Biodesign in Time
In-Person Themed Paper Presentation
20th International Conference on Design Principles & Practices
Dr. Leslie Atzmon Eastern Michigan University LATZMON@EMICH.EDU
Dr. Diana Nicholas Drexel University DSN35@DREXEL.EDU
Dr. Leslie Atzmon, Professor, Graphic Design and Design History, School of Art and Design, Eastern Michigan University
Dr. Diana Nicholas, Director of MS Design Research & Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Design and Urbanism; Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University
Keywords: biodesign, complex systems, emergent thinking, Leonardo da Vinci, Buckminster Fuller, Design Science, speculative biodesign
Abstract:
Contemporary biodesign is a diverse set of practices that integrate nature with design in various ways. What links these practices? Historical precursors offer insights into consequential attributes that are shared in contemporary biodesign. In this study, we discuss two historical precursors Leonardo da Vinci’s aortic heart valve and Buckminster Fuller’s Geodesic Dome. Both examples demonstrate the integration of natural and designed complex systems, as well as emergent thinking, all evidenced in contemporary biodesign practices. Complex systems comprise multiple separate, yet interrelated components that interact with each other and their environment in numerous ways. Emergent thinking draws upon the distinct patterns and behaviors that arise out of complex systems. The historical precursors demonstrate that complex systems and emergent thinking can generate new knowledge. Da Vinci brought together living and
non-living systems in his artificial aortic heart valve. His design process was emergent: the valve structure and function evolved from interactions between living and non-living complex systems, including his experiments on hydrodynamics. In the mid-20th century, Buckminster Fuller embraced the emergent properties and interconnected behavior of natural and human-made systems. The spherical shape and interlocking triangles in Fuller’s geodesic dome design were based on natural principles incorporated with human-made materials. The integration of complex systems and emergent thinking, as exemplified by both Leonardo and Fuller, endures in biodesign. We conclude with an example from futurefocused speculative biodesign Meydan Levy’s project Neo Fruit, which explores the production of artificial food. We describe how Neo Fruit embraces emergent “cooperation” between natural and human-based complex systems.
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