We+ has designed SO-Colored, a material-driven design project using microalgae pigments to develop biodegradable tile-based furniture.

SO-Colored explores the untapped potential of microalgae pigments as a new colour source for sustainable furniture and surface materials.

While they are commonly associated with green, algae display a rich diversity of greens and, depending on their species and growth conditions, can also produce vibrant reds, yellows and blues.

These natural hues are vivid and profound, unlike any other in the natural world.

For this project, powdered micro-algae are blended with naturally derived resins to develop an original material, which is then used to craft furniture.

The damar resin is melted and mixed with the microalgae powder, then poured onto wooden tiles. The mixture is left to cure indoors, resulting in its final form.

This project has been longlisted in the material innovation category of Dezeen Awards 2025.

Studio: We+
Project: SO-Colored
Credits: Algal Bio