Embryonic development represents a source of inspiration for the design of active polymer materials capable of working out-of-equilibrium, using energy to perform user-defined tasks. During development, the cortex – a thin reticulated polymer gel composed of actin filaments and myosin motors – is assembled beneath the cell surface. Fueled by ATP, this active material drives the cell shape changes that underlie morphogenesis from cell to organism. Here, we propose to combine engineering and biology approaches to address the biological mechanisms that underlie morphogenesis. Focusing on two key aspects, energy consumption and system size, we will infer key physical parameters of the system and engineer mimetic systems capable of reproducing developmental morphogenetic behaviors. At the interface of polymer material science and biology, our work will both help us to understand the mechanisms underlying morphogenesis in vivo and lead to the development of morphogenetic materials in vitro.