Elemental Imprints

Tuesday, 13 - Friday, 16 January 2026.

A project initiated by Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan South Asia in collaboration with the Bio Design Lab of the Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe (HfG).

“Materials are heavy and should stay local. People and ideas are light and should travel around.” Jan Boelen

“Instead of doing less damage to the environment, it is necessary to learn how we can participate with the environment - using the health of ecological systems as the basis for design.” Bill Reed, 2007

At the very core of biodesign lies a recognition that life is an intricate web. Through these connections, we can recognise how our doings are interconnected with every other layer of being, from the soil beneath our feet to the air we breathe. Biodesign invites us to rethink sustainability—not merely through new materials or technologies, but by valuing the symbiotic relationships between natural systems and creativity. It encourages us to see materials as part of a living, dynamic system, fostering designs that coexist with, rather than exploit, the ecosystems we draw life from. Every choice in biodesign, from resource to material to process, holds the potential to honor and sustain the intricate web of life, creating a future where balance and respectful co-existence are central.

The Elemental Imprints. Bio Design Lab South Asia addresses some of the most challenging environmental, economic, and social issues of our time through biodesign practices. It uses undervalued local materials, like invasive plants, agricultural byproducts, algae, and industrial waste, to research sustainable, non-extractive solutions. By engaging in a multidisciplinary, pluriversal approach that invites the knowledge of designers, scientists, craftspeople, engineers, urban architects and humanities scholars, Bio Design Lab South Asia aspires to come up with context-specific solutions deeply rooted in local cultures and ecosystems.

South Asia is a region of immense resourcefulness and biodiversity. Simultaneously, it faces acute challenges. Bio Design Lab South Asia will attempt to address the challenges by engaging with local resources in new ways. This project is grounded in local contexts and will be driven by knowledge that will be enriched by global perspectives. It seeks to reimagine materials, processes, and systems for sustainable futures, and brings together traditional practices and contemporary design.

There are three major objectives of the project. It aims to uncover and transform undervalued resources into valuable materials while establishing collaborative networks that connect South Asian and international experts from various fields to local contexts. Furthermore, it will promote a creative process that helps fresh perspectives in design practices to grow. Finally, the project will establish a Traveling Resource Center, functioning as a nexus of knowledge sharing by showcasing a material library, design prototypes, and publications accessible for the public.