Marta Archanco and Solenne Morigeaud were one of these pairs. Marta is a postdoctoral researcher in endocrinology at Imperial College London. Solenne is a textile designer based in Paris and just received her master’s degree at Central Saint Martins. They created a proposal for an antique window complemented by wooden shutters with designs inspired by Marta’s micrographs. The women spoke to Under the Microscope about their experiences working together.

Under the Microscope: Where did you first hear about Nobelini and what made you want to participate?

Marta Archanco: I first heard about Nobelini on the bulletin board at work. The main thing that interested me was to be paired with someone who comes from a really different background and to be able to share all of our experiences; to be able to explain science and to learn how design works.  And also I was a little curious about what a designer is like.

UTM: Pairing of scientists and designers occurred during a "speed dating" event.  Did you feel an instant connection with each other?

MA: Solenne was the second designer I met and I was really impressed with her work. I saw a lot of other interesting designers but she was my first choice. I think we connected and I felt like I could bring a lot to her ideas with my background in histology[, the science of studying tissue under a microscope].

SM: I have to confess that all of the designers talked to each other after the event, and all of us said the time was very short and it was very hard to understand everybody’s projects.  Marta had beautiful images and she was really good at communicating her work, so she was one of my first choices too.

UTM: How do you see a connection between science and design?

MA:  I think communicating science is really difficult, and I think that art is like a magic tool to do it.  If you want to communicate science to not only scientists but to the general public, through art it is much easier.  Art is like another language for science.

SM:  I think they both bring something to each other.  It’s really hard to explain your scientific concept to people who are non-scientists, so design can really help.

UTM: How did you come up with the idea of using a window to present your theme “Nature Hates Emptiness”?

MA:  It was tough!  We met for one month just for brainstorming. It was ideas, ideas….Solenne had her notebook, I had my notebook. We needed to do research for this. I think that after one month of showing her tissues and cells with different magnifications, it was natural to join these two things: her experiences in glass and my passion for microscopy.

SM:  Marta really wanted to work with the window idea.  I think the idea came because my work was a lot about mirrors and glass and the way I displayed it was through windows and antique doors. I tried to warn Marta…I know how it is with design; it’s a lot of research and brainstorming because there is always something else, another inspiration, another thing you see. What is very interesting is that the idea that you end up with is always connected with your first inspiration and your first ideas, and then one day, suddenly, it makes sense. 

UTM: How has your perception of designers/scientists changed?

MA: Now I can see that design is as hard as science. It is hard research. You really need to be patient, and you need to brainstorm and think, and keep up to date with the latest trends. Doesn’t it sound like lab work?

SM: I was really expecting to be with someone that would be very into their work and have trouble talking about it. I was also expecting to be with a man! I was really impressed with Marta because she was able to give me design ideas and inspiration. She really understood the way designers work.

UTM:  What inspired you to become a scientist/designer?

MA: I cannot remember a specific moment that was the inspiration to start. I just like nature; I come from the north of Spain and we live surrounded by nature. I was good at biology and math and science in general and I just went for it. In the second year of my degree I started in the histopathology department [at the University of Navarra], and that is where I did my Ph.D.

SM: As long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be an illustrator, doing something with art. It’s funny what Marta said because I’ve always liked nature too, and I always wanted to draw it. It’s really funny how people see the same things and have different perceptions about it. I just kept going with my studies. After time, I started to see the difference between what I was good at and what I preferred, and I got into textile design that way.

UTM:  Do you think women approach science and the "science through art" concept differently than men?

MA: Absolutely. I think in general, and in the lab, there is more feeling involved in science with women. At the "speed dating" event, I think that most of us women scientists were there because we wanted to make science more beautiful through design. 

SM: I agree. From my limited experience with the “speed dating” event, I found that the women were very open and passionate about their work. They were also very curious about learning about art.

UTM:  Do you think that being involved in this project will affect how you do your job in the future?

MA: It has already changed a lot of things. I feel more interested now in communicating science to the general public, in explaining the complicated laboratory work in a simple, concise and realistic way.

SM: This project happened at the end of my studies, and during this time we talked about that:  changing your way of thinking about design. I got the opportunity to see how it would be working this way, and I loved it. It will definitely change my way of thinking about design.

Photo of Marta Archanco (top) courtesy of Marta Archanco. Photo of Solenne Morigeaud (middle) courtesy of Solenne Morigeaud. Sketch of "Nature Hates Emptiness" window (bottom) courtesy of Marta Archanco and Solenne Morigeaud.

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Marta Archanco November 03, 2009 193.60.222.2	If you want to find out more about our project you can go to http://www.corkbots.com/fabric...hives/206. We are looking forward to hear your comments.
Yolana Limman November 10, 2009 77.101.173.104	Your collaboration work is AMAZING! This is the first intriguing, innovative collaboration project between design & science. I love how both of you collaborate together and create this beautiful piece with such a STRONG message Beautiful and stunning outcome =) Would love to see the piece closely...do keep me posted for any future exhibition (based in London) Cheers! Yolana
Jillian Clemmons November 10, 2009 96.247.16.191	This article was fascinating. This type of collaboration will lead to a wider audience of art and design lovers who normally wouldn't be interested in these projects. This type of innovative, critical thinking reminds me of the new Ellen Lupton book, Design Your Life: The Pleasures and Perils of Everyday Things. Good luck with your project, ladies!
Solenne Morigeaud November 17, 2009 78.239.176.197	Your thoughts are important to us, please complete our survey on http://www.solennemorigeaud.fr/survey.html Thank you !

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