Maternal Machines

This pictorial paper presents drawn design speculations exploring the relationships between machines and the maternal, and the possibilities for robots to become companions for new mothers. My paper builds on previous work that investigated complicated and contradictory attitudes towards the presence of technological artefacts entering emotionally charged spaces such as motherhood and infant care. While conventional approaches in the design of mother and infant related products are often child centric and present idealised portrayals of motherhood, this pictorial presents explorations about ways in which design might address motherhood as a complex space. Using the robot as a speculative figure, I present scenarios where they become maternal and where they respond to diverse maternal subjectivities.