Biomimetic Design, ITP Fall 2013, taught by Gabriella Levine
Tuesdays 3:30 – 6:00, September 3 – October 22
Website: http://www.levinegabriella.com/exploringbiomimicry/itp/
Email : Gabriella.levine@gmail.com
Office hours : Tuesday 6 – 8 pm and/or Friday 3 – 6 pm

Class 1, September 3:
1. Introduction: expectations, logistics, communication, tools, topics
2. Lecture : Properties of Biomimicry : New Materials, Overview (sensors, robots, architecture), Scale, Impact, Examples
3. Design Excersize : organic motion mimicking a joint system, using only analog materials
4. Debrief & Assignment

Assignment:
1. PROJECT 1 : Design organic motion, mimicking a particular joint or system of an animal or other organism.
2. Reading & feedback
3. Document 2 biomimetic project examples : 1 that you love, 1 that you hate

Class 2, September 10:
1. Lecture:
a. Intro to biological systems: feedback loops, systems, organic motion, and sensing
b. Kinetic Biomimetic Devices
c. Biomimetic Sensing and Feedback systems
d. Biomimicry in Interface Design
2. Homework Demo & Feedback
3. Discussion : on the readings & Janine Benyus’ definition of Nature & Biomimicry
4. Debrief & Assignment

Assignment:
Project #2: Design a sensor system mimicking a living organism’s sensing behavior. This must take informational, positional, or environmental input and react in some way.

Class 3, September 17:
1. Lecture
a. Artificial Intelligence
b. Cybernetics
c. Cyborgs
d. Living Design / Bioart
2. Homework : Demo & Feedback
3. Launch final assignment

Assignment
Project #3: From the perspective of a non-human user, design a product or system that improves methods of communication or information exchange with others of their own species, other species, or humans. Your device should incorporate a physical and electrical component. It should have a sensory input, a visual or auditory output, and a negative feedback mechanism.

1. Begin the research for your final assignment.
2. What is the system you are mimicking?
3. Who is your user? What is the point of view statement?
4. Prepare a concept diagram with wireframes &/or 2-3D renders. Document the entire system and interactions that take place.
5. Prepare a systems diagram, including technical specs, parts needed, and entire systems layout.
6. Order any parts / equipment

Class 4: September 24
1. Lecture
a. Agent-based systems & representing biological systems in software
b. Energy Regeneration & sustainability
2. Demo & Feedback : Systems diagrams and conceptual idea
3. Ideation exercise

Assignment:
Begin your prototypes. Be prepared to demo something next class for user testing.

Class 5. October 1
1. Demo prototypes
2. Feedback
3. User testing exersize

Class 6. October 8
1. Demo work
2. Documentation

Class 7. October 22
FINAL CLASS PRESTENTATION