Exploring livingness through case study: an annotated portfolio

This chapter explores 44 case studies by designers, practitioners, and researchers engaging with livingness. Selected based on the proposed definition, these case studies were drawn from design platforms, academic records, research labs, and exhibitions. Presented as cards, they include a brief description, their actions/interactions and development process, the microorganism or technology responsible for its living properties, and their sector. Drawing on ‘annotated portfolio’, the chapter brings together these artefacts into a comprehensive body of work, highlighting similarities, and cross-field comparisons. The case studies were organized into a two-axis matrix: the horizontal axis categorizes the degree of living matter – natural, engineered, or programmable– while the vertical axis reflects the nature of the output – explorative, experimental, or validated prototypes. The mapping offers insights into emerging trends and on how different approaches explore livingness through practice.