Sugar survival

In the face of climate change in which many regions of the world are experiencing water shortages, Tai, a Material Futures graduate, posed the question: how might we respond to a drought-stricken future?

She imagined that in 2050, we might use trehalose-based products to stay alive and envisaged how they would work and fit into the context of everyday life.

Creating micro-encapsulated clothing and a range of skincare products embedded with trehalose, a natural sugar that protects cells from dehydration, Tai built tangible solutions to overcome the problem. Under the label TretSk1n, the collection of products also comprises electronic tattoos to track hydration levels, telling users when they may need to re-apply.

‘Given that water is an increasingly precious resource, I feel that it is vital to explore alternative solutions now,’ Tai tells LS:N Global.

The Big Picture: In the spirit of Whole-system Thinking, designers are exploring long-term solutions to environmental issues.