Kevin Cao

Current conservation activities are based around human assumptions, while plants are communicating their needs with each other through a language we don’t understand.

My project envisions a speculative future where biotechnology and interface design converge to bridge this communication gap, translating plant signals into a visual and auditory language known as Phylocode. Through form and sound design, Phylocode mirrors the way plants communicate with one another, fostering a deeper, more empathetic connection between humans and the natural world. My project challenges the ethics of technology in conservation, seeking a more symbiotic relationship between humans and plants.