Normal Phenomena of Life: Shaping the Future of Biodesign as an Independent Brand

We are excited to announce that Normal Phenomena of Life (NPOL) is now officially a Faber Futures brand! Originally incubated through a creative partnership with our long-time client, Ginkgo Bioworks, NPOL has taken the bold step to become an independent venture under our full ownership. As an extension of the LAB at Faber Futures, NPOL serves as a platform to bring our deep research and thinking into tangible outcomes that not only offer a glimpse into the future but actively shape emerging markets. We are immensely grateful to Ginkgo Bioworks for their trust, support, and creative freedom, which allowed us to nurture and grow this innovative concept with minimal constraints.

NPOL is a biodesign-native brand and innovation pipeline, offering a unique approach to product development within the new bioeconomy. By blending cutting-edge biotechnology with craft-oriented design, our NPOL Originals—elevated limited editions—represent a design-driven logic that works with living systems, fostering new value chains grounded in sustainability and social impact. Since its launch in 2023, NPOL has delivered a range of pioneering products, including the Exploring Jacket, a certified silk smock dyed with Faber Futures’ proprietary microbial dyes; Words on Paper, a limited edition print series made with Living Ink’s black algal ink in collaboration with letterpress artist Kelvyn Smith; and the Gathering Lamp, crafted from a material derived using Biomason’s microbial technology, which turns sand into stone. We believe that these and other curated products available on our platform are shaping the future of goods across fashion, homewares, and interiors.

As we continue developing new NPOL Originals, expanding our offer of curated lifestyle products and telling wide-reaching, engaging stories on this biophilic revolution through our journal, we look forward to the exciting cross-industry opportunities this timely transition brings. We are eager to collaborate with forward-thinking brands and organisations, institutions and technology developers to expand further our vision for biodesign and its transformative role in shaping the future.

Learn more about Normal Phenomena of Life in this Financial Times exclusive.

Contact us if you’d like to explore how we can work together, and subscribe to the NPOL newsletter for updates and exclusive offers as we embark on this exciting new chapter!