Bioregion Colours

© Bioregion institute. Photo: Andreas Eikeseth Nygjerd.

Bioregion Colours is an upcoming research project exploring colour from local plants, algae and bio-based surplus materials in Vestland, Norway.​ Together with academic partners, we will investigate how regional biomass can become stable, high-quality pigments for design and material applications.​

The project combines practice-based design research with laboratory testing to understand both technical performance and aesthetic potential of bio-based colours.​ We focus on low-value and residual resources, aiming to turn what is currently waste into future colour sources for products, textiles and surfaces.​ Central questions are: which local resources have pigment potential, how stable are these colours, and how can they be reproduced over time.​ Insights from Bioregion Colours will form the foundation for a future regional bio colour lab in Bergen.​ This lab-in-development will link design, chemistry and local resource management to support new circular value chains.​

The project is supported by FORREGION Vestland and will run in 2025–2026 with phased work on mapping, testing and documentation.​ Results will be shared with regional partners and networks, while detailed data and methods remain within the research collaboration.​ Bioregion Colours is an early step in building place-based, climate-conscious colour systems rooted in the ecology of Vestland.

 

Process
Mapping / Modeling / Designing

Delivery
Biocolour pigment beta-lab

Timeline
2026

Research team
Lars Haugen Aardal
Dr. Siren Wilhelmsen
Birgitta Ralston
Alexandre Bau

Partners
UiB KMD

Supported by
VESTLANDSFORKNING