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Accepted manuscript

On-Body Biodesign: Exploring the Human Body’s Role in Designing with Living Organisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2026

Fanzhe Zeng*
Affiliation:
Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
Stefano Parisi
Affiliation:
Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
Joana Martins
Affiliation:
Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
Elvin Karana
Affiliation:
Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
*
*Author for correspondence. Email: f.z.zeng@tudelft.nl
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Abstract

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On-body biodesign involves designing with living organisms in direct relation to human bodies and their surrounding ecosystems. Operating within this intimate and dynamic space, the practice creates opportunities by developing novel biotechnologies, cultivating new sensibilities, strengthening ecological literacy, and enabling more attentive and reciprocal coexistence with other living organisms. Yet, given the emerging and cross-disciplinary nature of the field, existing work remains fragmented. How are designers currently biodesigning with, for, and through human bodies, and what design opportunities could emerge for future on-body biodesign? To address these questions, we present a review of 40 artefacts spanning design, art, HCI, and materials science, mapping the design space across three dimensions: the key biological phenomena that enable interactions, the unique experiences these interactions offer, and the ecological configurations through which human bodies, living organisms, and digital technologies interface with one another. With this work, we aim to introduce on-body biodesign as a design research program and offer a structured overview of its current landscape. We further outline potential design pathways, inviting designers to engage with on-body biodesign as a generative space for relational thinking and regenerative practice.

Information

Type
Full Paper: Biodesign Conference
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press