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Pearlescence of the Future

Mia Luong

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Mia Luong is a visionary product designer specialising in the field of biodesign, with a keen eye for aesthetics and drive for innovation. She is known for creating exquisite and sustainable luxury solutions. Her recent project merges design and biology to craft biomimetic jewellery pieces with her lab grown pearls. Driven by a commitment to sustainability, Mia strives to redefine luxury and eco-friendly practices. 

Mia Luong is a visionary product designer specialising in the field of biodesign, with a keen eye...

Pearlescence of the Future uses biomimetics to build and construct the idea of sustainable pearl and nacre.

Nacre is an outstanding organic-inorganic composite material, and it is the most studied material within the science community. However, what if there were no oysters or molluscs left for us to study? The initial idea originated from concentrating on raising the conservation’s importance of mollusks species in aquatic ecosystems, along with environmental challenges like global warming, overexploitation, the lack of worldwide pearl supply and the continuing increase in price.

My project is proposing the concept of a futuristic scenario, in which oysters are completely instinct and harvesting pearls will no longer be possible. Pearlescence of the Future can be accomplished by using bacterial cellulose and nanocellulose to design and reimagining the future of nacre and pearl. Additionally, adapting the traditional workspace, tools and techniques used to create pearl jewellery in the future.

Final work

  • A hybrid space that combine a lab with a jewellery workshop to create the suitable working environment to produce lab grown pearls.
  • The table function as a space to grow materials, display the tools and present the jewellery collection.
  • Sustainable designed jewellery collection, using regenerative materials and waste from jewellery making.
  • Sustainable designed jewellery collection, using regenerative material and waste from jewellery making.
  • Lab grown pearls provides similar colours to nature pearls however it conveys its own unique characteristic from the new technique
  • Sustainable designed and handmade jewellery pieces.
  • Inspired by shells and water droplets, the necklace was designed to pair with the theme of the ocean and water,
  • Jewellery collection designed to raise awareness on the conservation’s importance of mollusks species in aquatic ecosystems.
  • Lab grown pearls rings

Pearlescence of the Future Video by Mia Luong

Research and process

  • Pearlescence coating made from materials extracted from trees.
  • Pearlescence coating testing solutions with different mixture.
  • Before and after of cellulose growth.

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Pearlescence of the Future

Pearlescence of the Future uses biomimetics to build and construct the idea of sustainable pearl and nacre.Nacre is an outstanding organic-inorganic composite material, and it is the most studied material within the science community. However, what if there were no oyst...

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