During this course, we will examine natural environments, systems, processes, and organisms with the intent to design a more circular and less harmful human-planet relationship. Students will embark on a creative and rigorous exploration of the deep biomimicry and biodesign methodology put forth by the RISD Nature Lab as a pathway toward innovative materials, products, manufacturing methods, services, and experiences. These materials and methods will be placed in context to support the Hyundai Motor Group’s research on the future of mobility, creating design solutions that demonstrate our discoveries’ real-world applications and potential impacts.

Particular focus will be placed on advanced Biodesign research techniques such as microscopy imaging, 3D scanning, material & process development & testing, consultation with scientific experts, and referencing scientific research.

The curriculum and assignments will provide structured support for a deep dive into student-directed biodesign research. Bi-weekly demos build the technical skills that students need, including a further exploration of biomaterials, generative modeling, additive manufacturing, public speaking, and product photography. Guest lecturers and reviews will provide bi-weekly feedback and guidance in addition to the teaching team. Frequent check-ins support students in their larger research arc, including a focus on broader design frameworks of Design Justice and user interviews. The final outcome of the semester will be students’ documentation and write-up of their research process that will remain in the Regeneration Studio online archive, as well as an advanced and functional prototype.

A close partnership with the RISD Nature Lab and the ID Department will provide access to the expertise and equipment necessary to complete student-driven research topics. This course features a series of guest lectures, field trips, and demonstrations throughout the semester to provide insight into the quickly expanding field of biodesign and regenerative design.

Note: The activities and work in this course are sponsored by Hyundai Motor Group, and should be credited as such in accordance with the participation agreement (which is a requirement).

This course is open to non-major students through an application process. Interested students should contact the instructors for more information.

This studio unifies two main areas of the design process, devoting approximately half of the semester to each. The first area focuses on “imagining, exploring, and finalizing a design concept.” The second area focuses on “transforming the concept into reality.”

The first area of focus begins with students working on a series of sketching exercises that provide low-fidelity methods for imagining and exploring form and structural systems. These exercises are intended to improve students’ hand-sketching abilities, but more importantly, they establish a framework and logic for exploring ideas related to form and physical structure. Form exploration is not an endless process of sketching. As students make decisions about form and develop structural ideas, these exercises introduce a method for sketching, exploring, evaluating, and narrowing down the best possibilities for a design need. The sketching exercises and methodologies lead students toward a final sketched design concept and geometric resolution, which is the focus and intended outcome of the first half of the semester.

The second area of focus is the engineering and fabrication of high-fidelity prototypes based on these concepts. During this phase, CAD simulation, design refinement, and engineering decision-making become significant components of the work. The decisions made during CAD development differ from those made during the earlier ideation phase, which required students to finalize decisions related to geometry, materials, manufacturing processes, and assembly. This second phase provides an opportunity for students to iterate and develop sophisticated forms in CAD, as well as conduct physical model-making, testing, and fabrication work with faculty guidance in the department’s shops and labs. Through faculty consultation and supporting research, students refine their final design solutions to reflect and simulate contemporary manufacturing processes, such as injection molding, sheet-metal fabrication, or other relevant production methods. The final prototypes should communicate the appearance, construction, and level of refinement expected of an off-the-shelf manufactured consumer product. Students may develop working prototypes, appearance models, or a combination of both, depending on the goals and design intent of their individual projects.

With faculty guidance, each student defines their design inspiration and the product category around which their design thesis will be focused early in the semester. These decisions establish the conceptual direction for student projects and provide a foundation for research, subsequent design development, engineering, and fabrication of final prototypes.

Major Requirement | BFA Industrial Design, MID (2.5yr): Industrial Design