Studio Goos & Brücker present With(out) Us), an installation that explores how design and material research can support coexistence between human and non-human lifeforms, particularly macro- and microorganisms such as algae, bacteria, and lichens, in the face of global ecological crises.

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The installation features two videos. “With Us” envisions a future in which humans live in symbiosis with microbial life, co-creating shared environments and systems of care. In this scenario, algae are used both as a material for clothing and as living agents of bioremediation, capable of absorbing CO₂, filtering pollutants, and restoring ecosystems. The garments serve as speculative habitats, integrating microorganisms directly into the human body’s extended environment. In contrast, “Without Us” imagines a post-human world where microbial life reclaims the ruins of human civilization and forms new ecologies beyond human presence.

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Can mutual empathy and care with these sometimes strange, slippery creatures succeed? And if not, will a new diversity of primordial organisms emerge in the ruins of human activity, in the absence of humans?

The sculptural objects and garments, made from compostable biocomposites based on micro- and macroalgae, challenge extractive systems of production while exploring regenerative, climate-positive design practices. The project invites reflection on empathy, care, and the potential of interspecies collaboration.

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ABOUT STUDIO GOOS & BRÜCKER

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Bea Brücker and Vincent Goos combine biodesign, animation, fashion, and speculative storytelling in their collaborative work. Microorganisms form the foundation of Brücker’s material research and wearable sculptures. Her practice aims to merge fashion with ecological repair, not by simply integrating new materials into existing exploitative systems, but by developing climate-positive, post-capitalist design approaches. Vincent Goos, working with 3D animation, creates speculative biological beings and worlds, exploring the parallels between biological and digital processes. Together, they create physical and digital alternative realities where garments serve as living habitats for more-than-human organisms. Their work invites viewers to rethink their relationship with microbial life and to imagine futures shaped by symbiotic relationships and ecological resilience, highlighting the role of design in cultivating a post-capitalist future of care.

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​Concept & Design: Studio Goos & Brücker

Cinematography: Leon Daniel

Cast: Lilo Gruner