Nov 18, 2015 7:00 AM

Gallery: Move Over, Jony Ive—Biologists Are the Next Rock Star Designers

Maggie Shannon for WIRED
01
-MG-5269
Ginkgo BioWorks is a biotech company whose biological engineers refer to themselves as organism designers.
Maggie Shannon for WIRED
02
-MG-5508
As biology becomes more standardized, scientists are able to manipulate biological parts with the reproducibility typically reserved for engineering.

Maggie Shannon for WIRED
03
-MG-5251
This opens an entire world of biological "design" and the considerations that come with that term.
Maggie Shannon for WIRED
04
-MG-5351
Despite having trained as scientists, many synthetic biologists are slowly acknowledging that design thinking, in addition to technical understanding, is an essential skill.

Maggie Shannon for WIRED
05
-MG-5321
The person who designs genetic architecture does so with aesthetic, utilitarian, and social considerations in mind.
Maggie Shannon for WIRED
06
-MG-5381
Ginkgo is mostly producing flavors and fragrances made from strains of yeast.

Maggie Shannon for WIRED
07
-MG-5270
As the field of synthetic biology matures, its responsibilities will begin to align more and more with those of designers.
Maggie Shannon for WIRED
08
-MG-5355
Design will continue to be part of the synthetic biology conversation.

Maggie Shannon for WIRED
09
-MG-5307
The company has a foundry in its Boston offices.
Maggie Shannon for WIRED
10
-MG-5390
This allows scientists to spend more time thinking about how biology works instead of pipetting liquids.

Maggie Shannon for WIRED
11
-MG-5242
The robots in the foundry take care of all the tedious lab tasks that usually fall to scientists.

Top Theragun Promo Codes: 15% Off in July 2026

Save on the science-backed devices you’ve been eyeing with 15% off Theragun discount code and 30% off other great deals.

Molly Higgins

Top Zoro Promo Codes for 2026

Find the best Zoro coupon codes, deals, and free shipping offers to save big on industrial equipment, tools, and supplies this month.

Molly Higgins

Top B&H Photo Promo Codes and Deals This July 2026

Enjoy top deals on cameras, computers, and tech essentials at B&H Photo.

Scott Gilbertson

Best Braun Coupon Codes: 15% Off

Unlock exclusive savings on Braun IPL, shavers, and grooming products. Find verified Braun promo codes and expert tips to maximize your discounts.

Louryn Strampe

Top Hostinger Coupon Codes: 79% Off Hosting & Free Domains

Discover exclusive Hostinger promo codes, discounts, and deals on web hosting, cloud plans, and domain registration. Save big on your next Hostinger purchase today.

Molly Higgins

Top LG Promo Codes and Coupons for July 2026

Save 20% with an LG promo code today, plus up to $1,000 off appliances, 40% off bestselling TVs and monitors.

Gear Team

Surfshark Promo Codes for July 2026

Save up to 87% with a Surfshark coupon code, 3 months of VPN free today, and more from WIRED.

Scott Gilbertson

Get 10% Off LegalZoom Promo Code for August 2026

Save on top services at LegalZoom, like LLC registration, incorporation, estate plans, and more with coupons and deals from WIRED.

Parker Hall

OpenAI’s Rogue AI Agent Hacked More Than Just Hugging Face

In a new disclosure, OpenAI says its agent used exposed logins to gain access to at least four “publicly available services” in its unhinged quest to solve a test.

Dell Cameron

A Typo Landed an Innocent Gamer in Prison for 18 Months

How much could a single underscore in a username really matter? Just ask Brandon Klayme, who served 18 months in prison before realizing how authorities arrested, charged, and convicted the wrong man.

Nate Anderson, Ars Technica

Ebay Has to Pay $55.7 Million in Settlement for Its Unhinged Harassment Campaign

For months on end, eBay employees and contractors made life hell for a couple that had criticized the company. Six years later, the company is finally paying up.

Lauren Goode