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Bonus episode: Algae, sustainability and systems design with Rebecca Lawson of Aesop and Jessie French of Other Matter
Season 21
Episode 9
Published 1 month ago
Description
Can algae reshape a global beauty brand's material future? In this special summer bonus episode — recorded live at Aesop's Copenhagen store during 3daysofdesign — Grant Gibson is joined by Rebecca Lawson, Aesop's head of sustainability, and multi-award-winning artist and designer Jessie French, founder of Melbourne-based studio Other Matter.
In this episode, we dive into the collaboration between a heritage skincare brand and a pioneer of algae-derived polymers. We discuss:
- The Philosophy of Aesop: The history and ethos behind one of design's most-loved brands.
- Products with Purpose: Where sustainability sits inside the brand's DNA.
- Working with Algae: How Other Matter is turning a marine resource into a revolutionary material.
- Systems Design: Why the smartest sustainability is structural, not superficial.
- A Revolutionary Signage Film: The Aesop–French collaboration bringing algae into the built environment.
- Waste as Luxury: How Jessie is transforming her studio waste into a leather alternative.
Rebecca and Jessie also reflect on why the two forces joined up in the first place, and where their partnership could go next.
Explore more: Visit materialmatters.design for more on our fairs and conferences.
This episode has been sponsored by Aesop.