Bristol Fungarium
Bristol Fungarium is one of the UK's leading medicinal mushroom companies, cultivating eight medicinal species and producing science-led, triple-extracted tinctures designed to maximise the availability of each mushroom's bioactive compounds.
Biodesigner & Fungi Researcher (2023–2024)
From 2023–2024, I worked as Bristol Fungarium's Biodesigner and Fungi Researcher, exploring fungi as both a living material and a creative collaborator.
Building on my MA in Biodesign at Central Saint Martins, I developed mycelium-based objects ranging from sculptural works and exhibition pieces to functional products, including packaging, vessels, lighting, and furniture. Alongside material research and fabrication, I supported cultivation, harvesting, marketing, graphic design, photography, and public engagement across the business.
My work has been exhibited at festivals, galleries, and public events throughout the UK, demonstrating the creative and ecological potential of fungal materials.
Mycelium Packaging
One of my largest projects at Bristol Fungarium was designing and producing a limited edition mycelium gift box for the company's Christmas hamper.
The packaging was grown entirely from mycelium using custom-designed moulds. Although the process proved too labour-intensive for commercial production, the finished boxes became striking display pieces for Bristol Fungarium's tinctures at festivals and events—showcasing a fully compostable alternative to conventional packaging.
The process involved:
- Designing the packaging in Rhino
- CNC milling an MDF master mould
- Vacuum-forming reusable moulds
- Growing the packaging from inoculated substrate
- Allowing the mycelium to fully colonise
- Dehydrating and finishing each piece for durability
Designing the 3D Model
CNC Milling the Physical Mould
Vacuum Forming the Moulds
Creating the Mycelium Packaging
Full Colonisation
Dehydration & Finishing
CREATURE CHAIR
Exhibited at Medicine Festival, 2023
Watch the F*ck up Friday video here
BUILDING WITH MYCELIUM
Medicine Festival, 2023
SCULPTURES
Extra Experiments:
Inoculating my book to grow mushrooms from it.
Photographing and harvesting Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Spore Drops with Scarlet Elf Cups
Biofluorescent Mycelium Timelapses with Maitake Mushrooms
MYCELIAL FRAMES
MYCELIUM PODIUM
Exhibited at Koko Club for the Harvest Series, 2023
PROCESS:
CREATE A LATEX MOULD FOR FINE DETAILS
USE EXPANDING FOAM FOR MOULD SUPPORT
FILL THE STERILISED MOULD WITH INOCULATED SUBSTRATE
ALLOW TO GROW FOR A WEEK
DAY 1
DAY 4
PLACE HALVES TOGETHER TO ALLOW TO FUSE (FILL ANY GAPS WITH EXTRA SUBSTRATE)
INCUBATE IN A STERILE ENVIRONMENT FOR 10 DAYS OR SO
Ideally, I would have allowed the two halves to grow together for ten days, but with the event just two days away, we had to stop the growth on day four by dehydrating both the pillar and its top.
(not as colonised as I would have liked!)
@ KOKO CLUB
TURKEY TAIL TIMELAPSE
Click here to watch our Bonfire Night Turkey Tail Timelapse
MERCHANDISE
In summer 2024, I designed Bristol Fungarium’s merchandise: branded totes and t-shirts, and mushroom umbrellas.
FUNGI PHOTOGRAPHY
NOVA SCOTIAN MEDICINAL MUSHROOM TINCTURES
In September 2023, I visited my grandparents in Nova Scotia, Canada, where there was an incredible abundance of mushrooms. Birch Polypore and Turkey Tail mushrooms were especially plentiful, and I foraged them to craft a limited-edition Bristol Fungarium Nova Scotian Medicinal Mushroom tincture as a Christmas gift for my extended family.
︎ Native
︎ Wild-harvested
︎ Triple-extracted
︎ Medicinal & Functional
Follow me online for more frequent fungi updates:
︎ @kit.kat.fat
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