Lecture: Structural Colour with Miriam Johnston

As part of her master’s program in Textile Design at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design, Miriam Johnston is exploring the potential of structural color through biological systems. Under the guidance of scientific associate Johann Bauerfeind at the university’s BioLab – a space where design meets biotechnology – Johnston is working with algae and bacteria to produce colors that are pigment-free and derived solely from light reflection across microscopic layers.

Unlike traditional dyes, these structural colors possess unique optical properties. Johnston specifically utilizes Flavobacteria, naturally found on anemones, to cultivate vivid hues of green and violet. These biologically generated colors are planned for use on ceramic tiles, potentially offering a sustainable alternative for color application in architecture and product design. Her research involves growing organized bacterial colonies in specially designed habitats like 3D-printed Biotubes to manipulate how light interacts with their surfaces. Inspired by the iridescence of butterfly wings and squid chromatophores, her work also investigates nutrient media and cell behavior to refine the outcome. The overarching goal: a living, responsive surface where color isn‘t added but grown – transforming both aesthetics and the way we think about color itself.