Multi-Perspective Materials Design Framework
Objectives:
- Rethink materials design processes and propose an alternative approach that addresses the challenges of current materials research, development and practices
- Iteratively develop the proposed materials design framework to make it into a practical resource that those engaging in materials design would use
Project Duration: February 2024 – Present
Designed For: Personal master’s thesis research at HSLU
Role: Student, Master’s in Eco-Social Design
Overview: To address the tension between making materials that are technically sound and ecologically safe, I propose a different way to approach materials design. A Multi-Perspective Materials Design (MPMD) process looks beyond a material’s technical properties for a specific application and also considers the perspectives and experiences of various human and non-human beings and ecosystems that a material comes into contact with throughout its life cycle.
The framework is continuously being developed through the interplay of theory and practice. I am engaging in my own materials design process to inform the framework and its practical usage. The iterations of the MPMD framework have also informed how I engage in materials research.
Non-human beings
- living and non-living beings of a particular place/ecosystem
- the being that the material/substance is
- materials experience of living and non-living beings that come into contact with a material
- collaborate with scientists and community members who have knowledge about species and particular ecosystems of a place
Humans
- communities who live in a particular place/ecosystem
- traditional uses of the material/substance
- materials experience of people who would interact with the material
- collaborate with community members directly linked with the material during parts of its life cycle (growers, harvesters, processors, etc.)
Ecological safety
- testing methods to understand effects a material has on particular species/ecosystems
- collaborate with toxicologists, scientists and community members of a particular place
Technical performance
- testing methods to understand technical properties of the material
- collaborate with material scientists/engineers or those with equipment for testing
Economic/Political
- individuals or businesses directly involved in the buying, selling or trade of the material
- government agencies or representatives involved in decision-making for the buying, selling or trade of the material
Decades of research have deemed certain materials as problematic because they compromise the life cycles of species and health of ecosystems, yet they continue to be used (e.g. petroleum-based materials). While there are material alternatives being developed, there is a lack of transparency on material specifications about how these materials are designed and tested for ecological safety. There is tension in developing materials that are technically sound and ecologically safe. The focus is more on what a material can help humans achieve and less on the health and safety risks a material can have throughout its life cycle. Even if a material is not ecologically safe, its use can become widely accepted because of its performance properties.
As part of my master’s thesis research, I proposed a different approach which I named Multi-Perspective Materials Design (MPMD). The aim is to expand materials design processes beyond technical perspectives and human experiences. Multiple perspectives are considered, both human and non-human, throughout the design process and life cycle of a material.