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\u2018The story of how I came across this material really shaped my relationship with this living organism. I began my design studio in 2011 and was working mainly in hydroponics. Then, I found this material in a materials library that was grown using living mycelium and hemp. Just that concept alone was so intriguing: that I didn\u2019t have to take an inert material and shape it into something; I could actually co-create with a living organism to grow an object. It really changed my whole design approach,\u2019 Danielle Trofe starts the exclusive interview with designboom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"mushlume](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mushlume_designboom_01.jpg\")
MushLume sound-absorbing lighting fixtures | image \u00a9 Rob Frost, Chance Productions<\/p>\n
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LEARNING FROM NATURE, NOT EXTRACTING FROM IT<\/p>\n
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Grounded in the philosophy of learning from nature instead of extracting from it, MushLume applies biomimicry by studying biological processes rather than simply copying their visual forms. Fostering optimal conditions for organisms to thrive, the studio<\/a> cultivates the growth of living materials and collaborates directly with biological systems to create sustainable design solutions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s really about understanding these intricate relationships, whether on an ecosystem level or on the organism level of how it functions. Nature has evolved over millions, if not billions, of years. The species that exist today have the solutions for surviving and thriving in this world. We are looking at nature as a source of information rather than just a source of material,\u2019 says Danielle. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ditching traditional manufacturing norms, MushLume develops products designed to return safely to the earth at the end of their life cycle. Instead of competing with mass production materials like plastic, the studio engages directly with architects and interior designers seeking healthy, low-embodied-carbon alternatives. This material focus results in bio-based lighting and acoustic solutions that support both planetary health and indoor well-being.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018There aren\u2019t many architects or designers who don\u2019t want to use healthy materials that have low embodied carbon or energy impact. We are all trying to specify products that are good for both the planet and the people using those spaces. What we need now is more investment and specification of biomaterials that are proving themselves. We differentiate ourselves by showing the true benefits of a compostable, non-toxic material that doesn\u2019t off-gas,\u2019 Trofe affirms. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n SCALing HANDCRAFTED BIOMATERIALS FOR COMMERCIAL spaces<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In the crafting process, agricultural and fiber hemp waste is upcycled and combined with living mycelium, the underground root network of mushrooms. Utilizing the full organism instead of its fruiting body, the studio does not take it directly from nature, but grows its material in lab or farm environments.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018We inoculate the substrate and pack it into custom molds that hold the shape of this loose, mulch-like material. Then, we create the conditions for the living organism to grow by controlling humidity, temperature, and light, allowing it to do what it does best: grow. This happens in days. Most of our lampshades are grown within 7 to 10 days,\u2019 Danielle declares. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Managed entirely in-house, inventory is constantly rotated through a strict production schedule to maximize output within a minimal footprint. \u2018We\u2019re growing, drying, storing, and then shipping \u2014 trying to do this in the least amount of space. We understand that scale is crucial for a biomaterial like this to compete in a commercial marketplace, so we need to prove that a handcraft can still compete on cost as well,\u2019 says the designer. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Whether crafting lighting fixtures, acoustic panels, or custom sculptures, MushLume scales its bio-fabricated designs to meet the demands of commercial, workplace, and residential spaces. The studio leverages the inherent performance qualities of its two core ingredients: mycelium and hemp. Achieving a Class A fire rating required for commercial lighting standards, the material relies entirely on mycelium\u2019s natural fire resistance without synthetic chemical retardants. Additionally, the porous fibrous matrix naturally absorbs sound, delivering dual-function performance that combines high-efficiency acoustic dampening directly within illuminated elements. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Instead of just single lamps, we are creating integrated acoustic lighting systems that feel like art on your wall while silently performing by adding light and sound absorption to the space,\u2019 Trofe tells designboom.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The new MushLume lab at MADE: Bush Terminal opens a pivotal chapter for the studio, consolidating design, cultivation, and production under one roof. Bringing these operations together in a single facility enables the studio to transition from an innovative experimental lab into a fully scaled commercial producer of bio-fabricated lighting and acoustic systems.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Now, we can combine everything under one roof. Beyond achieving a higher scale of production, we chose this space because we wanted a public-facing side. It allows us to bring in designers, architects, and clients to visualize the process and the end product in space. It also lets us engage with the public \u2014 students, designers interested in biomaterials, or anyone curious about the field \u2014 by hosting workshops for hands-on experience with biomaterials,\u2019 Trofe notes. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Embedded in the vibrant maker community of Sunset Park, South Brooklyn, the studio benefits from a unique creative ecosystem. Proximity to diverse fabricators, materials, and production methods encourages spontaneous cross-pollination and collaborative innovation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018As we expand into new product categories, being able to consult with fabricators working in metal, wood, or digital fabrication is so important. Just like nature operates better through shared resources in an ecosystem, the new lab allows designers and artists to collaborate by sharing resources and intelligence,\u2019 concludes Danielle Trofe. <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n project info:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n name: MADE: Bush Terminal<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n organizer: New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) <\/a>\u00a0| @nycedc\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n design studio: MushLume <\/a>\u00a0\u00a0| @mushlume_lighting<\/a><\/p>\n location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York<\/p>\n![\"mushlume](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mushlume_designboom_02.jpg\")
MushLume leverages biomimicry, integrating biological functions into design<\/p>\n![\"mushlume](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mushlume_designboom_04.jpg\")
partnering with architects and designers, the practice delivers sustainable solutions for contemporary interiors | image courtesy of\u00a0Starwood Capital Group<\/p>\n![\"mushlume](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mushlume_designboom_08.gif\")
hemp waste is upcycled and bound with living mycelium, transforming raw byproduct into bio-based material<\/p>\n![\"mushlume](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mushlume_designboom_03.jpg\")
mushlume bio-fabricated fixtures secure a class a fire rating through mycelium\u2019s natural flame resistance<\/p>\n![\"mushlume](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mushlume_designboom_06.jpg\")
unifying research, growth, and production under one roof accelerates the studio\u2019s evolution<\/p>\n![\"mushlume](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mushlume_designboom_07.gif\")
the studio\u2019s proximity to diverse creators at sunset park fuels continuous collaborative design<\/p>\n