Mycelium: A network for individuals to flourish together
INTRODUCED BY...
Project overview
Using the mycelium as a metaphor for a people’s network, this installation depicts the societal stakeholders and how they should stay connected. In a forest, the mycelium helps the plants in sharing nutrients. In society, we should share knowledge to create futures in which we can flourish together!
For nine days ‘our mushroom’ roamed the city of Eindhoven on a Mini Cooper during DDW 2022. It made people turn their heads and they even stopped the Mini to take a picture. The code below the mushroom referred to UT's spot at the Ketelhuisplein, where you could find the EDUBox with research projects related to health. In the EDUBox, visitors could find out the story behind the mycelium. It turned out to be a great way to talk about the bigger picture and the goals UT is aiming at.
- Full name: Mycellium: A network for individuals to florish together
- Duration: 3 months in 2022
- Funding: University of Twente
- Budget: € 8800
- Status: Project Closed
Dutch Design Week was the motivation behind this project. Dutch Design Week is a nine-day event in Eindhoven that showcases design. It is the biggest design event in Northern Europe, so it's safe to say it's a big deal. DDW is a great opportunity for universities around Europe to participate in sharing their design, expertise and passion. The University of Twente wanted something to represent them at DDW that would be visible in the entire city of Eindhoven. And so, the project started. A co-creation session was made with the DreamTeamers and several ideas were born.
The UT requested the DreamTeam to make an installation that would capture people's attention throughout the city. And how you may ask? By putting it on top of a car. Yes, we're serious. Here were the objectives:
- Make the installation an eye-catcher: When people see it, make them want to visit the DDW.
- Create a story behind the installation
- Make sure the story and colours of the installation fit the UT's style.
- Create an installation that can be attached to the top of a mini cooper.
- Make sure it is safe!
From process to realisation The process of this project went as followed:
Co-creation session → Decide → Polish → Project Team Assembly → Realisation
As this installation was supposed to sit on top of a car, some precautions were taken. The team made sure to make safety checks before starting in Eindhoven.
This project was definitely different than any other. It went so well, that it was used in 2022 and 2023 as well. People actually stopped the car in the streets to take a picture of it. But to be fair, how often do you see a car with a bunch of giant mushrooms on them just driving around? If you see that, you kind of have to take a picture or else no one would believe you. We think it's safe to say that quite a few visitors joined DDW due to our eye-catching installation.
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What's the story?
In the real world, mushrooms use mycelium to connect to eachother underground to share resources, water, carbon, nitrogen and other materials. And this is a metaphor for our our society, meaning that institutions and organisations within our societies should do the same thing to share resources to achieve more success for the future.
To read more, click here.
Collaboration partners
This project was done by DesignLab's DreamTeam and staff in collaboration with University of Twente and Dutch Design Week.
Meaningful impact
This project was valuable, because of the meaning behind it. By connecting people and stakeholders, we can share 'nutrients' (in this case, a metaphor for knowledge) and grow together as a society. As a wise group of high schoolers once said, "We're all in this together".
Looking ahead: What you can do
Embrace the fact that we are all connected, and use it to your advantage. Some great value can come from this!
Contact
Would you like to know more, join, collaborate, receive more inspiration? Please contact Project Coordinator Alexandru Lucian Amariei.