In Living Colour, Lilian van Daal explores how bacteria-grown structural colour can provide a sustainable alternative to toxic pigments. Unlike chemical dyes, the solid colour emerges from microscopic patterns that reflect light, creating vibrant, fade-resistant hues similar to those found in nature. With the scientific expertise of Hoekmine BV, a biotech company pioneering in bacterial structural colour, the designer translated this phenomenon into a kinetic design object. In doing so, she demonstrates how movement and light can bring colour to life, turning sustainability into an interactive experience. With this work, Lilian van Daal takes another step toward nature-inclusive design, by letting materials grow instead of extracting them.
