Designing Our Way Through Abstractions: Calling for More Practice-based More-than-Human Design Research

Abstract

Human-computer interaction (HCI) researchers increasingly recognize the importance of attending to other-than-humans in their practice. The More- than-Human (MtH) turn to HCI, seeking to challenge human-centered approaches, is undergoing rapid evolution with exciting advances on many fronts. Yet, abstract notions of MtH theories become quickly messy in practice. Here, we emphasize the need for practice- based MtH design research to unpack these. We discuss five case studies of our own work to illustrate how MtH research can be performed from the bottom up, leaning heavily on hands-on design practice (rather than solely theory-driven reasoning): backpacking in nature, growing mushroom composites, performing with robots as nature companions, walking in a city to attune gravel and geological processes, and playing nature in video games in MtH design contexts. Our contribution, thus, foregrounds the value of embodied, situated, and designerly approaches, encouraging research that makes MtH design actionable from a practical perspective.