Material – Biological Co-CreationMaterial – Biological Co-Creation

Course content.
In this minor, you will engage in a creative dialogue with organisms such as fungi, algae and bacteria. Accompanied by targeted experiments, you will realize your own material project with living matter in the ZHdK’s Biolab. You will have the opportunity to learn basic bioskills and continue existing projects from your major. Your work can be speculative or concrete, artistic or technical, aesthetic or functional. 

Skills acquired in the course.
Students will be able to:  
–  acquire basic practical knowledge in working with fungus mycelium, bacteria, or algae-based processes.  
–  recognize and evaluate the potential of biological processes for artistic creation and product design.  
–  systematically carry out their own design project with living matter and set up a series of experiments in the biolab.  
–  evaluate the results and transfer them into their own applied, speculative, or artistic work.

Admissions requirements.
Z-Tech workshop pass (low-level workshop) with confirmation or acquire this by the start of the minor weeks (calendar week 2). Aesthetic, technological and ecological interest in innovative materials, biological experiments and design with living organisms.

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–  German and English: to be able to follow a discussion
–  German or English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–  German and English: to understand a text
–  German or English: to write a text

Benefits of studying this minor.
In discussions and project work, you will benefit from interdisciplinary interaction in the fields of materials research, fine arts, biology and cultural history. With exclusive use of the Biolab during the minor blocks, you will receive introductions to techniques and processes and gain experience in working with microorganisms and biocomposites.

Time structure.
The minor takes place as a full-day course in the minor weeks in week 2 to 4 and week 8 to 10 and continues on Friday afternoons during the semester.

→ Semester dates ZHdK
→ More information about this minor (PDF download)

Minor Coordination

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.