15:00 - 16:40
Session: S46
[AI and Speculative Futures] + Design
PIC1015
Life on Mars: First Person Speculation in the (Imaginary) Everyday
Keywords:
First-Person Perspective; Research Through Design; Speculative Design; 3D Printing; Extreme Environments
Author(s):
Mirthe VISSCHER, Verindi VEKEMANS, Iris CAMPS, Oscar TOMICO, Kristina ANDERSEN

Recent development in space exploration has focused on the possibility of human life on Mars. How can we design for such an unexplored environment, and in turn what might such designs tell us about designing for the everyday on Earth? We make use of a process of speculative first-person design to create a material playground for producing a set of printed textile structures to support the experience of Martian daily wear, while paying attention to Earthly concerns such as material scarcity and locality of resources. This pictorial describes the outcomes of this process with a focus on the notions personal safety, empowerment, and comfort. The contribution is a design exemplar of first-person design in an extreme context that suggests the use of the playful speculation of space travel to ultimately explore human experience and values on everyday Earth.