Welsh-based experimental design studio Tŷ Syml is proving what’s possible through material research and product design. Borne from a university thesis, the trio behind the studio are creating a new generation of products that are embedded with a cradle-to-cradle philosophy. And only a few years off the ground, the studio is now consulting with cities on how to be more sustainable. Here they share their design thinking and why an experimental approach is key.
What is your design process? Do you find and experiment with a material first to see how it can evolve into a form or product?
Throughout our practice experimentation is crucial in the development of new materials and products. This way of working allows us to better understand the capabilities of each material we develop and how they can be effectively applied to products.
Material and process experimentation is our starting point, it allows the properties of each material to guide us towards our finished outcomes. We often begin without any preconceived outcomes in mind and let the materials evolve the product.
This is apparent in our pendant light for Silo London. Each one is different after growth because of the texture each 3D printed mould leaves behind in each of the lampshades. Some areas have grown more, leaving a much darker line formation, whereas other areas aren’t as developed. The advantage of this concept is that we don’t know how the pendant light will look until after it has grown itself and we have removed it from the mould.
Can you talk about some of the materials you work with and why they are different?
Our main focus is the use of mycelium and seaweed composites as a material to create a range of products such as lampshades, acoustic wall panels, furniture and packaging.
Our seaweed composite research started in 2015 as part of my Masters research. For this, I spent a year on a beach in Pembrokeshire, South Wales experimenting with seaweed. This research proved successful and influenced the formation of Tŷ Syml, which has since developed this composite into full scale production of our ALGÂU lampshade, some of which are now hanging at Silo London, the world’s first zero waste restaurant.
We are also developing a mycelium composite. Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a mass branching and thread-like structure called Hyphae. These fibres easily bind to other materials, especially those which are organic. We are working with a number of companies to take their post industry waste and utilise it within our manufacturing process.
Our aim is to develop materials from waste such as hemp, flax, textiles, paper and BSG (Brewers spent grain). The materials we develop are designed to have a negligible impact on society and the environment. This means that Tŷ Syml takes into consideration the entire life cycle of the materials they use and the products they make. This includes material sourcing, manufacturing process and the product’s end of life.
What is your design philosophy?
Our design philosophy is based on the fundamentals of cradle-to-cradle and the circular economy. We are driven by a desire to develop materials which have limited negative impact on the environment and to make these materials available to mainstream/real world applications.
As a designer, I have always felt a responsibility to design products and materials that are environmentally sound. Growing up in Pembrokeshire has had a significant impact on my approach as a designer and what we do within Tŷ Syml. Pembrokeshire is renowned for its incredibly beautiful and diverse landscapes with some of the best beaches in the world. I wanted to find solutions to limit the amount of plastic waste that I had witnessed washing up on these beaches. I began to look for alternative materials which can reduce the necessity for oil based polymers within our world’s manufacturing processes.
Narrative also plays a key role within our design process. Documentation of our work and the stages it goes through is crucial in disseminating our work to a wider audience. We aim to use our work to help others reduce their environmental impact too.
Where do you see the future of organic and bio-materiality heading?
It’s now becoming apparent that more people are looking to buy products which have a limited impact on the environment, we have seen a shift in the public’s perception of products and they are beginning to question the products they are buying and the impact of these products.
We have noticed that a lot of innovative materials that are being developed originate as university projects (like ours did). This is brilliant as it shows universities are shifting the way they teach design students and allowing them to experiment whilst studying. This does come with limitations though. It can be difficult to upscale production and find support to develop these materials further.
Our main clients at the moment are new restaurants, in particular restaurants who are developing zero waste food systems such as Silo London and FREA Berlin. The interest from these restaurants shows that the demand for a zero waste food system and products are becoming more mainstream and it’s no longer a niche interest.
We have also started a new project with the town of Duved in Sweden. Initially we were approached by the local municipality for this project (Duved Framtid) to consult on how they can make the town more sustainable and utilise the local waste in the production of new buildings. This has since developed into us potentially setting up a studio based in Duved for the duration of the project to work directly with the local people to provide sustainable solutions to the new architecture which is being developed. This project will also help to raise awareness that even smaller towns can become sustainable and work towards a zero waste outcome in the future.
