ANA'S - LAB

Welcome to ANA’S LAB - A creative space for research, experimentation, and collaborations at the intersection of DESIGN, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY.

Through a series of interdisciplinary projects, we explore the hidden beauty and structures of nature’s macro and micro worlds, transforming research, material innovation, and observation into fine jewellery with deeper meaning and connection.

Fashion Designer Blending Design & Science

STACK Z62 - BODY ADORNMENT
EXHIBITED AT MIT FOR DESCIENCE - SEPTEMBER 2014
by Ana Thompson in collaboration with Dr Sean Speese

THE PROJECT

Jewellery designer Ana Thompson in collaboration with molecular biologist Dr Sean Speese, set out to explore the microscopic structures of the unseen world with the aim to “inspire and create wonder”. Together they created a unique garment and 3D printed body adornment that reflects the structure and dynamic nature of the cell nucleus and the fascinating symbiosis of the forms that nature contains with the human body and are invisible to the naked eye.

THE NEW AND EMERGENT COLLABORATION

Shape and form have often been translated from our observations of nature, but in this case it has been fascinating to work with real data that has provided a pure form which has been sourced directly from nature.

"Understanding the research of Dr Sean Speese, to utilise and translate his 2D scans into 3D data has given me a fresh perspective in my design process and has led me to explore a new way of capturing shape and form in nature, directly from cells, the building blocks of life".

Using this innovative design process which takes a different direction in the jewellery industry, we have been able to capture microscopic details invisible to the human eye and apply them to fashion and body adornments.

Translating the wonders of the microscopic world into wearable adornment. a piece that highlight our times and the evolution of technology.

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Microscopic data captured by Cofocal images electron microscope, data manipulation converting 2D images into 3D forms

Production: Stereolithography, hand finishing, electroplating, gold plating.
Software: Zeiss - Zen 2011Fiji , MeshLab, Rhino, T-Splines
Materials: SLA, Electroplated Copper, 24ct Champagne Gold Plated, Fresh Water pearls.

This wearable sculpture was inspired by the nuclear periphery during a period of nuclear envelope budding a newly discovered that cells utilise to export RNA messages from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of the cell.

Above: Silk dress featuring prints derived from real macroscopic structures, combined with a sculptural body adornment created using SLA technology.

A unique garment and body adornment design to capture and translate the beauty of microscopic details into wearable art pieces.

Project created in collaboration with professor Dr Sean Speese for Descience and exhibited at MIT Media Lab.

Thank you to our Collaborators for making this project a reality:

Descience

MIT Media Lab

Profesor Yuly Fuentes

Professor Sean Speese

Richard Fox

For more details of the piece please check the video of the 360° details view of ‘StackZ62 - body adornment‘

SCIENTIFIC DATA ©DR SEAN SPEESE
DESIGNED BY ANA THOMPSON IN COLLABORATION WITH DR SEAN SPEESE
EXHIBITED AT MIT FOR DESCIENCE

MODEL: Satu Suominen
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tom Higgs
©ANA THOMPSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED