Designer and researcher Mari Koppanen draws inspiration from the transformative impact of fungi.

How would you describe your profession and your practice?

I am a designer and researcher with an educational background in both fashion and furniture design. In my current practice I work at the intersection of design, craft, and science employing several mediums into my work. My primary focus revolves around biomaterials, particularly in the artistic exploration and advancement of materials derived from fungi.

Has your work changed over the course of your career?

For a long time my main mediums were wood and textiles. I started working with biomaterials during my master’s studies and that changed the whole path of my career. Working with fungi and microorganisms has had a transformative impact on me as a designer, and shaped the narrative of what I present in the field of design today. For me it has also become a ritual of working and revisiting the same materials over and over again, and trying to see it each time from a fresh perspective.

What was your “eureka!” moment that made you realize that art/design was the route you wanted to take?

I have always worked in creative ways: starting as a child by sewing clothes for my dolls, then progressing to making clothes for myself, moving on to furniture design, and eventually combining all these skills. I think my eureka moment was when I started realizing that I can grow and create the materials and pigments I use in my designs by myself.

Is your work inspired by anything in particular? What turns you on creatively?

My work often draws inspiration from the history and story of a material. When working with a specific material or technique, I frequently study its background: how it is produced, where it is made, and how it has been used throughout history. While I am inspired by these traditional narratives, I reinterpret the material through my own artistic lens to create something more contemporary. I hope to showcase fungal material research in a way that is relatable, functional, and fun.

Which designers or artists inspire you and why?

Fungi itself inspires me. It’s all over us and in our surroundings but we are often very little aware of its presence.

What is the name of the DesignTO Project you’re exhibiting in and what is the name of the piece you are sharing?

I will attend the REVIVE exhibition with my two works: Sensorial Bowls and a documentary film, “The Hatmaker.”

What can attendees expect to experience when seeing your work?

Mushrooms. I mainly work with materials and create designs that have some connection to fungi.

As DesignTO gets ready to celebrate its 15th birthday, why do you think it’s important to the creative community, here as well as abroad?

I am based in Norway at the moment (I’m originally from Finland) but I work internationally. Exhibiting and attending DesignTO for the first time is an exciting opportunity, as I’ve only visited Canada once and have exhibited outside Europe only a few times. I look forward to engaging with a new audience, receiving valuable feedback on my work, and exploring networking opportunities that could lead to new collaborations.

Lastly, what random fact about yourself would you like to share with the DesignTO community?

I’m at my sharpest when I get to work in the evening.