SKIN
++
DIRECTORY
designing the human skin
SYNTHETIC SKIN
++
SALON
skin directory
Judit Florenciano MA Wearable Futures 2017 Ravensbourne
We offer a range of skin enhancements by genetically modifying human tissue, altering its morphology and physiology. The Skins Directory informs about the skins available in this fictional service.
Skin ++ enhancing biological skin
A skin genetic enhancement involves a series of biotechnology techniques that are principally comprised of and rely on the medical sciences of tissue engineering, gene therapy (using somatic cell gene therapy), and bioprinting. The procedure to alter skin involves surgical procedures using tissue implant technology and/or blood transfussion.
SKIN ENHANCEMENT
Stem cells extraction from epidermal tissue
Adding new gens into extracted epidermal cells
In Vitro tissue culture of genetically modified cells. Cells seeding on 3D scaffords to create new tissue
The modified tissue is implanted on skin. Epidermal cells will now regenerate according to new gene expression
Nature ++ designing the future of skin
Human skin is an intriguing
communication. Through this
organ that nature has provided
obsessive search to find the
with
physiology
next best commodity for the
and morphology. Being the
human body, what if some
largest organ, it is the one
of these functions could be
that sustains the integrity of
fully integrated into our skin’s
our bodies. By representing
design?
astonishing
the physical interface between the body and the environment,
Biomimicry
it is the first line of protection
inspiration to propose a series
from
and
of improved skins to accomplish
represents the initial, tangible
some of these commodities.
communication with the rest of
Inspired
the world.
the possibilities that nature
external
factors
and
is
used
captivated
as
by
provides to the different type Despite its engineered design,
of life kingdoms such as the
we use outer-body products,
Animalia, Plantae and Bacteria,
textiles, and devices in order
the skins proposed are a series
to
from
of genetic crossovers between
improve
other species and the human
the
protect
ourselves
environment,
our health, and to facilitate
one.
Skin Taxonomy classifying by skin function
Skin
++
Anti-sweat PROTECTIVE
Super collagen III Hippo secretion
ChlorophyII VITAL
Hydrophilic Organic absorber
Setae AUXILIARY
Hydrophobic Self-cleaning
Anti-pollutant SENSORY
Hydrotactile Photoreceptive
PROTECTIVE Provide new skin properties to protect the body from environmental and external factors.
Anti-Sweat
Supser Collagen III
Hippo Secretion
Anti-Sweat function: protective
The skin has improved thermal regulation properties. It reflects the longer wavelength of infrared light, by doing so it avoids causing the body to overheat and sweat. It changes colour to a bluish hue when affected by the light, acting as an imminent biological sensing of the action for the wearer.
Super Collagen III function: protective
The epidermis augments the immune system by providing immediate skin regeneration. It allows the user to renew skin from wounds quicker through re-epithelialization. When healing, the substance produced by the skin is rich now in collagen III to create new normal tissue without scars.
Hippo Secretion function: protective
The skin produces a red-coloured granular sweat secretion that protects from sun burns. It contains microscopic liquid crystalline structures that scatter light acting as sun-blocking and sunscreening tissue. Includes antiseptic and insectrepellent properties.
VITAL Helps the body’s vital functions by providing new methods of ingesting; while none of them are substitutes, they are instead auxiliary body systems.
ChlorophyII
Hydrophilic
Organic Absorber
ChlorophyII function: vital
The skin acts as an effective, integrated energy booster that automatically activates with the sunlight. The
engineered
tissue
contains
high
doses
of chlorophyII pigment which uses sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water, which the skin takes from the air (CO2), and the body (H20).
Hydrophilic function: vital
The skin provides a sophisticated water absorption system allowing to drink through the skin. An interconnected channels structure uses the capillary forces of the network to pull and transport water from the outside of the skin to the jaw through a jaw-buccal pumping mechanism.
Organic Absorber function: vital
The permeable epidermis is synthesized to be able to absorb amino acids of dissolved organic matter found in the environment. It provides a reinforcing and direct method to maximize sporadic opportunities for organic nutrient acquisition as an alternative energy booster.
AUXILIARY Provides new skin functions through a type of auxiliary support that extends the limits of our bodies.
Setae
Hydrophobic
Self-Cleaning
Setae function: auxiliary
The skin being rich of setae (mini stiff hair-like structures) allows attachment onto surfaces instantly without sticking. The sheer abundance and proximity of setae to the surface make it sufficient for van der Waals forces to provide the required connection strength, creating a gentle but efficient attachment.
Hydrophobic function: auxiliary
The metamorphic skin allows the body to remain periodically dry in aquatic or wet environments. The epidermal and dermal glands secrete a sheetlike whitish cocoon which covers the body when it gets in contact with moisture.
Self-Cleaning function: auxiliary
The outer layer of the epidermis is enhanced to allow the skin to be in a state of self-cleaning. The presence of even nano-rough structures together with the auto secretion of a rubber-like gel prevents the build-up of microscopic organisms in the skin such as bacteria, avoiding the attachment of dirt.
SENSORY Provides a new range of sensory modalities detected through the skin’s surface from various environmental stimuli.
Anti-Pollutant
Hydrotactile
Photoreceptive
Anti-Pollutant function: sensory
The epidermal layer has specialised biosensors creating an integrated monitoring system to detect environmental pollutants. The
genetically
engineered
microorganisms
(microbial biosensors) activate when it detects excessive amounts of CO and other common pollutants in the air, and react by changing their hue.
Hydrotactile function: sensory
The skin detects the smallest vibration and pressure in underwater conditions. The pressure receptors of the skin sensory organs (ISOs) have been improved to become ultrasensitive to touch. Permitting to sense through osmotic pressures the direction and speed of any movement under the water.
Photoreceptive function: sensory
The skin performs as a whole photoreceptive system, functioning as a compound eye. The epidermal tissue is embedded with calcite crystals that act as double lenses. The crystals are tied to nerve bundles which are light-sensitive and transmit the optical information to the rest of the nervous system.
Cover image orignial from S-THETICS.CO.UK (VISIA Complexion Analysis)
Skins by Judit Florenciano
Photography by George Cassells