Biodiseño MX at the Franz Mayer Museum explores more-than-human design

"Biodiseño MX" exhibition at the Franz Mayer Museum presents a design perspective that transcends anthropocentrism, showcasing more than 60 creatives collaborating with nature. The Franz Mayer Museum's exhibition shifts from earthy tones to white, mirroring the transformation from an ecosystem to a laboratory atmosphere. Taina Campos, the curator, emphasizes that biodesign is a shift in design practice, moving from an exploitative, market-driven approach to an integrative worldview where nature and design coexist symbiotically.

Biodesign, while still influenced by human needs, also explores biologically-inspired creations, such as 3D-printed memorial reefs made from human ashes for marine ecosystem restoration. The exhibition juxtaposes functional objects like biofashion with pieces that restore ecosystems or generate oxygen, like Mariana Paredes' "Jardín lacustre" that uses microalgae to convert polluted air into oxygen.

The "Microbia Room" with its cool palette and white light creates a laboratory-like ambiance, contrasting with the Indigenous peoples' art on display, which emphasizes nature's intrinsic connection to humans. Campos explains that biodesign is not just about solving human problems or creating beautiful products but generating a new understanding of the world. "Biodiseño MX" will be on display at the Franz Mayer Museum until October 25, 2026.