Shroom Shade: Materiality Exploration in Using Mycelium for Lampshades.

Shroomshade is a lampshade crafted with mycelium.

Methodology:

To overcome the volume restriction of the available FDM 3d-printers, two sets of molds were 3d-printed to grow one-half of the mycelium lamp shade. Then the two halves were grown put together and allowed to grow onto each other.

Learnings:

1. the material had to be sculpted immediately after adding the sculpting mix or it would harden and become unusable.
2. Keeping the substrate sterile and use it within a two-to-three week window, disinfecting all surfaces and tools it came into contact with. Failure to use the substrate within this 2-3 week time frame resulted in yellowing of the material and the growth of mold. Gloves were also necessary when touching the product with our hands, both for the preservation of the product and any potential health risks
3. Coffee grounds hindered growth.

Future questions:

Determining the proper ratio of food and water in process of feeding foods other than the flour and observing their varying yields and growths time is another area for development of this project. It may also be useful to test the durability, color and varying resistance to heat of mycelium fed different foods for lampshades and similar applications.

Group project as part of assignment of ARTD326 Sustainability & Manufacturing Fall 2024 Instructed by Savio Mukachirayil