Beyond More-Than-Human Design: Exploring the Complexities of Designing in Entangled Worlds .

To be Published Soon.

Abstract

As digital technologies become more connected to the environment, society, and material world, HCI researchers are called to move beyond anthropocentric perspectives to respond to the complexities of more-than-human worlds. This thesis proposes a scaffold to support their attunement to the complexities of more-than-human design. Using a qualitative, exploratory approach—combining speculative workshops, expert interviews, and embodied, reflective practices—it explores how both novice and experienced researchers encounter and navigate these complexities. Key findings revealed the challenges and inherent complexities of designing in entangled worlds, as well as the ways researchers navigate them. The analysis identifies key qualities of attunement, proposing a scaffold composed of three entangled modes: Wondering, Sensing, and Reflecting. These modes foster curiosity, embodied awareness, and critical reflection, helping researchers cultivate relational mindsets. Rather than prescribing solutions, it encourages HCI researchers to stay with complexity and engage responsibly. This work contributes to more caring, interdependent, and sustainable approaches in the field of HCI as well as design education and practice.