# Project Description Re-Enamel: A Botanical Intervention YingYing Lu Summary Final work College Central Saint Martins Course MA Biodesign Graduation year 2025 This project explores the potential of herbal waste as a sustainable material source in jewelry design. Inspired by the environmental issues caused by both traditional enamel—whose production relies on toxic metals and mining—and the underutilized herbal residue generated in large quantities, I aimed to combine these two problems into one solution. Through a series of experiments, I extracted natural pigments and cellulose from herbs like mugwort, replacing parts of enamel’s mineral-based components with eco-friendly alternatives such as crushed beer bottles, eggshells, and volcanic ash. Although not all attempts succeeded, the process revealed valuable insights. The results are presented through a set of modular flower-shaped jewelry, symbolizing renewal and resilience. This project reimagines waste not as an end, but as the beginning of something beautiful through the lens of biodesign. Final work Adaptive Flower Jewelry: Ring and Brooch Variations This image shows two silver flower pieces made with herbal enamel: a ring with green enamel and a brooch with translucent blue-green enamel. The modular design allows flexible styling for different occasions. By using eco-friendly, plant-based enamel, these pieces embody bio-design principles—blending natural materials with sustainable craftsmanship to create jewelry that connects nature and modern life. Copper Flower with Lilac Enamel A single jewelry piece featuring a purple copper flower coated with a translucent lilac herbal enamel, showcasing material warmth and botanical color. A silver flower glazed with herbal enamel sits on wood, echoing the quiet harmony between handmade jewelry and the natural world it came from. Research and process From Herb to Enamel: Material Extraction Process This image captures the early stage of material experimentation. It displays dried herbal waste, natural dye extracts, pigment powders, and plant-derived cellulose. These raw elements formed the foundation for creating herbal-based enamel, replacing synthetic or mined materials in traditional jewelry-making. Testing Herbal Enamel on Ceramic and Copper Enamel samples were fired on ceramic and copper bases to study how herbal pigments interact with different surfaces. Materials such as recycled glass, eggshell powder, and natural resins were added to test for color retention, gloss, and texture. These trials helped refine the final formula and application method for jewelry. Share this project This project explores the potential of herbal waste as a sustainable material source in jewelry design. Inspired by the environmental issues caused by both traditional enamel—whose production relies on toxic metals and mining—and the underutilized herbal residue generated in l... A link to this page has been added to your clipboard Browse related work Nature & Environment Aesthetics Biodesign Sustainability Nature