Design with The Living: Learning to Work Together

Abstract

Designing with other living organisms (biodesign) is reportedly different from designing with traditional materials such as glass and wood.  This paper aims to present the development and testing of a framework for teaching and learning the biodesign process in an undergraduate context with limited resources. Limited resources meaning the lack of a studio space and a laboratory. This seems to be a research gap in the literature review. The methodological strategy to achieve the framework is Design Science Research. The framework is organized in two context spaces: the classroom and the student`s homes. Six are its elements: (1) Concepts, (2) Repertoire, (3) Project methodology, (4) Practice, (5) Management, and (6) Reflections. There are materialities to the framework, like a project journal and a grow-it-yourself kit – as well as activities, like brainwriting and tinkering. The framework was evaluated in an undergraduate Product Design program with no access to a laboratory and no proper studio space. Through triangulation, we found that 14 of the established learning objectives were considered as met and 7 were considered as partially met. We discuss the results with other biodesign practices in formal education. Future developments of the framework include the creation of an elective introductory biodesign course.