FlowState

Biodesign Challenge

A team of four students from College for Creative Studies took first place for their sustainable spray paint, FlowState, at the international Biodesign Challenge Summit (BDC) held at Parsons School of Design in New York City in June. The team also developed a research-backed brand strategy and visual identity to accompany their final product.

A close-up view of a rough concrete wall featuring stenciled designs in earth-toned bio-paints, including the word 'Flowstate' in stylized typography alongside repeated 'CCS' logos and geometric, brick-like patterns.
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van DuyneColor & Materials Design

To better understand local needs and fine-tune their finished product, the team had a sponsored partnership with Brittany Dabney at Ecosphere Organics, a collaboration with LeJuan Council at Feed Your Neighbor and received BDC mentorship from Jennifer Willet, Director of the Incubator Art Lab in Windsor, Canada.

This win marks the third time CCS has taken home the first-place prize, the Glass Microbe, competing among 50+ international schools from over 17 countries.

Client
Biodesign Challenge

Team
Maxim Van Duyne, Abigail Carballo, O’Dell Carson III, Amber Tao

 

BiodesignMaterial ScienceGraphic DesignBranding

“While it’s always a heavy lift,” McClintock said, “watching the students connect with people of like minds — who are at the intersection of design, science, play, materiality, and sustainability — and see the smiles on their faces when being seen and understood…this is the greatest gift.”

Diagram showing synthetic spray paint chemical layers deconstructed and replaced with bio-based alternative materials.
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van Duyne
A close-up, angled view of clear petri dishes arranged in rows on a white surface, filled with colorful organic materials, pigments, and fine powders derived from food waste.
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van Duyne
Hands holding a square board displaying six rectangular test blocks coated with brushed paint samples in shades of green, yellow, brown, and reddish-tan.
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van Duyne
A flat-lay presentation board for the Flowstate project featuring small rectangular textured color swatches, round petri dishes with pigmented powders, instructional diagrams, and a color chart of natural dye shades.
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van Duyne
A person wearing a white lab coat and yellow baseball cap holding a pneumatic spray gun with dark liquid while placing a stencil onto a textured concrete outdoor wall covered in orange stenciled patterns and logos.
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van Duyne
Close-up of a textured concrete wall displaying test-applied pigments using stencils, including stylized graffiti lettering for "FlowState" and geometric patterns in earth-toned brown and orange.
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van Duyne
Three team members in white lab coats field-test spray paint against a tall concrete wall topped with a chain-link fence. One person uses a spray gun through a stencil while the others observe the application.
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van Duyne
A group of students with their professor and Chair, Melanie McClintock, and Brittany Dabney from Ecosphere Organics
Abigail Carballo, O'Dell Carson III, Amber Tao, Maxim Van Duyne

“I couldn’t be prouder,” said McClintock. “The team jumped into working with the community immediately after receiving the brief and let the community’s needs drive their concept.”