In a new episode of the Jewellery Futures podcast, hosted by Dr. Sofie Boons for the British Academy of Jewellery
, CARADT researcher and lecturer Simone van den Broek discusses her project Living Gold: a jewellery collection incorporating mycelium (a living organism more commonly associated with fungi).
In the research project Living Gold, Simone explored the potential of mycelium as a material for jewellery, challenging conventional notions of luxury and permanence. The conversation invites listeners to imagine a future where materials are grown, rather than mined or manufactured, and to reconsider how we define beauty in relation to ecological harmony.
In the episode, Dr. Boons and Van den Broek reflect on the interdisciplinary nature of her work, her position within the Situated Art, Design and Technology research group at CARADT (Avans University of Applied Sciences), and the mindset shift required to collaborate with living materials. From the benefits of bio-based design to the importance of storytelling in sustainable practice, the episode offers a compelling glimpse into jewellery’s regenerative potential.
Listen to the full conversation:
Our research project Living Gold explored the application of mycelium material in goldsmithing, igniting inspiration and promoting new possibilities for bio-based design. Mycelium, nature’s hidden architect, holds immense potential for creativity and environmental consciousness. By tapping into this abundant resource, we aimed to reshape the boundaries of jewellery creation.
‘The ultimate goal is to provide people with the information, skills and tools that enable them to improve the quality of their daily lives.’
Simone van den Broek is a researcher within the Situated Art, Design and Technology research group, and a tutor for the Communication & Multimedia Design programme at Avans University of Applied Sciences in Den Bosch.
Living in cities developed around data and acting within the inscrutable structure of our techno-society demands art and design that can help understand how we relate to these rapidly changing surroundings and to reflect on that relationship. The research group Situated Art, Design and Technology responds to this exigency by fostering a situated turn in art and design through a diverse portfolio of interdisciplinary research projects in partnership with academic and cultural partners, as well as with government and industry.
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