In this course, we will focus on research and design with cork, and its potential both for use in product design and for redefining how we use materials for the objects in our lives. The system of cork agriculture and industry in Portugal fuses unique material capacities with regenerative ecologies. A single hectare of cork forest absorbs more than six tons of CO2 each year, and the thick, insulating layer of cork bark acts as a powerful insulating barrier against forest fires. In this studio, students will leverage properties like these and work with cork as a material that can be used to develop new design forms and applications for mass-manufacturable consumer products. The emphasis will be on exploring new innovation in recycled cork, finding scalable, ready-to-produce design solutions that improve the sustainability of global production and manufacturing. This course is an external partnership with Amorim Cork Solutions (ACS), the global leader in the production of cork stoppers, cork building materials, and the agricultural stewardship of Portuguese cork forests. The majority of activities in this course will take place at ACS’s “iCork” innovation production facility in Mozelos, Portugal, during the university’s spring recess, the week of 15 March 2027. International travel will be a required component of the course. Airfare and lodging travel expenses will be underwritten by the partners, but students are responsible for securing all required travel documents. To be considered for this course, please fill out THIS SURVEY expressing your interest, experience, and acknowledgment of expectations.