Animate Materiality and Design Biologicalization. Into the design and perception of Behavioral Objects embodying Kinetic Material Dynamics

This chapter investigates the emerging concept of animate materiality and its implications for the design and perception of behavioral objects. Focusing on advanced materials capable of generating movement, particularly Materials that Move (MtM), it explores how the convergence of material science, computation, robotics, and biological principles is transforming the relationship between objects and users. Moving beyond traditional mechanical and functional paradigms, the study examines how embodied kinetic behaviors introduce new aesthetic, expressive, and relational qualities into designed artifacts. Adopting an exploratory approach that combines theoretical analysis with research into design practices, the chapter examines the evolution from smart materials to proto-animate and animate materials, alongside three experimental projects: Delight Kinetic Lights by Ido Mohar, Objects with Behavior by Aslak Siimes, and Opale by Behnaz Farahi. Through a combined material-technological and behavioral perspective, the analysis investigates how movement characteristics, including rhythm, trajectory, speed, and responsiveness, influence human perception, emotional engagement, and the attribution of lifelike qualities to objects. The chapter argues that animate materiality represents more than a technological advancement: it signals a shift in design culture, where materials become active agents of expression and interaction, opening new possibilities for multisensory experiences, affective relationships, and the development of new design languages.