Designer and researcher working with textiles, sustainability and material based storytelling.
Hi!
I’m a designer and creative researcher exploring material-based storytelling through projects that investigate sustainability across multiple disciplines. My work focuses on narratives surrounding the textile industry, technology, and history, as well as human–nature relationships and engagement with living systems as active collaborators.
After graduating with a BA in Textile Design from Heriot-Watt University in the Scottish Borders, I worked as a woven textile designer for the luxury market. This experience deepened my understanding of both traditional and contemporary manufacturing methods but also prompted me to question whether alternative approaches might be possible. To explore this further, I completed an MA in Material Futures at Central Saint Martins, where I developed an interdisciplinary and experimental approach to material research. In my project Myco Colour, I worked with living fungi to colour materials, deepening my practice of working with living systems.
More recently, in my role as Ethics and Sustainability Manager, I have continued to investigate global supply chains and manufacturing processes, leading creative sustainability campaigns that communicate the rich but often complex realities of the industry.
Get in touch if you are interested in collaboration or just curious.
︎ lienekazak@gmail.com
︎ @liene_kazaka
I’m a designer and creative researcher exploring material-based storytelling through projects that investigate sustainability across multiple disciplines. My work focuses on narratives surrounding the textile industry, technology, and history, as well as human–nature relationships and engagement with living systems as active collaborators.
After graduating with a BA in Textile Design from Heriot-Watt University in the Scottish Borders, I worked as a woven textile designer for the luxury market. This experience deepened my understanding of both traditional and contemporary manufacturing methods but also prompted me to question whether alternative approaches might be possible. To explore this further, I completed an MA in Material Futures at Central Saint Martins, where I developed an interdisciplinary and experimental approach to material research. In my project Myco Colour, I worked with living fungi to colour materials, deepening my practice of working with living systems.
More recently, in my role as Ethics and Sustainability Manager, I have continued to investigate global supply chains and manufacturing processes, leading creative sustainability campaigns that communicate the rich but often complex realities of the industry.
Get in touch if you are interested in collaboration or just curious.
︎ lienekazak@gmail.com
︎ @liene_kazaka
Publications
2023
Feature
“Let's Become Fungal!” by Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez
Book
Feature
Crafts Magazine Spring/Summer 2023
2022
“The Story of a Blue Mushroom”,
by Liene Kazaka
Tatter journal,
Issue 3: Blue
2021
Feature,
_Shift
Online
Feature,
Plural Magazine
Online
The Future of Colour Report, Luminary, Issue 25
Part of collection,
Future Materials Bank
Online
Colour Hive,
Mix Magazine No. 65
Haeckels,
Blue Mind Journal
Online
Exhibitions
2022
17th Sept- 28th Oct
Let’s Play With Chaos
Aram Gallery, Aram Store
London, UK
28th Apr- 21st May
Material Futures X Aram Gallery
Aram Gallery, Aram Store
London, UK
8-10th Feb
Surface Design Show, Business Design Centre
London, UK
2021
16-24th Oct
“United Matters” at Microlab, Dutch Design week
Eindhoven, NL
18-26th Sept
“Material Heroes” at Kings Cross, London Design Festival
London, UK
18-29th Sept
“Mycota” at Project Thirteen, London Design Festival
London, UK
24th Jun-4th July
“Material Futures degree show 2021”
London, UK
2019
30th Nov
“The Everyday Martian”
London Design Museum
London, UK
2018
21st-23rd Sept
Premier Vision with
Lochcarron of Scotland Paris, FR
2016
17th- 25th Sept
“New Designers 2016”
London, UK
Talks & Workshops
2025
3rd & 4th Feb
“On remediation and interfacing: Mycelium with Nina Flaitz and Liene Kazaka”
Talk & workshop
Living Library, HfG Karlsruhe, DE
2024
28th Feb
“Fungi Form”
with Carolina Perez
Lecture & workshop
University of Greenwich
London, UK
2023
27th-28th Oct
“Design for the non-human”
Talk & workshop
Design Today festival
Guadalajara, MEX
2022
Jun
Future Materials Encounter: Blue Elf Cup
Talk & workshop
Future Materials Bank, Jan van Eyck Academy
Maastricht, NL
Feb
Mikoloģijas 60`. Zilzaļās sēnes un mūsdienu tehnoloģijas (Mushrooms & Design)
Latvijas Mikologu biedrība un draugi
Online, LV
2021
Sept
Q&A, “Planet Fungi”, Waltham Forest Fungus Forthnight
London, UK