Book

Vespers (Death Masks)

by Neri Oxman

This book's central thesis is that the biological and digital realms are not separate but are increasingly intertwined, forming a new frontier for design and innovation. It examines how the principles of biology can inform technological creation and how digital tools can unlock new understandings and applications of biological processes. The book presents a vision for a future where technology is not merely applied to nature but is grown from and integrated with it, leading to novel forms of materials, structures, and even living systems.

Readers will gain an understanding of the potential for biologically inspired design and fabrication, seeing how cutting-edge research in areas like synthetic biology, material science, and digital fabrication are converging. Key takeaways include the concept of "biomimicry" as a design philosophy, the power of computation in understanding biological complexity, and the emergence of entirely new material and structural possibilities that blur the lines between the living and the manufactured.

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Key concepts

  • Generative DesignComputational processes that use algorithms to create complex designs based on biological principles.
  • BiomaterialsMaterials derived from or inspired by biological organisms and their processes.
  • Synthetic BiologyEngineering biological systems for useful purposes.
  • Digital FabricationUsing computer-controlled machines to create physical objects from digital models.
  • Material EcologyThe study of how materials interact with their environment throughout their lifecycle.