Jen Keane is a designer, researcher and entrepreneur working and at the intersection of design and science, technology and craft. Driven by aspirations of sustainability, and a fascination with new digital and biological tools, she is exploring how we could partner with biology to design a new generation of hybrid materials, and perhaps change our approach to making altogether. Co-founder of London based biomaterial innovation company Modern Synthesis, Jen worked previously for German sportswear brand adidas in materials design, development and innovation strategy. She is a graduate of the MA Material Futures program at Central Saint Martins in London UK, and Holds a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, NY USA.  She takes a cross-disciplinary approach to material design and believes that a closer dialogue between science, design and industry is essential in bringing real change to our material value systems and means of production.

Modern synthesis is a biodesign startup connecting the dots between biology, material science and design to develop novel biobased materials and products for the fashion / lifestyle industries.

Already providing material R&D and advisory services to fashion brands, they are now looking to build out their lab and focus on development of their own biomaterial technology, ‘microbial weaving’. This is a biofabrication process, which means the material is actually grown using a microbe. By employing robotic yarn placement together with cellulose producing bacteria, they are able to create a strong, lightweight biocomposite with boundless potential for design and performance customization.

Their aim is to ultimately provide a whole range of inspiring cellulose-based materials through this process and related technologies to reduce the industry’s dependence on petrochemical derived materials, and see this as just the beginning of how a closer look at biology could evolve manufacturing for the better.