Cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) are composed of functionalized liquid crystal (LC) mesogens that self-assemble into a helical structure and are lightly crosslinked into an elastomeric network. CLCEs exhibit reversible, fatigue‑resistant color changes in response to external stimuli, making them attractive for strain‑sensing applications in soft robotics, smart wearables, encryption, and structural diagnostics. Direct ink writing (DIW), an extrusion-based additive manufacturing technique, provides an effective and scalable method to directly align cholesteric liquid crystals and construct diverse geometries. In this thesis, we investigate the self-assembly of oligomeric LC precursors into the cholesteric phase under shear and surface-mediated alignment, along with the interfacial interactions and rheological properties of supporting materials such as silicone and carbomer. The DIW strategies developed are used to fabricate bistable and multistable thin-shell CLCE domes, log-pile structures, and other architectures for strain sensing and energy absorption.