Design and maturation of a seaweed material : A material- and product-strategy study guided by small-scale values

In the thesis, challenges and the possibilities are identified within the development and scaling of seaweed-based material, while exploring the initial values of small-scale stakeholders. Three research questions are set, that concern how to design industrially with a seaweed-based material, how the material can mature while guarding the initial values of small-scale stakeholders, and how involved stakeholders can be convinced to accept a seaweed material. The main challenges that were identified concern ‘material controllability’, a ‘multi-context fit’, ‘space to guard values’ and ‘time and trust’. To approach these challenges, a seaweed-based material is designed, market opportunities that fit multiple contexts are identified, scaling principles that create space for values are explored and stories that need to be told are identified. The results formed the basis of a development roadmap of the designed material. To concretize the strategy, a design is proposed for the first phase, consisting out of a product design, a value chain proposal, and a storytelling overview.