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. NPOL's founders, Natsai Audrey Chieza and Christina Agapakis consolidate years of collaborative projects to co-develop the strategic vision and direction of the platform. Together they are creating space for a truly radical bio-industrial revolution. Read more about Natsai and Christina's vision for NPOL in our first journal article The Original Technology here: https://lnkd.in/eqQDKeG2

THE ORIGINAL TECHNOLOGY It’s not data that gives the planet life but the billions of different life forms that it plays host to. Everything we make and do is a product of that organic, living world. Our first journal article explores the vision catalysing Normal Phenomena of Life, and how it seeks to nurture a new material culture with products grown with biology. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eqQDKeG2 #theoriginaltechnology #normalphenomenaoflife

Introducing our first drop on www.normalphenomena.life Discover our first flush of fruits from innovation led by design and biology! Shop now at www.normalphenomena.life #ThisisLiving #normalphenomenaoflife