Interaction Design Wiki ･ Interdisciplinary Modules

Biodesign Challenge 2021

BiodesignChallenge.org

Instructors

Dr Joëlle Bitton joelle.bitton@zhdk.ch
Martin Dušek martin.dusek@zhdk.ch
Guest lecturers: tba

Students

Andreas Waldenburg andreas.waldburger@zhdk.ch
David Wollschlegel david.wollschlegel@zhdk.ch
Eli-Lilly Woke elililly.woke@zhdk.ch

Overview

IAD is proposing to students to join the international Biodesign Challenge where university students are partnered with scientists, artists, and designers to envision, create, and critique transformational applications in biotech.

Check news on IAD website for the 2019 entry from IAD. The students had a unique experience to present in front of a renowned jury of experts in New York, discovered new learnings from fermentation to mould growing, to DIY health tools. Their project is currently considered to be further published and exhibited.

We will select students to work on a new project that will develop over the whole year until next Spring, and where you can apply interaction design knowledge to biological issues, especially as you acquire new skills from the regular courses that you are taking. Students that take part are expected to work in addition to regular courses, including part of the winter semester break. You will receive ECTS points, look for partners in science fields and operate with a budget for developing the project.

The Inspiration-Ideation-Implementation model shows an approach how to structure a design process. We will orient ourselves by this it. Also, there will be iterations between the different stages.

Milestones

13th October 2020

Kick-Off

Oct/Nov

Mentoring #1 (Inspiration)

Nov

Mentoring #2 (Inspiration)

Nov/Dec

Mentoring #3 (Inspiration/Ideation)

18th December 2020

Registration Deadline
Find a research partner in science field (biology, biotech…)

Jan/Feb 2021

Inputs by IAD staff members and others*

March 2021

Intermediate presentation (intern)*

End of spring 2021

Biodesign Challenge 2021

* not definite yet

Applications / Students

2nd October 2020

Eli-Lilly Woke (MA, 2nd semester)

Petroleum, pyrolysis, dark ecology, 'pure' non-human interactions, media theory are not the usual prototypes brought into the sphere of bio-design. The approach normally further stresses plants and bacteria for human consumption. In short, I would like to research how to use recycled oil for soil or plants. My interests in biodesign are more about creating better living environments for microorganisms not normally seen.

David Wollschlegel (BA, 3rd semester)

I would like to participate at the BDC 2021 because I believe biology (or nature) is one of fields designers can learn the most of, due to the millions of iterations evolution went through in the design process. One idea could be the fact of virus spreading – What can we do to stop the spreading or make the existing solutions more humane? Then I see a value in everything related to climate change, for example I had a spontaneous idea to design trees, by manipulating their DNA, that can stop wildfires. On the other hand I like things that can reproduce them self or grow into something. But I definitely need to do more research and I am also open for other ideas.

Andreas Waldenburg (BA, 3rd semester)

trying to work with and around the complex and multileveled systems of nature, nesting into mechanism appeals my idea of designing. it would be exciting to see the outcome of combining different semesters and different peoples than usual. further competing with groups around the world and seeing what groups with other settings and surrounding achieve with the same starting position motivates me to take part in the BDC 2021. I would like to investigate in to bio-systems and adapting them or try to nest into them.

Readings

Related projects / References

(Key-visual background image: pixabay.com)

© Interaction Design ･ ZHdK Refresh