Designing with Alganyl: A Hands-on Exploration of Biodegradable Plastics

Abstract

In this studio we explore designing with Alganyl, a sustainable biomaterial, made of food-grade ingredients, that can be fully recycled (zero-waste) or biodegraded in soil. Specifically, Alganyl is a bioplastic formulated to mimic the flexibility and strength of vinyl fabric. This studio will bring together researchers with diverse expertise that will explore embedding color, texture and sensing in Alganyl as well as a variety of fabrication techniques. Participants will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through making wearables that can sense ultraviolet light or temperature, as well as explore their own creative applications. Participants will also learn about material-centered design methodologies and sustainability within the context of HCI. Lastly participants will be encouraged to share their experiences with designing with Alganyl as well as discuss the impact of biomaterials in sustainable HCI research.