Conference Agenda

Mycelium-Based Composites (MBCs) are promising bio-based materials. However, negative public perception of fungus-derived products due to fear of fungus and irregularity in surface and color remains a challenge. This paper explores the potential of MBCs in material driven design (MDD). It employs a comprehensive approach to examine the potential of sensorial properties for innovating material identity. The study utilized interviews and questionnaires conducted in a workshop setting, applying the Ma2E4 toolkit framework (Camera & Karana, 2018). The workshop had a diverse range of 27 participants from various disciplines. The research findings are used to enhance product design. The study affirms that increasing the softness and modifying odor of MBCs can provide users with positive emotions and therefore enhance their material identity. The findings offer a practical framework for applying these results to design solutions. The conclusions of the paper are consistent with the findings of related studies.

Despite the growing number of research in Human-Food Interaction (HFI), studies mainly adopt a technology-oriented approach. The field focuses on creating foods computationally, leaving the device design neglected. This paper addresses this oversight by focusing on a prominent technology as a case study (i.e., 3D Food Printing) and exploring new forms and meanings HFI technologies may embody. We first explored domestic users' food-related dynamics, habits, and preferences in everyday life (N=19). We then present the outcomes of design workshops with 25 professional designers, resulting in 73 unique concepts aligned with the in-sights from domestic kitchen users. Overall, we extracted ten design implications and developed three final concepts. The value of the design implications for HFI research unfolds in reconsidering definitions, limitations, and resource domains when ideating new technologies, thus extending the possibilities for future artifacts.

Mycelium bio-composite exhibits remarkable versatility showing properties that are useful for the construction industry, including thermal insulation and acoustic isolation. Despite its potential, mycelium remains an unfamiliar material. To enable bio-designers to successfully implement mycelium bio-composite insulation, creating an understanding of potential users’ views on and experience of the material is important. To research this, an interdisciplinary co-design workshop was conducted with potential stakeholders focusing on interaction with, discovery of, and brainstorming about mycelium bio-composite insulation. The results showed that stakeholders mostly have a positive material experience with mycelium bio-composites and are open to acceptance. They predominantly viewed mycelium bio-composites as a sustainable, circular, lightweight, and bio-based alternative to fossil-based insulation. The stakeholders also indicated that acquiring recognition and certification in the European construction market is a necessity. Further acceptance could be promoted by increasing familiarity with the material through designing opportunities for interaction with and informing about mycelium bio-composites.

Social media platforms like Facebook utilize AI algorithms to personalize content based on user data, raising concerns about data privacy and transparency. We introduce the Facebook Data Shield (FDS), a life-sized interactive installation that empowers users to visualize and control the data shared with the platform. We deployed FDS at a public design event, to explore user data-sharing and control preferences. We conducteded an analysis of 81 user interactions, based on data logs and surveys. Our findings reveal a preference for increased data control, particularly concerning online behavior and demographics. We identify five distinct clusters for preferred data-sharing settings, which show limited correlation with demographic information. Finally, we discuss the potential for predicting preferred data-sharing settings through machine learning based on our data, and implications for social media platform design. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on data governance and user autonomy in an era of AI-driven content curation.

The Green Passbook is a Community Currency mechanism applied to waste sorting initiatives in rural areas of China. A field study was conducted at the Green Passbook national demonstration site to evaluate the local effectiveness of its practice. Through semi-structured interviews and qualitative research using the KJ method, the study shows that using a top-down approach to implement a Green Passbook policy in rural waste sorting reduces garbage and enhances awareness. Nevertheless, the standardized Green Passbook model is adopted in diverse ways across various social systems. The result shows the improvement in community and system attributes in three areas: perceived behavioral control, social norms, perceived benefits , which can help address institutional challenges. The findings are valuable in guiding the design practice of group behavioral change.