Design 19/10/2021

Virtual influencers, living architecture and microbial fashion

Next Nature Magazine is the ultimate lifestyle guide that explores the changing relationship between people, nature and technology.

Presenting 176 pages of thought-provoking content that gives you the ideas, tools and perspectives to face our world with. Next Nature‘s central question is: “Are we living in a superorganism?” Because what does it mean to live in an ecosystem of technology? We are being encapsulated in a superstructure that we must learn to understand.

And there are yet many other species that exercise their own influence; viral microorganisms, an internet of trees and artificial intelligence—each with their own perspective. What can we learn from each other? That’s what the magazine is about.

Next Nature - Inside — The idea that we are living in an ecosystem with technology and the repercussions associated is what inspired this issue – © Next Nature Network

For this publication, Next Nature partnered with virtual modeling agency The Diigitals. The covergirl is Shudu, the world’s first virtual supermodel. Shudu is a digital character, made up entirely of pixels and equipped with a human personality. She was born in the virtual world and lives on Instagram, but she can be found more and more often in physical fashion magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan. She now graces the cover of Next Nature Magazine. The cover story investigates what it means for people and businesses when the lines between the physical and digital world become increasingly blurred.

The magazine offers a unique perspective on—and with—the people, ideas and technologies that shape our world. Divided into 6 sections – health, food, fashion, living, gardening and travel – to offer exciting ideas and allow a large and broad audience to reflect on the impact of emerging technologies in our lives.

Featuring guest essays by neuroscientist Vivienne Ming; philosopher Koert van Mensvoort. Interviews with experimental architect Rachel Armstrong; synthetic biologist Nadine Bongaerts; future farmer Jaap Korteweg; designer Pei-Ying Lin; virtual fashion designer Amber Jae Slooten.

Visual essays by photographer Mathieu Gafsou; artist collective Studio Drift; generative artist Sofia Crespo; filmmaker Floris Kaayk. Projects by solar designer Marjan van Aubel; speculative designer Agi Haines; designer Shaakira Jassat; designer Meydan Levy; conceptual material designer Shahar Livne; food designer Chloé Rutzerveld. Editorials on Self Design, Future Food, Technofossils and the Plastisphere.