TEAM BLOGS
Meet the Fun Guys!
WEEK 1
Who’s behind all this fungi-inspired magic? We’re a group of 10, each playing a key role in bringing this project to life. We have the wonderful Dasha, our fearless leader and the mastermind who dreamed up Fungi Beyond the Eye. Her pitch won us over, and since then, we’ve joined forces to make her vision a reality. Each of us initially researched non-human aspects of Stratford, and our combined knowledge will be key in making this collaborative installation.
Right beside Dasha are our dynamic duo of project managers, Dylan and Chantel, keeping us on track and making sure we don’t end up lost in the woods. Then we have our creative geniuses, Lena and Anthony, the media creators behind the visual magic—think stunning graphic design, animation, and all things artsy. They're the wizards making fungi look fabulous. Next up is our communications trio: Olivia, Sara, and Zenia. They’re here to keep you in the loop and help everyone understand the “why” and “how” behind our installation. If you see a fun post or engaging content, it’s probably their doing. And last but not least, we have Alex and Cameron, our technical wizards. Every member of our team has a special part to play, and together, we’re ready to wow you with Fungi Beyond the Eye!
Building our Team and Vision
WEEK 1
Today marked the exciting first day of our project, Fungi: Beyond the Eye. We kicked things off by getting into our team and Dasha, our project lead gave us a little recap on her idea, and she presented her pitch deck. We then went around the table and told each other our project roles, and if we wanted to switch our skills to any other project category. After establishing our team, we turned our attention to creating a project timeline. One of our Project Managers, Chantel created a discord channel for our communications and we also created a Google Drive to organize all of our project-related content. We thought about using a project management tool such as monday.com but, we decided against it because of the possible learning curve. We thought that having a timeline was essential because there are a lot of deliverables and it can be easy to lose track of things, so we used Google Sheets to organize all of our deliverables.
For our first video interview, we made the video with our project lead, Dasha. She shared her insights on the vision for the installation as well as the inspiration behind the project. We even learned that her favourite mushroom is the oyster mushroom. Stay tuned for updates and behind-the-scenes content as we bring Dasha’s vision to life.
Meet our Project Lead Dasha!
Tackling Deliverables
WEEK 2
In the world of creative projects, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than most people realize. To give you a glimpse into what it takes to keep everything on track, we filmed a short video interview with one of our highly dedicated PM’s, Chantel! She shared insights into her role, some tools that she relies on, and some advice for other project managers.
This week was very productive for our team and each of us got a lot completed for our respective roles. Lena and Anthony completed our Project Style Guide which is a comprehensive document with our Project’s Colour palette, Logo iterations, Typography system, Imagery styles, Layout and Accessibility Guidelines along with examples and templates. We went over the document as a team in our working session, providing some constructive feedback.
Cameron also made great strides in figuring out the technical implementation for the installation, and he presented us his ideas regarding the project’s feasibility.
Our Communications and Marketing Team also had their own meeting where they planned out their work and split deliverables on who was taking the social media posts on our Twitter and Instagram as well as the project’s promotional video.
Meet our amazing Media Creation team!
Our Tech Implementation
WEEK 2
The tech implementation team headed by Cameron did an amazing job gathering the materials and setting up the frameworks for our installation. Our prototype uses a relay module to help the Arduino communicate with the lamp, allowing it to complete the circuit when the button is pressed. This setup lets us control the lamp with just a press of a button!
The Arduino also keeps track of how long the button is held down (in milliseconds), which will be used in our final installation to determine the length of an animation. Inside the lamp, we’ve placed a UV light bulb, which reveals hidden designs on our display when it shines onto UV-sensitive ink. It’s a fun way to bring hidden visuals to life!
Demo Day
WEEK 3
This week, our group presented our project to members of the Stratford community, including City Council members as well as staff from the Lights on Stratford festival. We thank everyone who visited our booth to learn more about our Project Fungi: Beyond the Eye !
Watch our newest video interview as Zenia, one of our Social Media and Communication members interviews our tech implementation lead Cameron, on more information about the technical aspect of our prototype.
Learn more about our Demo Day prototype!
Where The Connections Take Us
WEEK 3
This week we went beyond the eye, beyond our vision, and shared our progress with our peers and the community. As we told the story of the mycelium and the expansive systems connecting the ground beneath what we can see, we were posed with a question: What about the connectivity of the earth, the fungi and the local indigenous peoples? This question is important, as it is something we have considered in the past, however incorporating this information has proven difficult as we didn’t want to misrepresent the local indigenous peoples, the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Neutral (Attawandaron) peoples.
The indigenous people have always lived in balance with nature, knowing that the earth must be tended and preserved (ONEIDA, 2023). They commonly promote a worldview where we are all spiritual beings - humans, animals, trees, plants, rocks, water, along with other co-inhabitants of the earth (Anishinaabe News, 2015). The importance of land and acknowledgement and the connection with nature emphasizes the longstanding history that has brought us to this land and allows us to understand our place within that history (Native Governance, 2019). Acknowledging the relationships and culture associated with the land that we are highlighting is of the highest importance.
Through Fungi Beyond the Eye, we seek to provide a platform for the unseen. It is also important that we also provide a platform for those that deserve to be heard. While it may be difficult to describe and inform the viewer of this connection through our installation, we hope to display our intention to promote the vast connection of the mycelium roots and their connection to the Stratford community.
In "Fungi Beyond the Eye," we explore mycelium as a connective force—a vast, unseen network that fosters symbiosis and resource-sharing across ecosystems. Mycelium’s remarkable ability to interconnect living organisms has captivated us, pushing us to reimagine connectivity through its natural lens. But mycelium’s story doesn’t stop in the forest or under the microscope; its potential to interconnect extends into the business world, where companies are leveraging its unique properties to build sustainable solutions that bridge ecological and commercial interests. The numbers highlight this transformative shift. Valued at $2.95 billion in 2021, the global mycelium market is expected to reach $5.49 billion by 2030, showing that investors and industries see more than just a new material—they see a sustainable network. Mycelium startups, like Ecovative, are raising millions to scale production, capitalizing on mycelium’s ability to create biodegradable alternatives to plastics, leathers, and more. This isn’t just about replacing one material with another; it’s about tapping into the principles of mycelium itself—regenerative growth, circularity, and connectivity.
Our project celebrates mycelium’s intricate underground networks, a marvel of natural connection. Similarly, mycelium-based businesses are creating new connections, linking industries with sustainable practices that minimize waste and promote regeneration. From packaging solutions adopted by companies like Dell to alternative meats developed by innovators like PrimeRoots, these applications are rewriting how businesses operate. They echo the same symbiotic principles we explore, albeit on a commercial scale. However, the leap from lab to marketplace is no simple feat. Scaling up to meet demand while retaining environmental integrity requires significant investment and patience. It also calls for cooperation among pioneers in the field. Initiatives like MycoStories work to strengthen these business "mycelium networks" by fostering collaboration and sharing resources, much like the natural mycelium networks we study in our project.
So, while our project delves into the idea of connectivity within ecosystems, there is a powerful parallel in the business applications of mycelium. It’s a world where ecological innovation and commerce connect, setting the stage for sustainable growth across industries. By mirroring mycelium’s natural wisdom, businesses can help build a more connected, regenerative world—one where the promise of mycelium extends beyond the forest floor to the very foundations of the global economy.
The Business of Mycelium
WEEK 4
Meet Chantel!
WEEK 4
Mycologists - Who are they?
WEEK 5
Mycologists are the unsung heroes of the scientific world, diving deep into the connectivity of fungi. Their work spans from dense forests to cutting-edge laboratories, uncovering the many roles fungi play in ecosystems and human lives. Whether it’s studying how fungal networks connect trees or discovering life-saving antibiotics, mycologists reveal the hidden complexities of the fungal kingdom. The field of mycology has come a long way since the 18th century, when early pioneers like Elias Magnus Fries began cataloging mushrooms. Even Beatrix Potter, best known for her beloved children’s book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, contributed to the field through her detailed illustrations and studies of fungal spores. Today, mycologists are still uncovering mysteries that continue to challenge and expand our understanding of nature. Modern mycologists work across disciplines, from ecology to medicine. They explore how fungi contribute to nutrient cycling, clean up pollutants, and even serve as sustainable alternatives to plastics. These scientists are also uncovering fungi’s potential in carbon storage and climate change mitigation, making their work more critical than ever. Figures like Paul Stamets and Suzanne Simard have brought the world of fungi into the public eye, sparking widespread curiosity and appreciation. Mycologists like them, and countless others working behind the scenes, are reshaping how we think about fungi—not as isolated organisms, but as vital parts of the interconnected systems that sustain life on Earth.
The work of mycologists also goes beyond the realm of science, inspiring creative interpretations like Fungi Beyond the Eye. By revealing the hidden networks and intricate dynamics of fungi, mycologists provide a foundation for artistic explorations that reimagine how we perceive the natural world. Their insights blur the lines between science and art, inviting us to see fungi not just as ecological powerhouses but as sources of wonder, connection, and inspiration.
Project Learnings w/Dasha!
WEEK 5
In our newest video interview, Dasha gives us an update on how she is feeling as the final week of the Project approaches! She also gives us insights into how her experience has been as a leader for our project, what she has learned and how it has evolved over time.