Belonging Beyond Belonging: Reimagining connection with nature through posthuman design.

This thesis explores the question of what it means to belong, not just among humans, but as part of a broader interdependent network of beings. Through a posthuman design lens, the project reimagines belonging as a mutual, evolving relationship between humans and non-human entities, including stones, forests, and more-than human beings. Grounded in practice-led research, I try to push the boundaries of perspective and the limits of design research itself.

The goal of this research is to promote deeper mutual understanding. Rather than framing belonging as a fixed destination, this project approaches it as a continuous becoming and rebalancing process. The projects reveal that belonging often unfolds in four steps—exploring, engaging, empathizing, and becoming, with care-based relationships enhancing a sense of belonging even in brief encounters. The speculative framework with tools introduced in this thesis are not intended to provide definitive answers. Instead, they serve as provocations—tools for ongoing reflection on our relationship with nature.

This work does not attempt to speak for nature. Its value lies in fostering sustainable relationships grounded in shared belonging, where humans and non-humans co-create meaning and care for one another. It provides a starting point for exploring posthuman empathy and repositioning design as a medium for interspecies relationship-building.