Birke studied fashion and textile design. Her focus lies on the question of living in symbiosis with our environment. She combines textile design with the science of fungi. From the interdisciplinary collaboration with biotechnology she opens up possibilities for the design of new materials with living organisms. Nature becomes an active co-designer and unlimited creative force. Friederike is a scientist, working in the field of biological chemistry. Her research of fungi is regarding the applicability of fungi or fungal based products as sustainable resources for biological transformations.