Dit event is in het Engels, dus de tekst hier ook — wel zo makkelijk. What happens when sustainable materials stop behaving and start seducing?
Biomaterials aren’t just necessary alternatives to plastics or petroleum-based products. They are living systems: grown, cultivated, negotiated with. They shimmer, glow, age, respond and sometimes resist. Making them desirable is not a cosmetic choice, it is a cultural intervention. Because desire shapes behaviour. And behaviour shapes systems.
At this edition of the EHV Innovation Café, we explore what happens when sexy biomaterials meet shared responsibility. How can desire accelerate sustainable transformation without repeating extractive patterns? And what shifts when we stop designing materials as objects — and start relating to them as systems we take part in?
Featuring
Beatriz Sandini & Alessia Pasquini (Materia Futura)
Designing biomaterials that prove sustainability can be seductive, expressive and emotionally engaging — while remaining deeply connected to care, craft and living systems.
Sam Edens (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences)
Reframing biomaterials as living relationships — and developing the methods, spaces and practices needed to work with them responsibly at scale.
Expect bold insights, honest reflections and an open, welcoming conversation.
Whether you’re a founder, designer, technologist, policymaker, educator or curious do-er, this is your space to listen, learn and connect.
We are Inclusive by Default and Give to Grow.
Stop Making Materials. Start Making Relationships.
Moderated by Charlotte Grün
@ Kazerne Downtown Eindhoven
Walk in 17:30, Start 18:00
English spoken, Free entrance, Open to All
Materia Futura is an experimental design and research project that redefines the visual and sensory language of sustainable materials. Through iridescent, glossy and brightly coloured biopolymers, they prove that sustainability does not have to look rough or understated. By merging biobased chemistry, traditional craftsmanship and immersive storytelling, Materia Futura creates fashionable materials that are sensory, playful and emotionally engaging — while deeply rooted in ecological awareness.
Beatriz Sandini is a Brazilian-born designer and researcher based in Amsterdam, working at the intersection of material innovation, sustainability and speculative design. As a co-founding designer of Materia Futura, she leads research into biobased materials, regenerative systems and traditional knowledge. Her practice combines hands-on material exploration with experience in fashion, education and independent design, exploring how materials, systems and stories can shape more regenerative futures.
Alessia Pasquini is an Italian designer and artist based between Amsterdam and Florence. With a background in textile, embroidery and luxury fashion, her work focuses on material research and development rooted in craft expertise. As a co-founding designer of Materia Futura, she explores new material formulations and alternative textile solutions, reinterpreting traditional techniques through bio-based and experimental processes.
Sam Edens is a biodesigner and researcher working at the intersection of design, biology and culture. With a background in product design and cultural studies, Sam explores living and biobased materials such as algae, fungi, yeasts and bacteria. At the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Sam works on projects that rethink how materials are grown, cultivated and understood, and coordinates the Biomaterials Studio — a hands-on research environment where designers, students and researchers experiment with living materials.
Our events are open to all. Expect an evening with inspiring ideas, critical questions, and imaginative alternatives to the status quo. Mark the event in your calendar and secure your ticket here. Walk in is also possible but the seats for the debat are limited. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
17:30 Walk-in and networking, we’ll offer a free drink and a bite
18:00 Intro to the Special Guests followed by a moderated debate
19:00 Networking
19:30 Posibility to join the Meet-up dinner with the speakers