Natsai Audrey Chieza is a Zimbabwe-born designer, researcher, and entrepreneur whose work explores how biology and technology can transform the way people produce materials. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, she moved to Scotland at the age of 17 to study architecture at the University of Edinburgh. She later completed a master's degree in Material Futures at Central Saint Martins in London. Her educational background and interest in material innovation led her towards biodesign, an emerging field that combines biology, science, and design to develop new materials and production methods. Today, Chieza is internationally recognised for exploring how biological systems can contribute to more sustainable approaches to manufacturing.

Chieza's journey into biodesign developed through her research into materials and biological processes. While pursuing her interests in biofabrication, she worked with Professor John Ward's research group at University College London, where she explored the possibilities of synthetic biology. This interdisciplinary experience brought together her background in design and the scientific study of living organisms. Rather than viewing biology solely as a scientific subject, Chieza began investigating how microorganisms could become active participants in the creation of textiles and other materials. Her research helped establish the direction of her career, which focuses on bringing biological innovations into practical design applications.

One of Chieza's best-known projects is Project Coelicolor, a research initiative that investigates the use of bacteria to colour textiles. The project began in 2011 and focuses on Streptomyces coelicolor, a soil-dwelling bacterium that naturally produces pigments. Chieza explored how these pigments could be used to colour fabrics, particularly protein-based fibres such as silk. Working with Professor John Ward and his team at University College London, she investigated how the bacterium could produce coloured textiles with a colourfast finish, without the chemical additives typically associated with conventional dyeing methods. According to Faber Futures, the process also demonstrated significantly reduced water usage compared with current industrial dyeing methods. The research offered a practical example of how biological systems could inform alternative approaches to textile production.

Chieza brought her research to a wider audience through her 2017 TED Talk, Fashion Has a Pollution Problem. Can Biology Fix It? In the presentation, she discussed the environmental challenges associated with the fashion industry and explained how bacteria could be used to develop alternative textile dyes. Her work challenged conventional approaches to material production by demonstrating that microorganisms could contribute to the creation of functional and aesthetically distinctive fabrics. In 2021, she delivered another TED Talk titled Possible Futures from the Intersection of Nature, Tech and Society. This presentation explored how biological systems, technology, and collaboration could contribute to more sustainable futures. Together, the talks introduced international audiences to her approach to design and the possibilities of combining scientific research with creative practice.

In 2018, Chieza founded Faber Futures, a design and research company based in London. The company works at the intersection of biotechnology, materials science, and design, exploring how biological innovations can be translated into practical applications. Its work includes research and development, prototyping, strategic partnerships, and projects that examine more sustainable approaches to production. Faber Futures also works with organisations across biotechnology, industry, and design to investigate how living systems can contribute to new materials and production models. Through the company, Chieza has sought to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and its application in the real world, demonstrating how design can help make emerging technologies more accessible and relevant to society.

Chieza extended this work into consumer products in 2023 when she co-founded Normal Phenomena of Life, a biodesign brand that explores how biotechnology can be used to create materials and products for everyday life. The initiative provides a platform for translating biological research into tangible products while encouraging people to reconsider how the materials they use are made. One example is the Exploring Jacket, a garment made from silk dyed using the pigment-producing bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor. The project connects Chieza's earlier research into microbial dyeing with a product that demonstrates the creative and practical possibilities of the technology. By taking biological innovation beyond laboratory experiments and into consumer-facing products, the initiative explores alternative relationships between manufacturing, design, and the natural world.

Chieza's contributions to design and innovation have received international recognition. In 2019, she received the INDEX Award, an international design award recognising solutions that address significant challenges through design. In 2024, the London Design Festival awarded her its Design Innovation Medal, which recognises entrepreneurship and the contribution of design to professional and commercial development. Her work was also recognised in The Independent's Climate 100 list in 2025, which highlighted individuals working across different sectors to address environmental challenges. These recognitions reflect the growing interest in her work at the intersection of biotechnology, design, and sustainability.

Beyond her research and entrepreneurial activities, Chieza has contributed to discussions about how biotechnology should be developed and applied. She has participated in international conversations about synthetic biology, design, and the future of sustainable production, including through the World Economic Forum's Global Futures Council on Synthetic Biology. Her work emphasises the importance of collaboration between scientists, designers, businesses, and policymakers when considering how emerging technologies can serve society. She has also taught at institutions including Central Saint Martins and The Bartlett at University College London, contributing to education in design and sustainable materials. Her professional experience illustrates how knowledge from different disciplines can be brought together to address complex environmental and industrial challenges.

Natsai Audrey Chieza's journey from Harare to Scotland and, subsequently, into international design and biotechnology offers an example of an immigrant professional building a career across disciplines and borders. From studying architecture to researching microbial dyes and founding companies focused on biodesign, she has pursued opportunities to rethink established approaches to material production. Her work does not suggest that biology alone can solve every environmental problem associated with fashion and manufacturing. Rather, it demonstrates how scientific research and creative experimentation can contribute to the search for more sustainable alternatives. Through Faber Futures, Normal Phenomena of Life, and her public engagement, Chieza continues to contribute to conversations about how industries can work with biological systems to develop new materials and production models. Her story reinforces the importance of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the contributions that immigrant professionals can make to addressing global challenges.