Threads to Heaven {design}

Concept Overview

timeline: five weeks
team size: four people

Death comes for us all, but the emphasis on prolonging life in Western society has led us to shy away from talking about and preparing for death. Medicine is caught up in “lifesaving”, taking away the conversation and control we should have on how we pass away. But the very acts of realizing and accepting our imminent doom is what brings about inner peace and planning for the future. By facing death, not only can we live with passion, but also pass with passion. As Peter Saul, a long-time ICU specialist, explains, “how we die is actually really important” for both us and the people that survive us, but this can only be addressed if conversation is opened.

In Threads to Heaven, we wish to raise the conversation of death — how to appreciate, accept, and talk about it — in our daily lives. Our project explores a lengthy and involved process of preparing for one’s own death in a symbiotic relationship with another living organism, the fungi. As one maintains and feeds the fungi with bits of oneself, such as nails, hair, and dead skin, one can also feed on the fruiting mushrooms. At the end of one’s life, Threads to Heaven can fully cleanse and decompose the body while also becoming the living legacy that carries on their journey.

We explore how one’s relationship with both life and death would change by living with this fungi. We question whether death should be such a taboo topic in the Western society, and whether one can choose and design their own “good death”. Through the rituals and stories born from the product, we aim to enable our audience to open their own conversations on death with the people they love and cherish.

The Final Forms

Narrative Video & Physical Artefact

A documentary-style video depicting the use and care for the Threads of Heaven, and what emotions could emerge from the relationship. The physical artefact of the fungi in the container, with mushrooms growing is feature.

Mycelium&Me Product Website

The official positioning of the fictional company behind Threads to Heaven. Includes interviews and more scenario building.

Below is a small snippet; interact with the Figma website prototype for the full experience (note it is only optimised for desktop viewing).

Reddit Post Mockup

Reactions and stories from Reddit users after seeing a world portrayed by Miyu Kojima’s miniature replicas of lonely deaths with our fungi product.

Design Workbook

A collaborative design artefact for assembling the team’s research and ideation. It includes further details of precedents, personas, interactions, and process.

Read the workbook for a complete breakdown and process.

Resources

We relied on many existing media and works to both create and situate our pieces in a believable, current, reality. These are the resources cited and referenced throughout our designs and workbook.