Simiæn works very close in collaboration with lichen researchers and local producers.

Simiæn was developed out of the docu-fiction of Julia Schwarz, where lichen are shown as a source of nutrition. 

Lichen are one of the first organisms which can grow on stones – here our passion to stone come to life again. 

Based on another design research project of Julia we could built on Simiæn’s first collection. LICKING ROCKS. Made of leftover stone segments the concept of stone cups was born. After two years prototyping the cups are made very resource efficient from local stones in Südburgenland, Austria. 

Simiæn combines design research, passion on the materials lichen and rocks and the drive to bring those things to life. 

We design speculative scenarios which give us a base for creating new realities.