An instrument of discovery

An open brief from Ephea.
Not a sample book, but a way to experience material.

Conceived as an archive that behaves like a gallery, each element is given space to exist on its own terms. The structure, inspired by vinyl record sleeves, slows the interaction and invites a more deliberate pace.

Every sheet carries a distinct expression.
Texture, tone, density, revealed through touch.
What is usually consultation becomes exploration.
Samples become narratives.

Material
Ephea mycelium-based surfaces, developed in dialogue with Mogu.

Grown rather than manufactured, each sample is inherently unique. The book frames this variability rather than standardising it.

Choice becomes discovery.

I’ve collaborated with Ephea and Mogu (Ephea’s sister company for architectural materials) for some time, and the evolution of their materials has been remarkable. Here is an interview in The New Bookbinder, Vol. 40 (2020), where I tested their early materials.