Photos: Sarah Franzl
Julia Schwarz is a designer focussing on food futures and is also head of the Food & Design university course at the New Design University where she deals with this topic. Based on her diploma thesis ‘Unseen Edible’ at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, where she studied Design Investigations, she shows lichens as an alternative food source in a docu-fiction.
This laid the foundation for her further work and her mission. As a result, she founded SIMIÆN, where she works with lichen and stone. Since lichen could even survive on Mars, its resilience makes it highly interesting as a sustainable food resource.
This laid the foundation for her further work and her mission. As a result, she founded SIMIÆN, where she works with lichen and stone. Since lichen could even survive on Mars, its resilience makes it highly interesting as a sustainable food resource.
Get in Touch for Projects & Collabs:
Projects related to lichen and natural stones, food design
Projects related to lichen and natural stones, food design
More about Julia
Julia Schwarz' interdisciplinary approach combines design, society and science to develop new perspectives for the future.
After studying at the University of Applied Arts Vienna (Studios for Design Investigations and Industrial Design) and at the Arkitektur- og Designhøgskole in Oslo (Tangible Interaction Design), Schwarz gained international experience at design institutes such as Fabrica in Veneto and Perfect Fools in Amsterdam.
Together with Lisi Penker she founded the design brand SIMIÆN which specialises in the development of products made of natural stone and drinks made of lichen. The SIMIÆN brand grew out of Schwarz's diploma thesis ‘Unseen Edible’, in which she explores the potential of lichen as an alternative food source.
After studying at the University of Applied Arts Vienna (Studios for Design Investigations and Industrial Design) and at the Arkitektur- og Designhøgskole in Oslo (Tangible Interaction Design), Schwarz gained international experience at design institutes such as Fabrica in Veneto and Perfect Fools in Amsterdam.
Together with Lisi Penker she founded the design brand SIMIÆN which specialises in the development of products made of natural stone and drinks made of lichen. The SIMIÆN brand grew out of Schwarz's diploma thesis ‘Unseen Edible’, in which she explores the potential of lichen as an alternative food source.
Her projects have been presented worldwide in renowned museums and at design events, including the MAK Vienna, Dutch and Milan Design Week, Harvest Futurescape in China and IDS Vancouver in Canada. In 2019 she was listed as one of the most significant designers by icondesign, was featured in the future report Top Future 100 by JWT
Schwarz's work has received international recognition, including the BIG SEE Design Award 2024, and her innovative concepts have been featured in numerous publications on food & design as well as in renowned media such as Dezeen, Monocle and the New York Times. In 2020 she was involved in the university course development of Food & Design for the New Design University (NDU) where she is now a main tutor and head of Food & Design. Julia is also a founding member of Design in Gesellschaft - just recently she opened up Studio Wasser - an association for culinary, table culture and design.
Schwarz's work has received international recognition, including the BIG SEE Design Award 2024, and her innovative concepts have been featured in numerous publications on food & design as well as in renowned media such as Dezeen, Monocle and the New York Times. In 2020 she was involved in the university course development of Food & Design for the New Design University (NDU) where she is now a main tutor and head of Food & Design. Julia is also a founding member of Design in Gesellschaft - just recently she opened up Studio Wasser - an association for culinary, table culture and design.
TALKS & LECTURES:
Open Mic- FFG Innovators, AUT 2025
Taste Talks, B:IAO, AUT 2025
Lichen in Agriculture Workshop and Talk, AUT 2025
Lecture about fast interiors, NDU 2024
Klima Biennale Lichens as a Food Source , AUT 2024
Taste Talks, B:IAO, AUT 2025
Lichen in Agriculture Workshop and Talk, AUT 2025
Lecture about fast interiors, NDU 2024
Klima Biennale Lichens as a Food Source , AUT 2024
Roadstories at University of Applied Arts ,Vienna 2022
KunstUni Linz, Lichen and Material Workshop, Linz, 2023
Talk: Food Futures and investigative Design, NDU St. Pölten, 2020
Talk: Permakultur Austria, Vienna 2019
KunstUni Linz, Lichen and Material Workshop, Linz, 2023
Talk: Food Futures and investigative Design, NDU St. Pölten, 2020
Talk: Permakultur Austria, Vienna 2019
Round Table Food Futures, Vienna Designweek 2019
AUT NOW, MAK VIENNA 2024-2025
Vienna Vibes, Milan Design Week, IT 2025
Exhibition & Tasting Experience at Common Things, New York, USA 2024
Social media awards partner London, GB 2024
Award for Regionality Burgenland, 2024
BIG SEE Award Europe, 2024
Design District - Circular Design, Austria 2024
T/Waste Kiosk - Netherlands/Austria 2024
Vienna Design Week 2024: Codes of Lichen, Insect society & us, Austria 2024
Klima Biennale, Austria 2024
World of Interiors Magazine - Design Report 2023/24
Food Design 100 - China, 2023Pop Chop Future Food Festival, Austria 2023
Vienna Design Week, ( SIMIÆN +NDU Food & Design) Austria 2023
Vienna Vibes, Milan Design Week, IT 2025
Exhibition & Tasting Experience at Common Things, New York, USA 2024
Social media awards partner London, GB 2024
Award for Regionality Burgenland, 2024
BIG SEE Award Europe, 2024
Design District - Circular Design, Austria 2024
T/Waste Kiosk - Netherlands/Austria 2024
Vienna Design Week 2024: Codes of Lichen, Insect society & us, Austria 2024
Klima Biennale, Austria 2024
World of Interiors Magazine - Design Report 2023/24
Food Design 100 - China, 2023Pop Chop Future Food Festival, Austria 2023
Vienna Design Week, ( SIMIÆN +NDU Food & Design) Austria 2023
Fifteen Seconds Future Festival, Austria 2023
Berlin Design Week, Austrian Embassy, GER, 2023
Milan Design Week, Isola Design, 2023
Dateding, Design in Gesellschaft, Vienna, 2023
Museum of applied Arts Vienna , Teahouse, 2023
Berlin Design Week, Austrian Embassy, GER, 2023
Milan Design Week, Isola Design, 2023
Dateding, Design in Gesellschaft, Vienna, 2023
Museum of applied Arts Vienna , Teahouse, 2023
Mycota Lichen Tasting Experience, Soho London, 2023
Otl Aicher Symposium, Suppa Inklusive, Design Forum, 2023
TEM, Tea Ceremony Experience, Vienna, 2023
Salon Souterrain - Angewandte Innovation Lab, Tea Ceremony and Panel Discussion 2022
Einfach Leben Forum, Salzburg 2022
Vienna Design Week with Saint Charles Apothecary 2022
Vienna Design Week Design in Gesellschaft, Ding Dong, 2022
Vienna Design Week, Design Everyday, 2022
MAK Design Nite, Vienna 2022
TEM Symposium, Traditional European Medicine, Salzburg - Austria, 2022
Mycota Book Launch, London Design Festival, 2022
The Index Project Award nominee, 2021
Harvest Futurescape, Hebei Industrial Design Week + SZIDF, China, 2021
Mycota - London Design Festival, UK 2021
Vienna Design Week, Urban Food 2021
Vienna Design Week, Design in Gesellschaft 2021
Biennale for Change, MAK, Vienna 202Serial Eater and Plant Fever, CID Belgium, Grand-Hornu 2020
Edible Futures, Canada (Museum of Agriculture Ottawa, IDS Vancouver, IDS Toronto) 2019/2020
Precious Paradise, Museum Rijswijk, Den Hague 2020
A-List - Lichen Experience Dinner 2019EAT Festival, Biotopia Naturkundemuseum, Munich 2019
Rado Starprize Austria 2019, Unexpected Expressive, Vienna 2019
Dutch Embassy of Food (DIFD), Edible Invisible - 2018
Dutch Design Week, het Veem & Antenna Expo - 2018
Otl Aicher Symposium, Suppa Inklusive, Design Forum, 2023
TEM, Tea Ceremony Experience, Vienna, 2023
Salon Souterrain - Angewandte Innovation Lab, Tea Ceremony and Panel Discussion 2022
Einfach Leben Forum, Salzburg 2022
Vienna Design Week with Saint Charles Apothecary 2022
Vienna Design Week Design in Gesellschaft, Ding Dong, 2022
Vienna Design Week, Design Everyday, 2022
MAK Design Nite, Vienna 2022
TEM Symposium, Traditional European Medicine, Salzburg - Austria, 2022
Mycota Book Launch, London Design Festival, 2022
The Index Project Award nominee, 2021
Harvest Futurescape, Hebei Industrial Design Week + SZIDF, China, 2021
Mycota - London Design Festival, UK 2021
Vienna Design Week, Urban Food 2021
Vienna Design Week, Design in Gesellschaft 2021
Biennale for Change, MAK, Vienna 202Serial Eater and Plant Fever, CID Belgium, Grand-Hornu 2020
Edible Futures, Canada (Museum of Agriculture Ottawa, IDS Vancouver, IDS Toronto) 2019/2020
Precious Paradise, Museum Rijswijk, Den Hague 2020
A-List - Lichen Experience Dinner 2019EAT Festival, Biotopia Naturkundemuseum, Munich 2019
Rado Starprize Austria 2019, Unexpected Expressive, Vienna 2019
Dutch Embassy of Food (DIFD), Edible Invisible - 2018
Dutch Design Week, het Veem & Antenna Expo - 2018
Vienna Design Week - 2018
Vienna Design Biennale - Design for Agency 2017
AHO Works Exhibition, Oslo 2015/2016
Elvelangs Lightfestival Oslo 2015
Salon Jardin Vienna, Vienna 2015
Vienna Design Biennale - Design for Agency 2017
AHO Works Exhibition, Oslo 2015/2016
Elvelangs Lightfestival Oslo 2015
Salon Jardin Vienna, Vienna 2015
The Essence, Vienna 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
Shanghai Design Biennale - Urban Change 2014
Chelsea Fringe - exhibition and conference, Vienna 2014
Icon Design: 100 Talenti del 2019 nel Mondo del Progetto ( Top 10 of Food Design)
Top Future 100: 2019, by JWT intelligence company ( Top 10 of Food Design)
Shanghai Design Biennale - Urban Change 2014
Chelsea Fringe - exhibition and conference, Vienna 2014
Icon Design: 100 Talenti del 2019 nel Mondo del Progetto ( Top 10 of Food Design)
Top Future 100: 2019, by JWT intelligence company ( Top 10 of Food Design)
Antenna Conference - World’s Best Design Graduates, by Design Indaba & Dutch Design Week, 2018
Winner Urban Food Design Challenge, by Vienna Business Agency & Vienna Design Week 2018
ARTist grant of the University of Applied Arts 2018
Recognition Award of the Province of Burgenland 2018
Scholarship of Excellence 2013
Winner Urban Food Design Challenge, by Vienna Business Agency & Vienna Design Week 2018
ARTist grant of the University of Applied Arts 2018
Recognition Award of the Province of Burgenland 2018
Scholarship of Excellence 2013
PUBLICATIONS & PODCASTS - read & listen:
Dezeen // Mold // Monocle // Springwise Intelligence // Wallpaper // The Daily Telegraph // Pearlfisher
Domus // die Presse // Euronews // AECOC Innovation Hub // Arts Thread // Elle Decor // Arts Thread // Archipanic
Biorama // Studio International // Alaxon // Dis up! // Trendhunter // Trendhunter Top 100 // Fontys Academy
Ppaper // Naver // Insight // Elle // Stylist // Gondola Magazine // Gulfnews // Vesti Russia // ORF
Brabant Celebrates Food // Meter Magazine // Wiener Zeitung // Trendwelten // Montecristo Magazine //
Air Canada // KtchnRebel // Cámera de Comercio de Bogotá // damnmagazine // trendland // archpaper
The Dutch Institute of Food and Design // Design Indaba // Vienna Business Agency // Undesignit // Stadtfabrik // A List//Parnass // haeckels //Südtiroler Fachmagazin // rahn group // le journal des arts // next nature // The Monopolitan // lejournaldesarts //arch paper // kunstforum // sophiecarree // etapes
ONLY PRINT: Hanni Rützler's Food Report 2020 // Metatrend Report 2019 (South Korea) // Lamono Magazine Barcelona // Wohndesign (Germany) // Cyprus Today // Parnass // VOGUE // New York Times // Vanity Fair // World of Interiors
Books: FOOD DESIGN 100 // Kyoto Design Lab - Food & Design Japan // Food Designer 100 // Mycota Material Connections //
PODCAST: Folge 4: Algen, Moose und Flechten; Pflanzenfreund
PODCAST: Vienna Business Agency, Podcast by Visionistas about Unseen Edibles. You can listen here
MAK-Workshop: WILDE WERKSTÄTTEN
Unseen Edible was also shown in different educational formats:
e.g. University of Graz, University of Vienna, UNSW Sydney
Domus // die Presse // Euronews // AECOC Innovation Hub // Arts Thread // Elle Decor // Arts Thread // Archipanic
Biorama // Studio International // Alaxon // Dis up! // Trendhunter // Trendhunter Top 100 // Fontys Academy
Ppaper // Naver // Insight // Elle // Stylist // Gondola Magazine // Gulfnews // Vesti Russia // ORF
Brabant Celebrates Food // Meter Magazine // Wiener Zeitung // Trendwelten // Montecristo Magazine //
Air Canada // KtchnRebel // Cámera de Comercio de Bogotá // damnmagazine // trendland // archpaper
The Dutch Institute of Food and Design // Design Indaba // Vienna Business Agency // Undesignit // Stadtfabrik // A List//Parnass // haeckels //Südtiroler Fachmagazin // rahn group // le journal des arts // next nature // The Monopolitan // lejournaldesarts //arch paper // kunstforum // sophiecarree // etapes
ONLY PRINT: Hanni Rützler's Food Report 2020 // Metatrend Report 2019 (South Korea) // Lamono Magazine Barcelona // Wohndesign (Germany) // Cyprus Today // Parnass // VOGUE // New York Times // Vanity Fair // World of Interiors
Books: FOOD DESIGN 100 // Kyoto Design Lab - Food & Design Japan // Food Designer 100 // Mycota Material Connections //
PODCAST: Folge 4: Algen, Moose und Flechten; Pflanzenfreund
PODCAST: Vienna Business Agency, Podcast by Visionistas about Unseen Edibles. You can listen here
MAK-Workshop: WILDE WERKSTÄTTEN
Unseen Edible was also shown in different educational formats:
e.g. University of Graz, University of Vienna, UNSW Sydney
Imprint:
Julia Schwarz
Studio for Design
Engerthstraße 124, Hinterhaus
1200 Wien
UID (vat identification number):
ATU77095858
