Maca Barrera Pereira
Profession
MA Biodesign alum
College
Central Saint Martins
Person Type
Student
Biography
Maca Barrera Pereira is a multidisciplinary designer and material researcher working between biology and sustainability strategy. A 2023 MA Biodesign graduate from Central Saint Martins, she collaborates with living systems to develop material approaches that support environmental resilience and regenerative change.
Interview
Please can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I’m a multidisciplinary designer and material researcher. My practice sits at the intersection of sustainability strategy, and material innovation. I graduated from MA Biodesign at Central Saint Martins in 2023.
Why did you choose to study MA Biodesign at Central Saint Martins (CSM)?
I chose MA Biodesign because I wanted to explore how biological processes could inform not only how we design, but also how we produce and sustain materials. Working in collaboration with living systems, growing materials with bacteria, fungi, and algae, pushed me out of my comfort zone and transformed how I approach materials. It encouraged me to think more holistically and to consider the wider ecosystems they are part of.
This shift led me to approach materials more systemically, reflecting on their environmental and social implications from the very beginning. That mindset is now central to my practice, guiding me to explore how materials can act as agents of change and contribute to sustainable strategies.
What have you been working on since graduating?
Since graduating, I’ve worked as a visiting practitioner on the MA Biodesign programme, supporting biomaterial research across design, architecture, and biotechnology. Alongside this, I’ve collaborated with startups on material innovation and marketing strategy.
I’m currently pursuing an MSc in Sustainability Management, focusing on carbon footprinting, sustainability strategy, and business transformation. I’m particularly interested in helping organisations develop actionable strategies and supporting their implementation to accelerate the transition to regenerative.
What was the most interesting project you worked on during your time on the course?
During my MA in Biodesign, I became fascinated by how microorganisms naturally adapt to environmental stressors like UV radiation. This led me to question conventional UV protection, which often relies on chemicals harmful to marine ecosystems.
For my final project, I developed Melwear, a system that harnesses the potential of microbes to shield our bodies from harmful UV rays. By working in collaboration with bacteria as living biofactories, this project explores the bioproduction of melanin, a natural, biodegradable pigment with UV-absorbing and antioxidant properties.
I designed a responsive material with encapsulated bacterial melanin that biomimics the human skin pigmentation system. As sunlight touches its surface, the membrane becomes active and gradually darkens, facilitating a dynamic sun protection method. Beyond a barrier, it works as a biosensor that responds to UV levels based on environmental conditions but also raises awareness about photoprotection and skin health.
As a result, this project opens a new perspective on how we can help our bodies become more resilient to climate change while also protecting the health of marine ecosystems through biomimicry and innovation.
What important piece of advice would you give to students thinking of studying this course?
Be open to step outside your comfort zone and push the boundaries of what is possible. Working with living systems can be both challenging and rewarding, and it requires patience, iteration, and humility. Spend time in the lab, ask questions, and embrace failure as part of the learning process.
Also, be clear about why you want to take this programme and what you hope to achieve. Biodesign is incredibly inspiring and can open unexpected paths in research, design and entrepreneurship. At the same time, the field is still emerging, and the industry isn’t always ready to adopt biodesign at scale. This means you need to take an active role in shaping your own direction and think strategically about how to position your skills.
What was the highlight of your Central Saint Martins experience?
The creative and experimental culture at Central Saint Martins encouraged me to move beyond conventional boundaries and explore ideas more openly. Having access to spaces like the Grow Lab and hands-on workshops, and interaction with students from diverse creative disciplines created an inspiring collaborative environment. Also having the support of tutors and technicians gave me the confidence to take risks, challenge assumptions, and push my ideas forward.
The strong connections of the school with industry were also valuable, during my final project I had the opportunity to collaborate with The Francis Crick Institute to prototype and test my work. Being immersed in a cutting-edge research environment expanded the scope of my creative practice and gave me the opportunity to work closely with scientists and engineers, learning from their approaches while applying my own problem-solving skills across disciplines.
What is the most important thing you learnt on the course?
The course taught me to think in terms interconnected systems, between organisms, environments and users, rather than isolated products. That mindset continues to influence the environmental and social implications embedded in every decision I make, from sourcing raw materials to choosing manufacturing methods and planning end-of-life strategies.
Working directly with living systems also transformed my approach to making, shifting it from a focus on control to one of collaboration.
Links
Connect with Maca on LinkedIn