What if your Tamagotchi was alive and glowing? This toy prototype is full of bacteria

Babies and bacteria – often a nightmare for parents, a combination of late-night pediatrician calls and ruined weekends.

The idea of ​​a bacteria-infested toy might seem like a recipe for disaster. This team of designers says otherwise.

Meet SquidKid, a prototype toy designed by Northeastern University students that’s basically an organic Tamagotchi. Kids care for the bioluminescent bacterial culture in this squid-shaped toy, keeping it alive and glowing. SquidKid’s hope, which was named a finalist in the International Biodesign Challenge, is to create not only a lasting friend but also a lasting connection between children and the natural world.

“Our real goal was to create a bioreactor that would continue to work, so that you could maintain a live bacterial culture for a long period of time as if you were keeping an aquarium or something like that,” says Deirdre Ni Schonell, a master’s student in experience design and associate director of creative and experience design at Northeastern’s Bovey College of Health Sciences. “Children don’t always handle their toys well. With Tamagotchi, there are times if you ignore it, it dies. In this case, you’re actually killing something.”

Babies must maintain the bacteria in the SquidKid, providing them with oxygen, appropriate “broth”, or food, and constant stimulation. The toy is also designed with a squeezable probe that injects oxygen into the system and agitates the bacteria, causing them to glow.

Blending art, science and hands-on learning

SquidKid started life in the classroom. The student team designed it as part of the Making Criticism for Adaptive Futures class taught by Katja Zolotowski, assistant professor of design and biotechnology.

“SquidKid, it’s not just microbiology,” Zolotowski says. “It also teaches children how to take care of the environment and thus learn about biology, mutualism and ecological interconnectedness.”

The class bridges the gap between arts and sciences. Zolotowski’s focus is on how to leverage biotechnologies in fun and impactful ways. In one semester, her students learn the basics of biotechnology before they begin designing with biomaterials.

The tactile aspect of biology helps even students who arrive with an understanding of biology in high school get through things.

“When you work with materials, you see results immediately,” Zolotowski says.

Her students have designed clothes made from bioplastics, algae-based eating experiences, and menstrual trackers made from biomaterials. Then there’s SquidKid.

From classroom concept to competition finals

Inspired by the Hawaiian bobtail squid and its symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria, a team of students set out to bring bioluminescence into the home.

“We just wanted to integrate these amazing bioluminescent materials into our daily lives, in a more intimate way [uses]”, says Motong Shi, who graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Interaction and Experience Design in 2025.

However, as a team of four designers most of whom had high school level biology knowledge, they had to learn bacteria 101 quickly. Using Northeastern University’s Wet Lab Makerspace, they conducted some disastrous early experiments.

“We went to have a look at the electron microscope,” says Ní Schonell. “We wanted to see if our bacteria were alive and active, and we weren’t sure if they were contaminated with E. coli.”

With the help of Ezri Abraham, a biology student selected from another team in the class, and an environmental toxicologist, they settled on a design that was compelling enough to earn them a spot in the 2025 Biodesign Challenge in New York City.

Ni Chonaill and Shi were shocked when they heard that SquidKid was a finalist in the world-famous design competition. Many other biodesign competitors have been developing their ideas for a much longer period and with much greater scientific or engineering experience.

Although they were surprised, they never doubted SquidKid’s strength. It may seem small, but it’s full of big ideas and even bigger ambitions.

“What does it mean for a generation to grow up seeing bacteria as collaborators, not threats, to recognize care as a form of intelligence and skill, that responds to, adapts to, and sustains life?” Ni Shunil says. “We believe games can spark this transformation.”