DEVELOPMENT

After months of groundwork, research and collaboration across multiple fields and expertise, we land at the present day, where a mere concept could finally hop from being on a computer screen to something tangible.

Mysonic have worked alongside Arts University Plymouth to construct the first prototype for design of the Mysonic MK0.1 in their Fabrications (FAB) Lab. The first prototype is fully 3D printed using PHA, aka Polyhydroxyalkanoates. PHA is a  bio-degradable polyester produced by bacteria through fermentation of sugars or lipids. An already brilliant alternative to petrochemical plastics such as PVC for example. Choosing eco-friendly alternatives for the entirety of our design process was crucial to Mysonics ethos on sustainability. The last thing we want is to market you something as complete hypocrits.

Choosing PHA for the MK0.1 was about way more than simply finding something that could be 3D printed however. Recent research has demonstrated the potential for PHA in 3D Printing, whilst highlighting some of the challenges that come with it, such as warping and differences in mechanical performance compared with more conventional printing materials such as PLA (Cvetkoski and Najaf Zadeh 2026).

The MK0.1 is therefore not intended to be the finished product (hence 0.1 as opposed to 1) , but rather our first physical step towards one. In our current stage, this prototype will allow us to evaluate the overall form, proportion, ergonomic qualities and overall aesthetic of the design before moving towards refined materials and ultimately, the manufacturing process. 

Most importantly, making MK0.1 gave us something that concept art and CAD models simply couldn't acheive, something we could hold, feel and scrutinise. This prototype gives us a starting point for testing what works and what doesn't, and using what we find to develop the next version and ultimately, an innovative final product. 

MK0.1 is only the beginning of our journey.