Beyond Bloodline: Redefining Kinship?
Beyond Bloodline: Redefining Kinship?
Beyond Bloodline: Redefining Kinship?
Project Name
Project Name
Project Name
Redefining Kinship?
Redefining Kinship?
Redefining Kinship?
Designer
Designer
Designer
Sherin Chen
Sherin Chen
Sherin Chen
Project Nature
Project Nature
Personal Project
Personal Project
Project Type
Project Type
Project Type
Speculative design
Speculative design
Speculative design
Duration
Duration
Duration
09.2023—12.2023
09.2023—12.2023
09.2023—12.2023
Abstract
Abstract
Abstract
In this project, I envision a speculative future where laws enforce mandatory kinship interactions, requiring people to comply with relatives’ moral demands. This pressure fuels the rise of underground bloodline exchange clinics, offering a radical way to escape traditional familial ties and form connections based on shared values.
In this project, I envision a speculative future where laws enforce mandatory kinship interactions, requiring people to comply with relatives’ moral demands. This pressure fuels the rise of underground bloodline exchange clinics, offering a radical way to escape traditional familial ties and form connections based on shared values.
In this project, I envision a speculative future where laws enforce mandatory kinship interactions, requiring people to comply with relatives’ moral demands. This pressure fuels the rise of underground bloodline exchange clinics, offering a radical way to escape traditional familial ties and form connections based on shared values.
Comprising a collection of artifacts, audiovisual materials, and documents, the project invites the audience to explore the intricate dynamics of power and ethics in a speculative future. These fragments of evidence piece together a provocative narrative, questioning the societal, cultural, and personal implications of redefining familial bonds.
Comprising a collection of artifacts, audiovisual materials, and documents, the project invites the audience to explore the intricate dynamics of power and ethics in a speculative future. These fragments of evidence piece together a provocative narrative, questioning the societal, cultural, and personal implications of redefining familial bonds.
Comprising a collection of artifacts, audiovisual materials, and documents, the project invites the audience to explore the intricate dynamics of power and ethics in a speculative future. These fragments of evidence piece together a provocative narrative, questioning the societal, cultural, and personal implications of redefining familial bonds.
Menu
Menu
Menu
Text version of the video
Text version of the video
Text version of the video
Background
Background
Background
In the future, to combat the social psychological issues arising from societal atomization, individuals will be compelled to interact harmoniously with relatives and adhere to their preachings and moral blackmail.
In the future, to combat the social psychological issues arising from societal atomization, individuals will be compelled to interact harmoniously with relatives and adhere to their preachings and moral blackmail.
In the future, to combat the social psychological issues arising from societal atomization, individuals will be compelled to interact harmoniously with relatives and adhere to their preachings and moral blackmail.
People are required to wear wristbands to monitor their interactions with relatives and elders
People are required to wear wristbands to monitor their interactions with relatives and elders
People are required to wear wristbands to monitor their interactions with relatives and elders
Unhealthy relative's relationships will be subject to legal penalties. Due to unfavorable family relationships, I faced legal consequences.
Unhealthy relative's relationships will be subject to legal penalties. Due to unfavorable family relationships, I faced legal consequences.
Unhealthy relative's relationships will be subject to legal penalties. Due to unfavorable family relationships, I faced legal consequences.
Seeking a change of blood
Seeking a change of blood
Seeking a change of blood
Therefore, I tried to break free from familial ties in an extreme way—I went to an illegal blood exchange clinic.
Therefore, I tried to break free from familial ties in an extreme way—I went to an illegal blood exchange clinic.
Therefore, I tried to break free from familial ties in an extreme way—I went to an illegal blood exchange clinic.
I confirmed with the doctor the matching blood and sign the document. Underneath, there is a thick stack of confirmation forms; it seems the clinic is doing well in business.
I confirmed with the doctor the matching blood and sign the document. Underneath, there is a thick stack of confirmation forms; it seems the clinic is doing well in business.
I confirmed with the doctor the matching blood and sign the document. Underneath, there is a thick stack of confirmation forms; it seems the clinic is doing well in business.
The doctor filled blood bags from the blood storage cabinet and the blood exchanging started.
The doctor filled blood bags from the blood storage cabinet and the blood exchanging started.
The doctor filled blood bags from the blood storage cabinet and the blood exchanging started.
The blood was heated to 37 degrees Celsius. Then, the blood passed through three pumps to control the flow rate. The doctor's computer displayed the blood exchange process in real-time.
The blood was heated to 37 degrees Celsius. Then, the blood passed through three pumps to control the flow rate. The doctor's computer displayed the blood exchange process in real-time.
The blood was heated to 37 degrees Celsius. Then, the blood passed through three pumps to control the flow rate. The doctor's computer displayed the blood exchange process in real-time.
The blood exchange completed.
The blood exchange completed.
The blood exchange completed.
After the blood change
After the blood change
After the blood change
I became relatives with someone who shares same values or interests, and no longer get legal penalties and suffer from unhealthy relative relationship.
I became relatives with someone who shares same values or interests, and no longer get legal penalties and suffer from unhealthy relative relationship.
I became relatives with someone who shares same values or interests, and no longer get legal penalties and suffer from unhealthy relative relationship.
Project Making Process
Project Making Process
Project Making Process
Sketch
Sketch
Sketch
After conducting research, I discovered that many young people today struggle to maintain relationships with relatives from older generations. Relationships based solely on blood ties are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
After conducting research, I discovered that many young people today struggle to maintain relationships with relatives from older generations. Relationships based solely on blood ties are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
After conducting research, I discovered that many young people today struggle to maintain relationships with relatives from older generations. Relationships based solely on blood ties are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
Therefore, I aimed to create a speculative design project that uses extreme scenarios to provoke reflection on the state of familial relationships. The above sketches depict the speculative designs for a monitoring bracelet and a blood-exchange device.
Therefore, I aimed to create a speculative design project that uses extreme scenarios to provoke reflection on the state of familial relationships. The above sketches depict the speculative designs for a monitoring bracelet and a blood-exchange device.
Therefore, I aimed to create a speculative design project that uses extreme scenarios to provoke reflection on the state of familial relationships. The above sketches depict the speculative designs for a monitoring bracelet and a blood-exchange device.
Installation Making Process
Installation Making Process
Installation Making Process
Once the concepts were finalized, the next step was to determine how to bring them to life. This involved designing the workflow for the Arduino-based devices.
Once the concepts were finalized, the next step was to determine how to bring them to life. This involved designing the workflow for the Arduino-based devices.
Once the concepts were finalized, the next step was to determine how to bring them to life. This involved designing the workflow for the Arduino-based devices.
Simultaneously, I worked on the fabrication process, including 3D modeling, 3D printing, painting, assembly, and code testing.
Simultaneously, I worked on the fabrication process, including 3D modeling, 3D printing, painting, assembly, and code testing.
Simultaneously, I worked on the fabrication process, including 3D modeling, 3D printing, painting, assembly, and code testing.
The above outlines the process of creating the blood-exchange device.
The above outlines the process of creating the blood-exchange device.
The above outlines the process of creating the blood-exchange device.
Final Visual Presentation
Final Visual Presentation
Final Visual Presentation
Blood-Exchange Device: This is a piece of equipment belonging to a future underground illegal clinic. It allows individuals to change their blood to alter familial relationships.
Monitoring Bracelet: This device monitors interactions between individuals and their relatives. In the future, people might be required to wear such devices to maintain "healthy" familial relationships.
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Through this project, I expanded the ways in which I can use design to make a positive impact on society. Previously, I had only been exposed to service design, industrial design, user experience design, and other designs that were used to solve problems explicitly. However, Critical Design has taught me to articulate my values and thoughts on social issues through artistic expression, as well as honing my storytelling skills as a designer.
Through this project, I expanded the ways in which I can use design to make a positive impact on society. Previously, I had only been exposed to service design, industrial design, user experience design, and other designs that were used to solve problems explicitly. However, Critical Design has taught me to articulate my values and thoughts on social issues through artistic expression, as well as honing my storytelling skills as a designer.
Through this project, I expanded the ways in which I can use design to make a positive impact on society. Previously, I had only been exposed to service design, industrial design, user experience design, and other designs that were used to solve problems explicitly. However, Critical Design has taught me to articulate my values and thoughts on social issues through artistic expression, as well as honing my storytelling skills as a designer.
Get in touch
Get in touch
Get in touch
Feel free to reach out if you're interested in collaboration or have recruitment opportunities. I'd be happy to connect!
Feel free to reach out if you're interested in collaboration or have recruitment opportunities. I'd be happy to connect!
Feel free to reach out if you're interested in collaboration or have recruitment opportunities. I'd be happy to connect!
Email: xuanlinchen86@gmail.com
Email: xuanlinchen86@gmail.com
Email: xuanlinchen86@gmail.com
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© 2025 Sherin Chen
© 2025 Sherin Chen
© 2025 Sherin Chen