As amateurs/novices,we hope to bring our training in the arts and design as 'outsiders' and (hopefully) critical thinkers to synthetic biology, which, no doubt is a powerful tool and paradigm in looking at the life sciences. During the course of the workshop we hope to not only learn the tools and techniques of synthetic biology and come up with a piece of life which reflects our concerns but also use the process to engage with the political, ethical and cultural implications of Synthetic Biology.