Rapid manufacturing and nanotechnology are bringing some really interesting work to the field of biomimmetics - the RCA ran an interesting seminar in 2007 with essays by Geoff Hollington, Aldersley-Williams and Loughborough's RM research centre. (sorry don't have a ref. to hand)
Rosie
________________________________
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design on behalf of Filippo A.
Sent: Thu 26/06/2008 03:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A simple definition of 'Design'?
Karen wrote (see below) a couple of things that I can't keep quiet about.
I agree with Karen about every design solution coming eventually from 'nature', but I don't like thinking about nature as solving problems, as Karen implies (maybe unintentionally). Problems are only in our minds, they're a value judgement on the current state of affairs, which requires intent and consciousness. Nature has neither, as near as we can figure.
I also like the idea of taking advantage of natural systems as inspiration for artificial ones. The problem is, though, that nature works in such an entirely different scale, and in an entirely different way than we do or even can. We need more research in this area: how to adapt designing to pick up key features of natural systems that *we believe* will improve how we get things done.
The other thing Karen wrote was "Good thinking cannot come from a chaotic mess up
orderless system" in reference to mental disorder & schizophrenics. There is a connection between extreme intelligence and mental illness. John Nash was basically nuts, yet worked brilliantly in (arguably) one of the most ordered and structured fields: mathematics. There's plenty of other examples.
I'd say "good thinking happens" and certain acquired behaviours (via education) can improve good thinking and increase its frequency and breadth.
Cheers.
Fil
--
Filippo A. Salustri, PhD, PEng
Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada
tel: 416/979-5000 x7749 fax: 416/979-5265
[log in to unmask] http://deed.ryerson.ca/~fil
----- Original Message -----
From: Karen Fu <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, June 13, 2008 1:51 pm
Subject: Re: A simple definition of 'Design'?
To: [log in to unmask]
> The thread is getting interesting.
> I wish I have more time. But lets see
> if I could add some quick thoughts before bedtime.
>
> Gunnar mentioned about nature.
> I think all design solutions are directly or indirectly come
> from nature. Nature supplies the best solutions to different problems.
> The trick is to find the way to the solutions in our own
> human man made way. How do we learn from nature depends
> on individual's own way of looking for/investigating the problem
> and the given answers that are in our environment.
>
> Susan mentioned about mental disorder and schizophrenics.
> Good thinking cannot come from a chaotic mess up
> orderless system.
> A discipline sense of good order and clarity, an astute and diligent
> mind that observes the intricate laws of nature and find the solutions
> within.
>
> Actually there aren't that many rules around. You need to abide
> with the fundamental few and the rest of your methodologies can
> be formed by modification or created from observing what is given
> in nature but yet undefined.
>
>
> Karen Fu
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