Using seaweed to decorate their homes is something most people have never considered. Julia Lohmann challenges us to do just that at her Laminarium exhibition, launching at the Stanley Picker Gallery on Wednesday.

Committed to sustainable product design, Lohmann showcases kelp as a natural alternative to man-made plastics and endangered woods.

"My idea is to broaden appreciation of seaweed. In Japan it is farmed, you plant it around a fish farm and it will clean the water. Here in Europe it is not being farmed yet because of a lack of appreciation for what it can do. It is an abundant resource that I think we should use," says Lohmann.

"At the Deutsche Werkstatten in Germany I was looking at developing a laminate. Instead of the tropical wood used in veneer, we would use seaweed. The outcome was a really beautiful racing green veneer. It has the same qualities as a wood veneer in that it is beautifully glossy and you can see all the irregularities of the seaweed, but it is a different kind of grain.

"On a large scale it is still much easier to manufacture wood veneer, but on a smaller scale the process is comparable.

"I have also made some seaweed lamps where the seaweed is sort of spun out. And I have started looking at making jewellery, although this is new and not in the exhibition."

Laminarium was put together during Lohmann's fellowship at the Stanley Picker Gallery, where she began work in 2008.

"They have a room there where I built a cabinet to work on. David and Jackie really helped with the planning of the project, with thinking about where it could go, and putting me in touch with other people to liaise with. It's a fantastic place."

"We'll be running workshops. So we'll, say, get five pieces of kelp and ask what we can create. Hopefully we'll be developing the exhibition while it's still ongoing."

Lohmann insists that her work with kelp is not complete, and is applying for funding to take the project further.

No stranger to polemical artwork, previous pieces by the artist include whole cow hides made into benches, and chandeliers crafted from dried sheep stomachs, encouraging people to rethink their use of animal products. Now 32, she has had work displayed at the V&A, and Kreo Gallery in Paris.

Laminarium, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University, Knights Park, April 21-June 19, Tues-Fri 12-6pm, Sat 12-4pm, Mon by appointment, free. Contact picker@kingston.ac.uk or visit stanleypickergallery.org