A journey to Mars could be extremely long and challenging, with tight living quarters, isolation that tests both body and mind, and without instant communication.

At an international space art and design collaborative camp in Beijing this week, young designers are exploring what it really means to live well on such a mission.

Their ideas range from special soils that help grow fresh food and support gut health, to companion robots that make distance feel smaller, to living, breathing habitats that interact with crews.

Mentors say the guiding rule is this: design for humans, not just survival.