The application of biological materials in everyday design is gaining traction and designers are encouraged to employ biological systems through biodesign and biophilia. However, there is a deficiency in the understanding of potential consumers’ perceptions. This paper compares the perception of non-designers as well as designers towards design-embedded bio-materials. Data was collected from 234 respondents using an online survey. The findings were gathered by evaluating perception in terms of desirability, practicality, aesthetically, and familiarity with living and non-living biomaterials.

There is an increasing trend for designers to use living systems, through biodesign and biophilia in the urban environment. As new creative processes emerge, the perception and emotional responses of users towards these new systems are somewhat unknown. This paper aims to study the emotional responses and perceptions towards biological materials that are embedded in existing product designs. Data was collected from 58 respondents through an online questionnaire. The findings from this exploratory study show that the significant differences by comparing the respondents with a background in design and non-design towards the level of desirability, practicality, aesthetically pleasing and the common use towards artificial and real biological materials. This paper extends existing understanding of perception and emotional responses to design incorporated living systems and can begin validating existing studies which have brought different perspectives towards the functions, practicality, aesthetical value and emotional attachments of products.

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In this paper, the Batik Merbok motifs are proposed to be used in porcelain wares using 3D (CAD) software. The natural motifs developed are seen to have potential to be incorporated in tableware collections or as a daily home-product usage. It is a conceptual paper which explaining the motifs developed by Batik Merbok and discussing the 3D (CAD) design developments. The motifs were developed with a combination of flora, fauna and the humanmade historical artefacts which were inspired from the surrounding areas of Merbok, Kedah. A detail research results are not yet conclusive; therefore, the researchers will continue to develop the porcelain wares further and investigate the consumer perceptions towards the incorporation of the batik motifs. It is one of the sole efforts of bringing Batik Merbok into exploring another genre of designs.