Some jobs win the trifecta. For us, that’s a purpose-driven client, a fascinating subject and permission to be creative.

Zymergen calls themselves “biofacturers”. They are a company that is fundamentally changing how things are made and what they are made of. Using biomolecules, microorganisms and genomic libraries, they partner with nature instead of struggling against it. From developing environmentally friendly ways of protecting crops to creating a biodegradable replacement for plastic, Zymergen is bucking the cubicle in huge ways every day.

Buck the Cubicle, in partnership with ad agency AKQA, was hired to spend 3 days at Zymergen HQ photographing a corporate library of assets that showcase Zymergen’s cutting edge research, modern technology and enthusiastic young roster of scientists. We were hired for our style - our favorite type of request!

One primary challenge in photographing science labs is that there is often little action visible to the naked eye. The labs are bustling with energy and tense with concentration, but the rest of the activity is happening inside machines at a microscopic level.

Showcasing the human element - those who dedicate their careers to changing the world for the better - helps compel the audience to learn more about Zymergen’s story and get behind what they do. Humanity is at the heart of the challenges Zymergen is trying solve, and very much at the heart of the solution.