Critters
A story of my partnership with the broad-leaved dock.
The Tale of the Broad-Leaved Dock: A Quiet Invasion
The broad-leaved dock—a weed so common it often goes unnoticed—became the cornerstone of this creative exploration. Through this project, I transformed dock into three distinct creations, uncovering its potential as pigment, material, and therapeutic tool. Each transformation revealed how this overlooked plant holds hidden beauty, resilience, and untapped utility.
The Journey
Part 1: The Golden Ink—Dock’s First Trick
The project began with an experiment in dye-making, inspired by the dock’s medicinal history and my exploration of natural pigments. After struggling with roses and other plants, I discovered dock’s hidden golden hue by embracing its natural properties rather than forcing results.
Through trial and error, I crafted a recipe that revealed dock’s vibrant essence:
1. Tear leaves and stems into small pieces.
2. Rub with salt to release pigments.
3. Filter the resulting liquid and preserve with essential oil and gum arabic.
When tested on fabric, the ink left a delicate golden-yellow hue—a trace of dock
The Realization
Part 2: Material Exploration—The Dock-Fiber Bowl
With the leftover fibers from ink-making, I shifted focus to dock’s structural qualities, exploring its potential as a biomaterial. My goal was to design an everyday object that embodied dock’s resilience while balancing form and function.The Iterative Approach:
- I experimented with different binders (flour and cornstarch) to create a clay-like mixture.
- Early prototypes revealed challenges such as cracking and unpredictable drying. Each failure informed adjustments in ratios, hydration, and shaping techniques.
- The final bowl was a durable yet imperfect object, a reflection of dock’s natural qualities and my iterative learning process.
This phase emphasized problem-solving through material constraints, echoing the challenges of designing interactions under real-world limitations.
The Connection
Part 3: Designing for Interaction—Dock’s Therapeutic Duster
The dock’s history as a healing plant inspired me to explore its potential as a tactile interaction. Moving beyond visual and structural design, I aimed to create an artifact that embodied dock’s essence through touch—a therapeutic duster for skin brushing.
Process as Immersion:
- I worked directly in nature, reflecting the dock’s roots in overlooked urban spaces. This setting grounded my design choices and deepened my understanding of the plant’s qualities.
- I explored how dock’s stems and fibers could be woven and shaped into a tool that feels grounded, raw, and true to its origins.
- The resulting duster was both functional and symbolic, representing how interaction design can bring overlooked elements into intimate, meaningful contact with users.
Reflection: A Framework for Interaction Design
This project was as much about process as outcome. Through experimentation, failure, and refinement, I uncovered lessons about embracing constraints, respecting materials, and designing with purpose.
Iteration as Discovery: Each stage required a cycle of testing, learning, and adapting—key skills for interaction design.
Designing with Context: By working in the dock’s natural environment, I approached the project with empathy and a deeper connection to its origins.
From Margins to Meaning: This project highlights how thoughtful design can transform the overlooked into the extraordinary, whether in plants or digital experiences.
In the end, the dock became a partner in the design process—a collaborator that shaped my thinking about resilience, adaptability, and the value of iteration.