creative performancebiodesignbioplasticmaterial experimentationmould making
Complete evaluation framework
What to assess and how to score it
Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Body of work
35% weight
Ask for photographs of finished bioplastic pieces: gelatin-glycerin sheets, algae or chitosan films, PLA-composite castings, mycelium panels. Check scale, finish quality, and whether pieces were sold, exhibited, or commissioned.
Evidence to listen for
Has work that exists publicly and can be checked
States what they made versus what they contributed to
Can talk about range as well as their signature style
Knows how the work was received and by whom
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Nothing finished or public; describes intentions rather than output.
2
Needs Improvement
Small or unverifiable body of work; unclear personal contribution.
3
Satisfactory
Real output with adequate range; reception described vaguely.
4
Very Good
Substantial verifiable work with clear ownership and range.
5
Excellent
Shows a coherent body of cast, moulded, or thermoformed bio-material objects with named commissions, exhibitions, or retail stockists behind them.
02
Evaluation factor
Craft and technique
25% weight
Probe recipe control: plasticiser ratios, agar or starch sourcing, curing humidity, shrinkage rates, pigment and filler behaviour, silicone versus plaster moulds, sanding and sealing of brittle edges.
Evidence to listen for
Can discuss technique concretely rather than in terms of feel or vibe
Names influences and what they took from each
Explains a deliberate choice and the effect it was for
Knows their own weak areas and what they do about them
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
No technical vocabulary; cannot discuss choices behind the work.
2
Needs Improvement
Talks in generalities; choices sound accidental.
3
Satisfactory
Solid craft with some ability to explain decisions.
4
Very Good
Articulate about technique and deliberate about effect.
5
Excellent
Quotes their own formulations by ratio, explains why a batch warps or blooms, and adjusts curing conditions deliberately rather than by guesswork.
03
Evaluation factor
Reliability and process
25% weight
Look for batch discipline: labelled recipe logs, drying times built into schedules, spoilage and mould contamination rates, how they met a 200 piece order with a material that shrinks unevenly.
Evidence to listen for
Meets deadlines and briefs, with evidence
Handles revisions and direction without ego
Describes how they work when the brief is vague or changes late
Has repeat clients, bookings, or collaborators
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Misses commitments; cannot take direction.
2
Needs Improvement
Inconsistent delivery; defensive about revisions.
3
Satisfactory
Reliable on clear briefs; struggles when direction shifts.
4
Very Good
Consistently delivers and adapts; repeat collaborators.
5
Excellent
Keeps dated batch records, quotes realistic lead times allowing for cure, and has delivered volume orders with documented reject rates.
04
Evaluation factor
Presence with an audience
15% weight
Assess how they present the material to buyers, students, or gallery visitors: workshop teaching, market stalls, compostability claims, honest talk about lifespan and end-of-life handling.
Evidence to listen for
Comfortable performing or presenting on demand, including cold
Reads a room and adjusts
Handles a bad night, a difficult client, or a hostile crowd without unravelling
Represents the employer well in front of others
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot perform or present on request; unravels under pressure.
2
Needs Improvement
Rigid delivery; no read of the room.
3
Satisfactory
Competent in familiar settings; less adaptable in new ones.
4
Very Good
Strong presence and adapts to the room.
5
Excellent
Explains bio-material provenance and degradation clearly to lay audiences, has run workshops or demos, and avoids overstated compostability claims.
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