During De Belofte, Carmen and Jurel saw the opportunity to collaborate. Finding themselves on strong common ground around topics of entangled ecosystems, they challenged themselves to find common ground in their current interests: natural clay and lichens. The project emerged from research into stone-growing lichens, many of which are increasingly endangered. Due to practices such as pressure cleaning, building renovations, and broader ecological changes, the surfaces on which these lichens grow are disappearing. Research revealed that local clay from the Utrecht region could provide a suitable substrate with the right acidity and structure to support these species.

By harvesting this clay and firing it, they created Stepping Stones, ceramic habitats that act as potential refuges for lichens. Through video projection, the work speculates which rare lichen species could colonize these surfaces, illustrating how the clay structures might facilitate lichen growth when placed in and around Utrecht.