Christopher Bellamy
MA Biodesign
Central Saint Martins UAL
Graduates: 2024
Specialisms: Sustainable Design / Design Research / Material Innovation
My location: London, United Kingdom
Christopher Bellamy
First Name: Christopher
Last Name: Bellamy
University / College: Central Saint Martins UAL
Course / Program: MA Biodesign
Graduates: 2024
Specialisms: Sustainable Design / Design Research / Material Innovation
My Location: London, United Kingdom
Website: Click To See Website
About
Chris is a biodesigner and engineer who is fascinated by how we can live in more sustainable and regenerative ways. After studying engineering at the University of Cambridge, Chris started his career at Jaguar Land Rover, helping to develop their first electric vehicle, the Jaguar I-Pace. He then stepped into the footwear and apparel industry, developing customisable and recyclable shoes, in the hope of reducing the impact of the 20+ billion pairs of shoes made every year.After realising the incremental improvements to plastics and metals would never be sufficient to meet climate targets, Chris has changed his career to work with living things, as he believes nature does it better.Chris has just finished his Masters in Biodesign at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts, London.His research was focussed on how living materials could be used in our everyday lives, by co-evolving traditional knowledge with the latest scientific research.
Soil signs were developed as an alternative for vinyl window displays. PVC, the material currently used for graphics, is unrecyclable, and has a toxic production process. This new process applies local soils to windows, to create temporary and permanent installations on windows. The material is very durable, and can withstand extended use, and a variety of climatic conditions. The soil can be re-used, and leaves no damage to the windows. Upon drying the material has a beautiful texture and aesthetic. Its colour can be adapted using natural dyes to meet specific window displays needs. The process has been refined, with installations increasing in size and technical difficulty with each installation. To date it has been installed at 9 different locations for a variety of clients. There are a variety of target markets, which includes retail windows, or temporary installations for events. In the future, further innovation is required to improve the installation speed, which is currently done by hand. If this can be improved, the process can be cost competitive with conventional vinyl window displays. The latest design installed in East London, Rooted in Soil, has been created overlooking Canary Wharf, London's financial heart, to provoke viewers to consider the role soil has played in the success of our society.
Competitions
