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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EXP 1026"
COURSE NAME: "Coded Biophilia: Wearables and Textile Futures"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Giulia Tomasello
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: FRI 9:00AM 1:00PM Course meets on: September 13, October 4, October 25 and November 8
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 15
CREDITS: 1
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a workshop designed to learn the basics of soft wearables and the exploration of biological textiles. During the course, students will explore the potential of bacterial cellulose for textile futures in terms of growing living materials and creating speculative scenarios for second skins, sensors, and adaptive responsive structures. Learning new methods of making sensory surfaces for wearables and to envision how biotechnology and new materials will shape our environment. Students will critically engage with the processes and methods of making/ production. This includes aspects of materials, tools and models of practice. Working individually and in groups, students will develop a creative body of visual research, including tactile inspirations and physical samples, document and record every experiment and process to finally produce a working prototype and its social context.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Technology is getting closer and closer to our skin. What we wear today will soon be forgotten, replaced by biological technologies that not only change and challenge the way we consume and experience design and fashion, but also how we relate to and work with nature rather than against it. At this crucial point, as we tumble towards bio collapse; ensued by our growth-obsessed culture and unsustainable models for living, the challenge and responsibility of contemporary designers, thinkers and researchers is to lead with awareness and sensibility towards both the planet and its people. We have a responsibility to create a space for dialogue and a framework for reflection to inspire innovation that will disrupt our current fatal model. Within this space we have the opportunity to rethink the relationship between nature, science, design and society. How can materials expand the way our bodies sense and interact with the environment?

The course is designed to explore the symbiotic relationship between nature and humans, why materials matter and how ethics and politics shape the way we should design. During the course, students will explore the potential of bacterial cellulose for matters of care in terms of growing living materials and creating speculative scenarios for ideal symbiotic relationships. Learning new methods of making sensory surfaces and to envision how biology and new materials will shape our environment. 

Students will critically engage with processes and methods of slow-making and co-production with living organisms. This will include experimental and speculative aspects of materials, tools and models of practice. Working individually and in groups, students will develop a creative body of visual research, including tactile inspirations and physical samples, documenting and recording each experiment and process to produce matters of care and their social contexts.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, students will be able to identify state-of-the-art materials and applications of biomaterials. Successful and unsuccessful experiments are equally relevant, it is important to take creative risks and be as inventive as possible. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their process and present findings as a result of designing with living organisms, fostering creativity in a collaborative and transdisciplinary environment.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
AttendanceBe present and active participating at the four lessons. 10%
Final PresentationPresenting in groups a speculative scenario and physical prototype.90%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This course is a workshop designed to learn the basics of soft wearables and the exploration of biological textiles. During the course, students will explore the potential of bacterial cellulose for textile futures in terms of growing living materials and creating speculative scenarios for second skins, sensors, and adaptive responsive structures. Learning new methods of making sensory surfaces for wearables and to envision how biotechnology and new materials will shape our environment. Students will critically engage with the processes and methods of making/ production. This includes aspects of materials, tools and models of practice. Working individually and in groups, students will develop a creative body of visual research, including tactile inspirations and physical samples, document and record every experiment and process to finally produce a working prototype and its social context.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1

Coded Biophilia Introduction course

Matters of Care 

Mapping / Exercising

Week 2

Living Materials

Speculative Design 

Mapping / Exercising

Week 3

Material Futures

Making / Sampling

Week 4

Open Source / Biohacking

Final Presentation

 

Bibliography

  • Barbiero, G., Berto, R., Introduzione alla biofilia, la relazione con la natura tra genetica e psicologia, Roma, 2016 - eng resource https://www.univda.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2019-Bolten-and-Barbiero-Biophilic-Design.pdf
  • Berger, E., Mäki-Reinikka, K., O’Reilly, K., Sederholm, H., Art as we don’t know it, Tallin, 2020
  • De la Bellacasa, M.P., Matters of Care, speculative ethics in more than human worlds, Minneapolis, 2017
  • Dunne, A., Raby, F., Hertzian Tales: electronic products, aesthetic experience, and critical design”, MIT, 2005
  • Dunne, A., Raby, F., “Speculative Everything: design, fiction, and social dreaming”, MIT, 2013
  • Formafantasma, Cambio, Roma, 2021 - website with resources http://www.cambio.website/
  • Ginsberg, A.D., Synthetic Aesthetics: Investigating Synthetic Biology’s Designs on Nature, MIT, 2014
  • Howes, P., Laughlin, Z., Material Matters, new materials in design, London 2012
  • Levi, P., The Periodic Table, Torino, 1975 
  • Making Sense, Citizen Sensing: A Toolkit, http://making-sense.eu/, 2018
  • Myers, W., Antonelli, P., Bio Design: nature, science, creativity, 2018
  • Townsend, K., Solomon, R., Briggs-Goode, A., Crafting Anatomies: Archives, Dialogues, Fabrications, 2020
  • Vis, D., Research for People who (think They) would rather Create, Onomatopee, 2021