Omuus was contacted to source and validate into production biobased material by Finnish family company Weiste to serve their pioneering Eco Christmas Collection. Weiste history with innovation is extensive with 100 years anniversary in 2024.

The challenge for the project was to serve very different product materiality in the Weiste portfolio, ranging from glass like transparency to more ornamental decorations. The material needed to be suitable for the existing production capabilities, and testing requirements for long lasting product quality.

Omuus material engineer Anne Taitto started the work with Weiste professionals, to analyze the technical requirements and locate the most potential supplier network for the task. The challenge worldwide is that there is much need and interest towards biomaterials, but certain biomaterials are unavailable due to the increase of demand. This was one of the main concerns, to be able to identify material that has longevity and capacity for the future.

The end result: Omuus connected with worldwide supplier network during the few weeks project to identify different material options for test trials. Weiste trials successfully selected a biobased material that met the technical requirements and was visually meeting the product portfolio needs. We are excited for the Weiste for their world’s first biobased Christmas decorations!

Do you want to know more about sustainable materials? Contact us and let’s discuss more of your needs!

Annina Verkkomäki +358 40 7680127

annina.verkkomaki@omuus.com

Elaine examining eggshell quality in the lab.

“We approach circular design not only by optimising the waste material during the production phase but also by optimising the knowledge, technology and skillset.” – Elaine Yan Ling Ng 

OMUUS interviewed Elaine Yan Ling Ng the founder of The Fabrick Lab and also Chief Material Innovator at Nature Squared. In the interview Elaine will talk about alternative waste material, how it can be reused and applied in material design, what is essential in reusing such materials and how Nature Squared plays its part in it.

Sneak peek of Nature Squared marking kit,
Elaine has designed a range of palette that provide pre design tile combination for interior designers to choose from.

The future of material technology has to look towards the type of waste people are producing. Consumption and production inevitably link with each other therefore the focus needs to go into what kind of products we create. It becomes the brands responsibility to produce in a more responsible way. 

For Nature Squared circular design is not only about optimizing the waste material during production but also about understanding the social aspect of using the material. Their factories are located in Cebu, Philippines and for that surrounding eggshell was the obvious material that there is a stable supply off and therefore has a direct impact to its surroundings. Using the eggshell waste benefits the locals through the picking and cleaning process and also improves their environment because the eggshells create both social and health problems when left in landfills.

Go to Omuus IGTV to view the interview.

Moodboard of chlorophyllin tiles.

Do you want to know more about sustainable materials? Contact us and let’s discuss more of your needs!

Annina Verkkomäki +358 40 7680127

annina.verkkomaki@omuus.com

SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE YOUR COMPANY’S CARBON FOOTPRINT. 

Material audit helps you to save 3-5% of your company’s turn over. (Business Finland)  

Material Audit investigates the amount of losses generated by your business operations,  the costs of the losses, and the measures for reducing the losses. The audit decreases the environmental impact of your company’s actions by reducing raw materials use and waste.  

Material efficiency is a concrete action in order to show:   

• The corporate responsibility
• Enhance competitiveness 
• Reduce the carbon footprint.

WHAT IS MATERIAL AUDIT? 

A Material Audit is concrete action for corporate social responsibility with results that can be utilized to plan and maintain an environmental management system. 

The audit uncovers the bottlenecks in the material efficiency, increases the organization’s understanding of its material flows and waste, and identifies measures to improve material efficiency. 

OMUUS is authorized auditor for Business Finland funded Material Audits carried out according to the model by Motiva. After the material audit, the co-operation can be continued in projects related to product design and material optimization. 

MATERIAL AUDIT FUNDING 

50% Funding from Business Finland, average payback time 1,5months.  

Business Finland funds 50% of Material Audit costs up till 15 000€. In addition to the auditor’s fees and expenses, Material Audit funding may cover a calculated sum of up to 20% of other costs.  

Business Finland may grant up to 15,000 euros of funding for each audit.  

The funding covers the auditor’s fees and other expenses (such as travel expenses) incurred in the audit by an expert auditor who has attended Motiva’s material audit training. 

In addition to the auditor’s fees and expenses, Material Audit funding may cover a calculated sum of up to 20 per cent of other costs. Other costs consist of labor and travel expenses and material and supplies costs incurred by the audited company for the purpose of carrying out the audit. These costs do not need to be specified.

Material Audit funding is offered to SMEs, mid cap companies and large corporations. 

Contact Omuus official Material Auditor anne.taitto@omuus.com for more info, or call Annina Verkkomäki 0407680127.

OMUUS is a CMF design agency (Colors, Materials and Finishes). The volume 1 of our article covered impacts to the China market and how the situation has affected the product and service design.  

In the volume 2 we have a look into how has the epidemic changed the emotional and psychological behavioural aspects of people’s lives, and how the color design can have profound comforting, soothing and relieving impact to consumers that are in the search for new rituals for their everyday lives. We also share about the impacts to the material technologies, what are the winning recipes, what should companies invest to their future material portfolio, and what materials are perfect for product development. 

How does the situation affect to colors in design?

Grace Boicel, Omuus creative Director & Applied Colour Psychology specialist

 ‘Colours have a profound psychological influence on human emotions and behaviour.

Most of us can remember looking at a rainbow appearing on the sky filling us with hope and wonder. We can also remember a day where everything isgrey and the sun seems to be far away.

In these difficult times many are looking for comfort and safety. Not all of us can enjoy looking at the sky and even be outdoors as much as we want anymore.

Did you know that colors can make us more active or calm us down?

Colors help us feel uplifted or calm down anxiety by positively influencing our mental wellbeing. Whether it is in the way of surrounding ourselves, visualising or dress in colors. Colors can be stimulating or smoothing depending on the intensity and saturation of the color. The stronger stimuli the stronger effect on us.

In Omuus we use colour psychology as the foundation of our work. Color is an incredibly powerful phenomenon used to influence us every day of our lives. It can influence our mood, behaviour and feelings; making us move quickly, feel relaxed, take action, eat more and spend more.

Simple changes in colors, can lead to big changes in sales, conversion rates and much more. If you are working with colors within your business it is important to get this right. We are happy to help if you would like to know more.’

How materials are changing and developing due current situation?

Anne Taitto, Omuus Materials Director

Certain type of materials have had increase in the demand due to the virus impact to product expectations from consumer or businesses. For example materials used in medical equipment, protective clothing and gear, as well as materials that are being used for leisure activities and hobbies. In addition to these, the production of plastic sheets for the protective shield has massive increase in demand.

Many companies have transformed their production to answer to the demand, and now produce above mentioned along with their original products. From OMUUS supplier network some of the fabric suppliers and sewing factories have started the protective clothing production and chemical producers have started to produce hand disinfectant under the emergency conditions. It is great to see companies being able to be flexible to meet the demand, and also new collaborations emerging, working together to find solutions.

The demand for easy to clean, anti-bacterial and anti-viral material has risen. Beside health care, the request for these health promoting materials is for high traffic locations to protect passersby and shoppers in public transportation and market places. Due to the virus impact globally, I believe this direction in materials will have long term impact and become an expected hygiene factor across industries.

Another material and supply chain impact with the lock down has been that production has moved from the world back to country of origin. For consumer electronics this will increase the need for suppliers to be able to produce high quality specialty finishes to be able to meet the standards.

We want to thank Grace & Anne for sharing their thoughts about current situation and how it has affected to their world.

Interested of future market specific trends? Contact us and let’s discuss more of your needs!

Annina Verkkomäki +358 40 7680127

annina.verkkomaki@omuus.com

‘Consumers would naturally build a more sustainable futurebecause they would have comfortable options available.’

OMUUS interviewed Elena Amato the founder of Ponto Biodesign “when biology and design meet”. In this article we will talk about Circular Design, why it’s so important, what is happening in the field of Circular Design and what Ponto Biodesign got to do with it.

Can you introduce yourself and your company Ponto Biodesign?

My name is Elena Amato, I’m a Guatemalan designer currently living in Brazil. I’m passionate about circular design, material development using biofabrication and thinking about creative applications for those new materials. I’m the founder of Ponto Biodesign, which is an experimental lab and design studio based on the concept of “when biology and design meet”. Currently I’m researching bacterial cellulose growth using agricultural waste as nutrients for the bacteria. I’m using the bacterial cellulose to make natural, compostable materials for applications in consumer products. Ponto biodesign is still on its early stages but I have a lot of positive engagement from people.

I’m studying for a master’s degree in Design focused on materials and sustainability at the University of the State of Minas Gerais, so I decided to merge Ponto Biodesign with my master’s research for the next year and a half. The aim of the master’s project is to grow bacterial cellulose using banana peel and develop two kinds of materials for fresh fruits and vegetables packaging. The idea is to develop a natural and compostable alternative for plastic trays and PVC films currently used for these types of fresh products.

What is the story behind Ponto?

I started learning about circular economy and biofabrication in 2018 for my graduation project. I designed a more sustainable packaging system for handmade personal care products, manufactured locally with natural ingredients. In order to the packaging’s components flow in integrated and regenerative loops, I decided to use compostable materials. While researching, I started reading about bacterial cellulose and how it was being used in fashion as an experimental alternative for leather. Since the first day I started working with bacterial cellulose I was fascinated by the material and its possibilities. After a lot of experiments, I finally got a great natural, compostable, colorful material that could be used as packaging.

When I finished my graduation project, I just couldn’t stop testing new ideas, so I kept researching and creating new materials. In April 2019 I had the opportunity to be featured in a Design magazine and I was very happy to see that a lot of people were interested in the materials and wanted to buy them for their products. It was then, that I decided to found Ponto Biodesign. I began to work with bacterial cellulose but someday I would like to include fungi biofabrication and grow different kinds of materials.

At the beginning I started with a paper-like material, made purely with cellulose and natural pigments. Then I made biocomposites using food waste like orange peel, eggshell and coffee and after that I began growing the cellulose using food waste as nutrients to feed the bacteria. Every material has its own characteristic some are more flexible, translucent, brittle, smooth and even transparent.

Even though people are interested in buying the materials, we are still on a prototype stage and we still have a long way to go in order to be commercially viable. In the future, we hope they can be used for wallcovering, lampshades, toys, packaging, etc. Thinking about their application is one of the things I like the most about the process. I can’t wait to see Ponto Biodesign’s materials being produced in a wider scale and available for everyone to use.

I like to use the terminology Growing Design, created by the researchers Camere and Karana, to describe my work’s approach. In Growing Design, the materials are grown by living organisms without changing their genetic structure; designers are actively involved in material production even using DIY processes and the materials developed are intended to be used in products today or in a provable future.

What was the gamechanger in your life that motivated you to specialize in circular design?

Sometimes we blame consumers for not taking an action into building a sustainable future, but I think that if designers create thoughtful solutions, using healthy materials for the environment, building smart services, connecting stakeholders in a wider system, and thinking a lot on their experience, consumers would naturally build a more sustainable future because they would have comfortable options available.

According to research conducted by the Design Council, approximately 80% of a product’s environmental impact is defined at the initial design stage. It’s exciting to think the potential design has to reshape the future. It is very important because it has the ability to make changes from the internal business structure to the services and products that they offer to users. Knowing that, as a designer, I felt like there was no other option than to take responsibility for what I created. I wanted to actively design more sustainable options for consumers, thinking in the entire product’s life cycle starting from the material composition.

A lot of the waste we produce comes from packaging, so I want to create healthy and practical options to people and show that it’s ok to use single-use packaging when they are made with the right material. A lot of materials in nature have a short life cycle. The thing is that those materials are meant to return safety to the biological cycle in a short period of time.

Why do you think circular design is so important today?

We were born in the linear economy system, where we feel it’s natural to extract materials, manufacture products and then throw them away. But where is that “away”? We are just making huge piles of mixed materials, wasting and contaminating the resources of the planet.  The whole universe works with circular flows: our lives, energy, the climate… everything flows and one thing feeds the other. We were trying to force a linear system that obviously isn’t working.

I think that circular design is very important because if we only take resources but don’t feed them back into the system, eventually we won’t have resources anymore. We have a limited amount of resources that are meant to continuously transform into new formats, but those huge piles of mixed materials that we are making are disabling that transformation that we need in order to renew the resources.

I am thrilled to see so many initiatives around the world working to create alternative materials that can help the transition towards a more Circular Economy. For too long, we’ve been ignoring the fact that products are made with elements that are not safe for humans and nature. It’s time to start cleaning our products and processes and start working like nature does, where nothing is waste and materials flow on integrated and regenerative systems, returning safely to nature as nutrients to be a part of the material cycle again. I believe biomaterials are a great tool to promote transparency, local collaboration, fair trade, social and environmental responsibility.  In the near future, biomaterials are going to be everywhere, in medicine, fashion, packaging, toys, furniture, buildings, etc. People are asking for safe and sustainable products.

What are the greatest challenges for circular design?

For me, the greatest challenge for circular design is education and awareness. We as a community need to work together as a system and be conscious about the importance of making the shift towards a more circular economy. The easiest thing to do is to continue doing things the way we’ve been doing them. It’s easier to ignore the problem than to re-organize and re-think about material source, manufacturing process, consumer behavior and how we discard the products we buy.

Specifically, in material development using biofabrication, there are many initiatives with awesome ideas, but it is still a challenge to get the production into a wider scale because a lot of them are still researching, and in early development stages. I find companies like Ecovative, Malai, Make Grow Lab and Boltthreads an inspiration. I hope researchers and startups that are working in this field persevere so biofabricated materials can be available in wider scales and available for more people in the near future.

Another challenge is to change the impression that circular design is a utopic ideal, which only non-profit organizations work on in order to save the planet. Actually, circular design is about financially sustainable solutions. Circular design, besides being necessary in order to continue living in this planet it, has to be lucrative.

Where do you see circular design in the next 5 years?

I believe we will be more aware of the responsibility each of us as members of the community and as professionals have. There will be more regulations that benefit companies that are working towards a more circular operation and penalize those that aren’t. We will see a lot more sharing services in consumer products, more reusable and refillable products, more options of energy from renewable sources for the community, more healthy materials available, people demanding less plastic and pesticides and an increase in the demand of locally source products.

I think that in the next few years, circular design will be more a requirement than an extra feature. Circular design will be essential in every level, since the early stages of the conception of products, the materials used, the manufacturing process, how it’s delivered and the services that will help connect the product with the users and with other companies. Transparency will be a must; there will be more brands and products with tracking codes that will give the information of the whole production chain to the consumers.

Of course, I also like to think that the future will be a lot more bio. Our buildings, energy, clothes, nutrition, health, etc. will be more connected with nature and we will operate in a more symbiotic way with our environment. That means that we will have to design our physical surroundings with and for the specific characteristics of our local environment. The intersection of biology, technology and design will be a powerful tool for creating more sustainable solutions. In five years, we will see a more consolidated platform of what will drive the circular bio-economy in the future.

How would you describe your materials to an alien with 4 adjectives?

Natural, microbe-made, colorful, waste-based.

We want to thank Elena Amato for sharing her insights about Circular Design and wish the best of luck with Ponto Biodesign. We recommend to keep an eye on this future proof company here!

Do you want to know more about sustainable packaging materials? Contact us and let’s discuss more of your needs!

Annina Verkkomäki +358 40 7680127

annina.verkkomaki@omuus.com

What’s new this year in Clerkenwell design week 21-23 May 2019 in London? Per Boicel visited the venue and gives us a brief of the latest trends in office design.

Last year at Clerkenwell there were a lot of hubs where people could enclose themselves for a private conversation or simply concentrate in the midst of an open busy office landscape. However, this year there were approximately 60-70% less hubs on the show than previously. Colours continue to play an important role, and the love for plants is clearly growing.

Biophilia in office design

Many of the Design companies highlighted the importance of biophilia this year. Per had a talk with some of their representatives why they thought it was important for office design:

Vantage Spaces

Is an interior design company that produce and sell green walls with ordinary green indoor plants like Philodendron scandensplanted in wall frames with pot- pockets of growing substrate.

Plant Design

This company designs with plants and strive to bring biophilia to office spaces. (Biophilia is the human need to connect with nature and their plants bring a living piece of nature indoors).

Their main points about the benefits of indoor planting in offices are:

It Boosts Productivity: Workers who can see greenery from their desks complete work up to 12% faster and are less stressed than those in a ‘lean’ office environment. A link with natural living plants means happier people with better output and an improved bottom line. (Research by leading universities, including Washington State and Exeter)

Improves Indoor Air Quality: Indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. Every person in the office needs around 5 liters of oxygen a minute, so the more fresher air available the better. Plants release oxygen, and according to NASA, they can remove up to 87% of indoor air toxins in just 24 hours, making the air we breath much healthier.

Reduces Noise: Plants can be used to create barriers in modern open plan offices. This helps to reduce noise by around 5 decibels. By stopping the distraction of surrounding noise, you enable people to focus on their task, helping them to be more efficient.

Improves Health: The presence of live indoor planting can reduce self-reported sick days. Plants can lower cases of minor respiratory conditions and headaches caused by indoor air pollution. The use ofbiophilia can also reduce stress and fatigue, lessen absenteeism and therefore lower company sick leave costs.

Reduces Bills: Plants can reduce energy bills. By providing insulation and shade, it regulates temperatures without the need for constant air conditioning and heating. Studies have shown energy costs can be reduced by up to 20%, meaning the investment in planting will more than pay for itself.

https://www.plantdesigns.co.uk/why-plants

Spacestor

Spacestor is creating workspace furniture that combines “California cool” with London design and improving workspaces.

Spacestor Industry Trends for 2019:

Designers have super powers

Tackling loneliness and designing for meaningful social connections also means designing for a stronger immune system and brain protection (Ann Kim, Portfolio Director of Ideo Cambridge). “More and more designers will realize their superpowers. You don’t have to be a doctor or nurse to help people, designers can be healers too.”

A big holistic trend for 2019 will be the combination of wellness culture with sustainable design: eco-friendly offices full of natural light, and healthy biophilia will cater to both trends.

https://spacestor.com

Biophilia in the Workplace

Steve Dobson, Head of Workplace Consultancy at Overbury, talked about bringing nature into the office and the associated benefits of biophilia (in Greek it means “love of living things”).

Humans have a deep engrained love of nature imprinted into our DNA.

Exposure to nature has become increasingly important as we are spending more time indoors than ever and away from the natural world.

The pressure on business in attracting and retention of staff is crucial for their future (of 500 top companies in London 40% are at risk of staff loss and struggle of attracting new). The cost of hiring a new employee is equivalent to an annual salary.

Work health facts 2016/17 in UK:

12.5 million working days are lost every year due to work related stress, anxiety and depression (526.000 workers).

Costs UK businesses £28.8 billion a year due to sick days (BCO& Savills 2016).

Happy workers are on average 10-12% more productive (Warwick University Study 2014).

Stress related illness are predicted to be the largest contributors to disease by 2020 (WHO).

https://secondhome.io/lisbon

Why Biophilia?

Incorporating direct or indirect elements of nature into the built environment is proven to reduces stress, lower blood pressure level and heart rate. It increases the creativity, productivity and wellbeing.

Biophilic design is about creating good habitat for people as biological organisms in modern buildings and constructions that benefit people’s health, fitness and wellbeing.

Benefits of Biophilic design:

Reduce stress levels, fatigue and absence due to health issues.

Improve health, mood, wellbeing, engagement and productivity.

Natural light boosts the creation of melatonin the hormone that regulates the sleep cycle with extra energy (WHO).

Indoor plants in the room improve workers concentration and show 12% faster work speed (Washington State University). Blood pressure decreased and stressed reduced with indoor plants (University of Vermont).

https://www.overbury.com

How would you describe your work at Omuus?

I am one of the founding members of Omuus, all the way since the beginning of 2011. At the beginning my work was more related to finances and business strategy. Through the years it has evolved into my current role as CEO of the company. Today my typical day involves client relationships, taking care of our personnel as in the HR role and future strategy planning with our team in Finland, China and UK. I also frequently cook for the team here in Helsinki. As a family company this is very important for us as families eat together.

Can you tell us about your journey to Omuus?

I am actually an airline pilot. I’m here by accident.

Jokes aside – the other two co-founding members of Omuus, my wife Annina together with her sister Janina had careers at Nokia, where they were working as CMF designers. After Nokia they wanted to start up their own company offering CMF expertise, and I was there to support them in their mission. In a few years the company has grown from the CMF design origins to offer full range of design services, and I have had a chance to grow together with it.

Today I speak fluently design while still flying part time airplanes. I love both of my works as they nicely balance each other: my work as airline captain has trained me in decision making and to trust your people when the going gets tough. These principles apply to my work as the CEO of Omuus – fly, navigate, communicate.

Please describe some highlight of your career?

Omuus is a people business. We believe having the right people on right positions and enabling them to do great design will bring success to the company as well. The summer of 2016 Microsoft announced massive layoffs and end mobile phone business. The very day I told Annina to pick her phone and call through the best designers she worked together with during her Nokia time. Today those people are working with us at Omuus. I am proud to say our employees are our greatest asset.

Which are customers most frequently asked questions and how do you answer?

We don’t design only aspirational things. Some clients have said that our designs look expensive. We say that we possess the capability to create beautiful designs that are massproductionable with cost effectiveness. This is doable with our experience.

Most expensive product is the one that does not sell. Design really means business.

What excites you about the future of your field?

The boundaries of design are blurring. We started our company from CMF design and today along with CMF we offer industrial design, animations, service design and marketing, into studying the principles of science to the design methods. The field is expanding all the time, because brands need holistic services for their brand experience.

The evolution of design.

We started 8 years ago – almost nobody knew about CMF design. Today this discipline is mandatory for companies that want to succeed, whether in business to consumers or business to business.

The system thinking is growing as a trend, brands realize they need more than just a beautiful design – they need brand, portfolio and design strategies that address the needs of the future consumers who challenge our thinking. Omuus design is in evolution all the time, we continuously seek to evolve in our methods.

Future consumer groups.

In the next years the Millenials and Generation Z are the most influential consumer groups. During Omuus last years we have hired young talents and that has proven to be a strategic decision as we need to have the combination of expertise and understand the future consumer behaviors that influence innovative design.

Future of Omuus.

Today we work in the Europe and Asia markets, and are strongly investing in our China operations. Nordic design today is very aspirational globally and we are proud ambassadors of Finnish design.

Reduce the risk of market failures.

Satisfy all your target consumers senses.

Optimize your sales and avoid the amount of waste from unsold products.

In all its simplicity that is what colors, materials and finishes design is all about. CMF design is a familiar term in the design industry but otherwise relatively unknown part of design. This field of design is mainly used by trend orientated companies, but it is constantly evolving and searching its place in every company’s design process. Therefore, we want to spread the knowledge of the benefits of CMF design even more eagerly, so that we could enjoy better designed products and a healthier environment in the future.

Many brands are seeking competitiveness through CMF, to differentiate their products. Colors, materials and finishes are not just something to add after the design process is finished, it is more than differentiating products. It is learning how to experience design for senses. The special stimulation to senses is becoming even more important due the growing influence of digitalization, where the physical relation is often blurred.

The challenge of spreading the knowledge about CMF design is the lack of CMF designers. Even though companies would have interest in CMF design it is challenging to find suitable designers or agencies for the job. The lack of professionals in the industry is due the lack of education. Car and technology industry have been a pioneer of this field of design. In Asia they have understood the value of CMF design and they have become the driving force of the field.

This series of CMF articles will be your quick guide to the field quite unknown. This is our way to spread the word besides the dedication to our work.

Stay tuned for more #aboutcmf.