Communication With Plants in 2070

This project was developed as part of a future scenario set in the fictional city of New Canterbury in the year 2070. The aim of the assignment was to investigate how social, environmental, and technological conditions may evolve and to translate these insights into a design proposal that reflects new forms of interaction between humans and the natural and urban environment.

My research focused on the relationship between humans and plant ecosystems. Current scientific studies in plant signaling demonstrate that plants communicate through electrical, chemical, and fungal network systems. While these processes are acknowledged, they largely remain outside the range of human perception. This led to the central question of the project:

How might design facilitate meaningful communication between humans and plant life in a future that thrives on ecological interdependence?

To explore this question I dived deeper in a speculative narrative centered around Hir, the oldest tree in the ecosystem surrounding New Canterbury. In this future scenario, Hir is regarded as the guardian and influential stabilizing force within the regional ecology. The project proposes a speculative communication interface that translates plant bio-signals (such as microcurrents, moisture fluctuations, and growth responses) into audible interpretable forms. This creates a conceptual framework in which humans can communicate with the needs of the ecosystem and collaborate with it rather than extract from it.

Design Approach

• Research Phase: Literature review of plant neurobiology, multispecies communication theory, and speculative design methodologies.

• Concept Development: Positioning Hir as a “knowledge-bearing agent” to shift perspectives away from human dominion and toward ecological partnership.

• Prototype Exploration: Designing models and speculative interfaces for signal translation between plant life and human users.

• Scenario and Narrative: Constructing a future societal context where plant communication influences collective decision-making and environmental stewardship.
  
  

Outcome

The final outcome is not a functional tool but a critical design exploration. The project’s aim is to challenge anthropocentric assumptions in contemporary design and to highlight how future technologies could support reciprocal relationships between humans and non-human lifeforms.

By envisioning communication with plants as a normalized element of urban life in 2070, the project invites reflection on how we might restructure our current ecological values and responsibilities.

Reflection

It was very interesting to do deeper research into the subject of botany and our relationship with ecosystems. To be able to combine scientific research with design. Further it was huge and exciting challenge to create the device to read out the electronic signals and bring audio design as a solution.