A Walk in Nature: Exploring the Creative Potentials of a Generative Design Tool for Soft Robotic Surfaces that Foster a Connection with Nature

We are developing soft robotic surfaces to support emotional wellbeing for people with limited access to nature. This work explores how biophilic design (based on the theory that humans have an evolutionary desire to connect with nature) can be applied to interactive systems. We describe a generative design tool that produces a bio-inspired digital prototype of a soft robotic surface. In our workflow, participants walked outdoors to photograph natural features in their environment. The photographs are used to generate a set of corresponding designs. As early validation, we conducted a small user study to test the robustness of our tool with different photographic inputs. We also collected feedback on how the workflow influenced participants' perceptions of the design outcomes. The results guided the fabrication of a new physical prototype and demonstrated the utility of our approach, which aims to inform the design of future biophilic cyber-physical systems.