The Future of Design Isn't Human-Centered | Natsai Chieza

Natsai Chieza explores how biology, microbes, synthetic biology, and design can help us imagine new futures for materials, fashion, manufacturing, and sustainability. In this inspiring Design Indaba talk, Natsai Chieza shares her journey from architecture student to founder of Faber Futures, revealing how design can move beyond human-centered thinking and become a force for ecological regeneration. Through groundbreaking experiments with microbial dyes, biofabrication, synthetic biology, and future materials, Chieza demonstrates how designers can collaborate with living systems to create more sustainable forms of production. From growing pigments using bacteria to reimagining fashion, manufacturing, and material systems, this talk challenges us to rethink our relationship with nature, technology, and the future of design itself. Key topics include: • Biofabrication and future materials • Synthetic biology and design • Microbial dyes and sustainable fashion • More-than-human design • Climate innovation • Regenerative design • Circular economy thinking • Biotechnology and creativity • Material Futures • Ecological design systems About Natsai Chieza: Natsai Chieza is an award-winning designer, researcher, and founder of Faber Futures, a design agency working at the intersection of design, biology, ecology, and emerging technologies. Her pioneering work explores how living systems can inspire new approaches to material production and sustainable innovation. If you enjoyed this talk, please Like, Subscribe, and Share to help more people discover the future of sustainable design and innovation. #NatsaiChieza #DesignIndaba #Biofabrication #SyntheticBiology #SustainableDesign #FutureMaterials #ClimateInnovation #Biotechnology #CircularEconomy #regenerativedesign YouTube Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:21 From Zimbabwe to Design Innovation 01:08 Discovering Material Futures 02:06 Founding Faber Futures 03:04 Why Design Must Move Beyond Humans 04:41 Designing for Nature 06:30 Exploring Ecology Through Design 07:17 Entering the World of Microbes 08:27 The Hidden Microbial Universe 10:18 Microbes as Materials 12:03 Growing Color with Bacteria 13:47 The Breakthrough in Microbial Dyeing 15:05 Creating New Design Protocols 16:38 Designing with Living Systems 17:44 Scaling Biofabrication 19:44 What Is Synthetic Biology? 21:28 Why Designers Should Shape Biotechnology 22:34 The Challenge of Sustainable Scale 24:22 Other Biological Futures 26:13 Decolonizing Food Systems 27:09 Decentralizing Biotechnology 27:48 Designing Beyond Human Needs 29:11 New Stories for a Resilient Future 29:56 End