A Different Empathy towards the Use of DIY Biocomposites in Design

Abstract: The interaction of oil-based plastics with the user is limited to the sight and possibly touch, being in any case predictable and not very satisfying. Since bioplastics have been prevalently designed to fit the needs for plastic substitution, the natural elements present in it have intentionally been concealed, so that it is difficult for the user to recover the sense of what using a natural material is like, even worst of what is dealing with an upcycled waste in a material fit-for-use in design and not intended for single use. In this work, the preparation of DIY materials including different kinds of food or non-food waste according to a self-developed and tailored recipe may constitute a possibility. The surface aspect and the expressive properties of a set of twelve selected DIY materials developed in University di Camerino according to an opposite characteristics map are reported, to serve as reflection of their likely empathy content and on building a richer and more reputable interaction with materials including waste, in view of an effective upcycling process.