Speculative Morphing Matter: Designing a Sustainable Future Via Morphing Materials and Structures

We present Speculative Morphing Matter, a set of speculated morphing materials that can change shapes and properties in response to external stimuli, corresponding to specific design scenarios. Using the speculative design approach, we envision how such materials and systems enabled by them offer different design possibilities for us to restore and protect the currently damaged ecology. The series of speculative designs and extended reflections are based on state-of-art morphing matter technologies introduced in the engineering and science fields. Exploring into various design spaces from land to water and from anthroposphere to biosphere, we present four scenarios with illustrative images and technical assumptions on different speculative working mechanisms of the morphing material in future efforts of environmental protection and sustainable development. With these design speculations, we hope to inspire people about how we can actively construct a more sustainable future for human beings to coexist with the ecosystem with sustainable design of a promising technology.