Biofabricated Gaming Controller: A Glimpse Into Sustainable Electronics
In the face of escalating e-waste and environmental degradation, the BioHybrid Device challenges traditional manufacturing paradigms by merging biological and digital fabrication. Created by designers Vivien Roussel, Madalina Nicolae, and Marc Teyssier, this innovative video game controller offers a glimpse into a future where technology can be grown rather than manufactured, redefining our relationship with materiality and sustainability.
Blurring the Lines Between Living and Non-Living Systems
The BioHybrid Device is more than just a gaming controller; it is an exploration of morphogenesis, the natural process through which biological materials grow and organize. Using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), the controller is biofabricated to embed conductive elements, sensors, and electronic components directly into the material during its growth process. This integration creates an electrically interactive device that is both functional and biodegradable, bridging the gap between living systems and technological interfaces.
Rethinking Design and Production
This project raises critical questions about the status of objects and our current production systems. Most electronic devices, including phones, computers, and gaming peripherals, have a paradoxically short lifespan despite being built from scarce resources intended to last for decades. Designed for obsolescence and difficult to repair, these devices contribute to the fastest-growing waste stream in the world: e-waste.
By contrast, the BioHybrid Device reimagines how interactive devices are conceived, produced, and disposed of. It represents a shift from linear to circular design principles, where materials are grown, used, and returned to the environment without harmful waste. The project also critiques how decades of technological advancement have prioritized innovation over sustainability, urging a re-evaluation of our relationship with materiality in design.
Material Innovation and Morphogenesis
At the core of the BioHybrid Device is bacterial cellulose, a versatile biomaterial produced through the natural growth of SCOBY. Traditionally used in the creation of sustainable, leather-like textiles, bacterial cellulose is lightweight, durable, and biodegradable, making it an ideal substitute for synthetic materials like ABS plastic. By employing biofabrication and bioassembly, the designers encapsulate electronic components within the growing material, demonstrating how morphogenesis can be used to create interactive, biologically grown devices.
This approach not only reduces the environmental impact of materials but also opens up possibilities for broader applications. From robotics and medical devices to wearable technology and smart interfaces, biofabrication offers a sustainable alternative for a variety of industries.
Toward a Biotechnological Future
The BioHybrid Device is a hands-on exploration of the limits and implications of a biotechnological future. By envisioning a world where devices can be biologically grown, the project challenges our perception of technological interfaces and their integration into the environment. It highlights the need for sustainable design practices that align technological advancement with ecological responsibility.
This paradigm shift calls for interdisciplinary collaboration, blending the principles of biology, material science, and digital manufacturing. The result is a compelling vision of a future where interactive devices evolve naturally, function seamlessly, and biodegrade responsibly at the end of their lifecycle.
Source: Yanko Design, Vivien Roussel
Photos: Vivien Roussel, Madalina Nicolae, Marc Teyssier