The team
Living Systems Lab co-directors
Dr Heather Barnett
Co-director, Living Systems Lab
Pathway Leader, MA Art and Science
My research engages with living systems and imaging technologies, exploring how we observe, influence and understand multi-species ecosystems. Recent work centres around nonhuman intelligence, collective behaviour, relational encounters and experimental systems for co-enquiry.
Professor Carole Collet
Co-director, Living Systems Lab
My research inquiries relate to biotextiles, biomaterials, plant thinking, mycelium kinship, regenerative design, design for multi-species, biodiversity.
Living Systems Lab members
Judith van den Boom
Course Leader, MA Regenerative Design
Interested in relational ecosystems, living system thinking, deep ecology, ecocentric principles in design, living system futures, multispecies narratives and ethics, holistic frameworks for designing as part of living systems, design as situated ecotone practice.
Nancy Diniz
Course Leader, MA Biodesign
My practice interests lie in the intersection of computational design and biological systems in the fabrication of biomaterials.
Dr Barbara Smith
Lecturer in Ecology, MA Regenerative Design.
Interested in: biodiversity and landscape ecology; applying ecological principles to inform innovative design; integrating biodiversity into the built environment; ecological restoration of degraded habitats and creation of new regenerative landscapes; community ecology; agroecology; plant- insect interactions; socio-ecological systems theory and its application; participatory research; benefits of biodiversity for well-being.
Dr Alice Taylor
Lecturer in Biology and Living Systems, MA Biodesign
Interested in biomedical technologies and One Health: the interconnection between human physical/mental health and the non-human ecosystem and planetary health.
Dr Tuukka Toivonen
Reader - Course Leader MA Innovation Management
Living Systems Lab associate members
Professor Emeritus Rob Kesseler
Interested in microscopy technologies to explore the creative potential for imaging a range of plant specimens.
Dr Lorraine Archer
Environmental Scientist, Associate Lecturer, MA Biodesign
I am interested in the practice of environmental science, ecology and applied phycology of microalgae. Most particularly working towards co-creative biotechnologies for ecocentric living systems, trans contextual entangled philosophies and symbiotic complex systems.
Dr Thora Arnardottir
Associate Lecturer, MA Biodesign
My interest lies in the integration of biological fabrication and synthetic/man-made tool in the creation of new material processes and methods.
Dr Alejandro Luna Castro
Biodiversity Scientist, Associate Lecturer in Sustainability and Innovation, MA Biodesign
Interest in botany, biodiversity and arts.
PhD group
We welcome PhD applications related to our fields of inquiry.
Read about research degrees at Central Saint Martins.
Current PhD candidates
Pearl Sun
Regenerative Branding: Shifting away from consumerism and human-centrism towards a re-imagined future in harmony with nature
Director of Studies: Professor Carole Collet, second supervisor Dr. Hara Chon, third supervisor Dr. Lorraine Archer.
Cassie Quinn
Design for Regeneration: Can we develop a symbiotic relationship between flax and regenerative ecosystems using biodesign principles to produce innovative textiles?
Director of Studies: Professor Carole Collet, second supervisor: Dr. Alice Taylor.
Sara Vanore Rewkiewicz
Fumus Sym Fictioning: Contaminating Human Knowledges in Multispecies Queer Solidarity
Director of Studies: Dr Heather Barnett, second supervisor: Dr. Andrea Zimmerman, third supervisor: Dr Caterina Albano
Ruth Lloyd
Living colour – an alternative biological colour framework for microbial textile screen-printing.
A PhD sponsored by Colorifx in collaboration with UAL.
Director of Studies: Professor Carole Collet, second supervisor, Dr. Alice Taylor, third supervisor, Dr. Jim Ajioka, Cambridge University/Colorifix.
Lesley-Ann Daly
Critical design examination of the ethical development and use of Sensory Augmentation technology
Director of Studies: Professor Carole Collet, second supervisor, Dr. Matt Malpass.
Loula Guarin Figueroa
Material Interventions: A holistic design resource framework for regenerative design informed by permaculture principles.
Director of Studies: Professor Carole Collet, second supervisor: Professor Kate Goldsworthy, Chelsea College of Arts UAL.
Completed PhD theses
Dr. Elena Brebenel
Can biomimicry help design furnishings for the domestic environment that improve air quality?
Director of Studies: Professor Carole Collet, second supervisor: Professor Janet McDonnell.
Dr. Amy Congdon
Tissue Engineered Textiles; ‘Can the integration of textile craft with tissue-engineering techniques lead to the development of a new materiality for future design applications?
Director of Studies: Professor Carole Collet, second supervisor: James Swinson third Supervisor: Professor Lucy Di Silvio, Kings College London.
Dr. Miriam Ribul
Material Activism: The role of design research in the scientific development of regenerated textiles in a circular economy.
Director of Studies: Dr Kate Goldsworthy, Chelsea College of Arts UAL, second supervisor: Professor Carole Collet.
Dr Aurelie Mosse
Gossamer Timescapes: Designing Self-actuated Textiles for the Home.
A PhD jointly supervised by CITA, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture, Denmark and the Textile Futures Research Centre at UAL.
Director of Studies: Professor Mette Ramsgard Thompsen, second supervisor: Professor Carole Collet.
Dr Jane Scott
Programmable Knitting.
Director of Studies: Professor Carole Collet, second supervisor: Professor Janet McDonnell, third supervisor: Geoffrey Makstutis.