M1: Examples of Computational Design

22 January 2024 - 3 mins read time

Description

This is the first assignment for the Spring 2024 Comptuational Fabrication course at CU Boulder.

Computational Design in Nature

Botanical World

Sunflowers Sunflower Image Image by Leopictures from Pixabay The spiral center of sunflower seeds is laid out in one of the classic numerical seqences. By counting the spiral there will always be a Fibonacci number present. [1]

Zoological World

Octopi! Octopus Cynea modifying its shape to resemble coral or algae. Octopi are incredible creatures that have the ability to camoflauge themselves to avoid detection by prey. They can modify their appearance to not only mimic colors, but textures as well. Additionally they may even alter their movements to further blend in. [2]

Environment

Bowerbird images with their nests. The nest looks like a tunnel of domed sticks These birds (bowerbirds) build extravagant nest structures in their search for a mate – in addition to these tunnel like entries they may also find brightly colored objects or flower to attract more attention. [3]

Computational Design in the Human-Built Environment

Fair Isle Knit Designs Fair isle hat with a pom pom There are many examples of computational design in fabric arts - fair isle designs such as the hat above often feature bright colors in repeated patterns. [4]

Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture The Fallingwater Building - a house built into the side of a forest with water rushing out of the bottom. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater masterpiece appears to have a waterfall emerging from the bottom. The home is expertly crafted to fit seamlessly into the Western Pennsylvania landscape. [5]

Yayoi Kusama’s Artwork Soft sculpture - yellow pumpkins with black polka dots Kusama plays with repeated patterns, light, and mirrors in her spectacular Infinity Mirrors exhibit. Her work frequently features polka dot and net motifs. [6]

Researchers/Artists/Designers of Computational Fabrication

Dinara Kasko

Dinara Kasko sample work Dinara Kasko leverages 3D models to design and create intricate pastry designs. The style of the work is visually appealing while also being completely edible. In addition to using 3D models to create cakes, she has founded a company producing silicone molds making the creation of edible art more feasible for chefs across the world.

D-shape (Pisan Enrico Dini)

3D printed terracota tiles in action Pisan Enrico Dini is the inventor and CEO of D-shape, they produce 3D printers but focus on creating artificial reefs. His company is a prime example of engineers leveraging 3D printers to fight the negative impacts that human beings have had on the environment as a result of climate change. The picture above is from the Hong Kong Bay Conservation Project which won the 2022 Design for Asia award.

References

  1. Fibonacci Numbers of Sunflower Seed Spirals – National Museum of Mathematics-.https://momath.org/home/fibonacci-numbers-of-sunflower-seed-spirals/
  2. Fox Meyer. 2013. How Octopuses and Squids Change Color. https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/how-octopuses-and-squids-change-color
  3. Bowerbird. https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/bowerbird.
    1. A Simplicity Fair Isle Hat. https://www.knittingpatternsgalore.com/a-simplicity-fair-isle-hat-20933.html
    1. Fallingwater. Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. https://franklloydwright.org/site/fallingwater/
  6. Biography. Yayoi Kusama. http://yayoi-kusama.jp/e/biography/index.html
  7. Dinara Kasko. https://dinarakasko.com/.
  8. Pavel Toropov. 2020. Tiles to restore corals, designed and 3D printed in Hong Kong, may be key to saving the world’s threatened reefs.
  9. P. Madeleine. D-Shape on Using 3D Printing to Support Biodiversity in our Oceans. 2023. https://www.3dnatives.com/en/d-shape-on-using-3d-printing-to-support-biodiversity-in-our-oceans-290320236/#!