Life Centered Design: Unpacking a Post-humanistic Biodesign Process

Abstract

The current ecological crisis highlights a need for an alternative design approach to counteract the mainstream human-centered design methodologies. This pictorial aims to bridge this gap by introducing a novel design approach, Life Centered Design, and its design process. The findings from a biodesign project on bioluminescent microalgae are presented and further reflected through a panel of experts. The autoethnographical notes taken throughout the design process surfaced five design considerations, concerned with; combining perspectives, collaboration with the non-human, communication (challenges), the benefit ratio and ethical debate of human-non-human relations. These design considerations were iterated with a panel of experts to explore their applicability and generalizability across other biodesign projects. The case, the design considerations, and further discussions are organized as the body of Life Centered Design, providing both a practical guide and a reflection tool for post-human centred biodesign processes.