lemon leather

exhibited in the biomaterials in architecture and design symposium at cca: april 4, 2024

was selected as one of cca’s project finalists in the 2024 biodesign challenge

a biomaterial i created out of lemon waste and paper pulp. the main objective for the project was the creation and implementation of a self-made biomaterial in a way that would help create a closed loop waste stream in an industry. i decided to also undergo a personal branding project on the side to give my biomaterial more substance as a design object.


biodesign
product design
branding
identity system
publication
package design

a fully biodegradable apron optimized for fruit picking made out of lemon leather, cotton, and wood

text was printed using risograph. images were printed using inkjet. a secondary copy was made completely printed using laser.

the typeface used for the logo is proxima nova, a sans serif that “is a hybrid that combines modern proportions with a geometric appearance.” i wanted to really emphasis the hybridness of this material (the fact that it’s a combination of three ingredients) so i chose a typeface with a similar background story. the “o” has been modified to fit the branding imagery.

the main branding color is a reflection of the lemon’s iconic yellow, set in two varieties of deeper shades for legibility.

for the biodesign challenge, lemon leather was combined with the other cca design’s project finalist, rebound created by lisa santaniello, to form slice of life. within 4 weeks, our duo created a new project that highlighted the farmers in the citrus industry by designing biodegradable workwear for them made out of our lemon and orange based biomaterials.