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Folk investigates broomcorn as a potential material for contemporary design. Connecting agriculture, craft, and new forms of making, the project explores how design can respond to shifting agricultural landscapes.
New material cultures
Folk is Studio Noff’s ongoing investigation into broomcorn (Sorghum bicolor), an ancient fibre crop traditionally cultivated for its stiff stems and used across cultures to make brooms and brushes. As global temperatures rise and farmers across Europe reconsider their crops, broomcorn—and sorghum varieties more broadly—is gaining renewed relevance for its resilience, low water needs, and ability to withstand harsh conditions such as drought and heat.
Developed in dialogue with Dutch farmers experimenting with adapting broomcorn to the local climate, Folk explores how this resilient crop can contribute to new material and aesthetic cultures in the Netherlands and beyond. Studio Noff looks beyond its familiar use, revealing broomcorn’s structural, tactile, and aesthetic potential for contemporary design.
By learning from time-honored practices while testing new ways of making, Folk examines how changing agricultural conditions might open up new material possibilities and new design approaches.
Supported by Stichting Stokroos
