How can biodegradable material play a role in digital fabrication. What interactions might ephemeral materials evoke?

Work in submission

Abstract:

Decomposition, a natural process through which materials break down into simpler components, remains underexplored in the context of human-computer interaction (HCI). Current practices prioritize recycling and reuse over designing for decay, despite the ecological imperative to reconsider material end-of-life. BioLIG introduces a novel hybrid compostable substrate material designed to create circuits and sensors capable of biodegrading within human-observable timescales. Using cellulose-based materials and laser-induced graphene (LIG) fabrication, BioLIG bridges material accessibility with functional electronic properties, creating transient electronics suitable for interaction design.

This work seeks to reimagine decomposition not as a limitation but as a functional affordance. By exploring how decomposition can facilitate new modes of interaction and speculative design, BioLIG highlights opportunities for sustainable material practices that engage both human and non-human stakeholders.

BioLIG contributes to a growing discourse on unmaking in HCI, inviting designers to rethink material agency and to envision objects whose lifecycles embrace natural decay as a core design element.