Collaborating with an Amazonian tree: a bio-product design experiment with ancestral references

Abstract

This article describes and discusses the findings of practice-based design research conducted with the fruits of the Crescentia cujete tree. The research aimed to examine the feasibility of designing products with living organisms in the Amazon Forest context and to identify the necessary knowledge to accomplish such designs. For centuries, local artisans have transformed the fruits of Crescentia cujete into cuias – versatile and biodegradable recipients that hold significant cultural importance for local communities. The design experiment employed biofabrication, a biodesign technique involving collaboration with living organisms, to shape the tree fruits during their growth phase. The study started with a comprehensive literature review in Biodesign, Biology, and Anthropology. A mixed method approach followed, combining historical research on the production process of cuias, direct interaction with trees in a bioeconomy context, participatory observation of traditional artisans, and their integration. The historical records revealed that biofabrication with cuieiras is an ancient practice, establishing a connection between biodesign and indigenous knowledge. The experiments with the tree fruits contribute to understanding plant-human collaboration in nature, distinct from laboratory settings typical in biodesign. The designers' engagement with the trees fostered an intimate alliance that facilitated the design process, and form-giving involved a dialogue that acknowledges the dependence of form on ecological considerations. The discussion highlights the underappreciation of indigenous objects and techniques in design, the recognition of non-human agents in design, and the disparity between industrialized systems versus designing with living organisms.