Bioplastic art installation signals high UV levels

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In Italy, a bioplastics installation that changes color based on UV radiation has been on display at Milan Design Week.

Designed by Crafting Plastics Studio and DumoLab Research, the hanging installation—dubbed entitled Sensbiom 2—is made from cellulose and algae infused with photochromic elements. The latter makes the Sensbiom 2 change colors in the presence of certain frequencies or intensities, a feature the designers hope will raise awareness of the damage UV radiation can do to skin and eyes.

“Sensbiom 2 is part of an ongoing project called Sensbiom (Senseable Material for Healthier Habitats), where we aim to explore the programmability and dynamic capabilities of future materials to become environmentally active and ‘senseable’,” Crafting Plastics co-founder Vlasta Kubušová tells Dezeen. “One of the primary objectives is to create healthier materials that can communicate the invisible threats in our surroundings.”