Sentience: 3D printed living products

This thesis is a research through design based investigation that explores the possibility of creating three dimensional (3D) products that are tactilely responsive, in an attempt to discover whether 3D printing technologies can be utilized to generate contemporary products that adapt, evolve and develop features synonymous with living organisms. It looks at the possibility of sentient, 3D printed products and explores the potential that these objects have to interact with both the user and their surrounding environment. It also looks into the possibilities for 3D printed processes to allow for materials to better reflect the sensory and information processing capabilities of digital interface technologies. By placing a series of iterative design experiments within a contextual background this thesis not only explores what is currently possible, but theorizes about what could be possible in the future, when current technological and material limitations have been surpassed. Essentially, this thesis focuses on answering one underlying question: can 3D printing be utilized to create a product that appears to be alive.