MEMORABILIA FACTORY KIT

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MEMORABILIA FACTORY

The result of an experimental project commissioned by Design Exquis for the London Design Festival in 2012, Memorabilia factory is a kit for making one’s own souvenirs.

The experiment draws inspiration from Cadavre Exquis, a favorite practice of illustrators and writers that consists of constructing one piece from another, already-existing piece.

Applied to design, the method was a true challenge. The object Bold-design received from its predecessors was a bacteria detector that analyzed sand on beaches and in sandboxes to make sure it was safe for children.

Julien and William decided to rework the concept by looking at bacteria from a different angle. We have all built sand castles, at some point in our lives, without experiencing harmful side effects.

Based on this premise, Bold-design researched the qualities of various bacteria. They discovered that Sporosarcina pasteurii bacteria naturally calcifies sand. This biological phenomenon has been seen in stromatolites – unusual rock formations – on the Australian and New Zealand coastlines.

Taking inspiration from these landscapes, the Memorabilia factory concept emerged : a kit designed to preserve sand sculptures as souvenirs.

Bold-design’s meeting with the Solétanche Bachy construction company was vital. the company let Bold-design do research in their laboratories using their Biocalcis® calcification process, and the project was completed more rapidly.

The collaboration resulted in the creation of a Memorabilia factory kit that includes a mold, a wooden tool and two bottles of “Memorabilia Builders” and “Memorabilia Fixing Agent”, one containing Sporosarcina pasteurii bacteria and one with a calcifying solution.

www.bold-design.fr