This graduation project is a part of NEXTSKINS project, within which a novel bacterial cellulose based material encapsulating living bacteria and yeast named Living Therapeutic Skins (LTS) is being developed to sense and treat skin disease such as Atopic Dermatitis(AD). This project serves as a probe in the primitive stage of LTS material development from a design perspective, to explore if livingness as one of the most prominent properties of LTS material can be perceived by people as cureness both physically and emotionally in AD context.
This project starts from understanding livingness as material quality and understanding AD and AD patients. Then several design insights are elicited and implemented into design concepts. As the project is situated at a primitive stage of material development, it is decided that the project should focus on the interface level of LTS material and create material and interface variations as discussion triggers with the scientific group, medical experts and end users.

As the primary outcomes, we designed and prototyped six variations of skin textures inspired by nature using physical fabrication. Additionally, we created living interfaces that reflect real-time AD conditions, featuring six display patterns corresponding to the different skin textures, as well as environmental factors like temperature and water content through digital simulation. Since the LTS material is still in a semi-finished state, we opted for a gelatin-based hydrogel as a substitute material due to its close resemblance to the LTS material and reusability. Video simulations were used to demonstrate the temporal changes in the living interface in response to external stimuli.

Subsequent user studies were conducted to investigate how individuals experience these material variations and living interfaces across sensorial, affective, interpretive, and performative levels. Drawing from the results of the user study, we present a series of speculations for end products tailored to different areas of the human body, each characterized by distinct textures. Furthermore, we envisage three potential product scenarios for the present, and future context, including future skin therapy and sub-skin implantation.

All the outcomes of this graduation project will serve as both a guide and a catalyst for discussions, laying the foundation for the future development of LTS material.