WantedDesign Member
Discover the unique stories and creative journeys of our WantedDesign members as they share their inspirations, design philosophies, and standout work.
Danielle Trofe
MushLume Lighting & Danielle Trofe Design
BioDesigner | Biomimicry Specialist
Danielle founded her studio in 2011 with the goal to make sustainable design both accessible and attractive. With an emphasis on biofabrication and biomimicry, much of her work upholds a fundamental value of nature and embodies a systems thinking approach that benefits all life on this planet. Danielle is also the founder and head biodesigner of MushLume Lighting, an international, sustainable lighting company that grows lighting from mycelium, the roots of mushrooms. She is a certified Biomimicry Specialist through Biomimicry 3.8 and has taught courses on biodesign and biomimicry at The Pratt Institute and Parsons The New School.
Design Approach and Inspiration
By harnessing innovative technologies and material sciences to create functional and accessible design, Danielle aims to encourage a departure from conventional materials and production techniques in search of long-term, sustainable solutions. Her work is an exploration across budding bio-fields, with formal training in biomimicry, professional experience in biodesign and commercialization in biofabrication. Focusing on prototype development and testing in order to create scalable production processes, Danielle takes on bold projects that yield innovative and valuable returns that benefit both people and the planet.
Get to know them better...
What’s the one item in your home that you can’t live without, and why?
DT: My electric tea kettle, I keep it running all day long
What’s your go-to playlist or song when you need a creative boost?
DT: Anything with a spanish guitar vibe
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
DT: A material scientist
My dream
DT: I think the Academy and Social Club can be so beneficial for all designers. It is so difficult to connect with others outside of industry events and also to learn about each other and from each other has much appeal to me.
I believe I can contribute by sharing my connections and experience in biodesign with the community at large. Sustainable materials and design can be difficult to navigate or know where to even start and to be a resource to help young designers would help to serve the whole.
