MORPHA

POWERS OF STRUCTURES

NATURE AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
Bionics is becoming increasingly relevant in various fields of knowledge. Due to new digital technologies, it is now possible to explore and understand nature more precisely. The concept Morpha is based on the idea of the film Powers of Ten (1977) by the Eames Office. Through the interdisciplinary combination of technologies, it enables a new approach to the creative examination of microscopic material structures.
 

BIONIC MICROSTRUCTURES

AS A DESIGN TOOL
The combination of different technology areas resulted in an interdisciplinary work process based on computed tomography and additive manufacturing. Interfaces were combined into a realizable process chain and explored in terms of design. The Morpha concept aims to make natural microstructures accessible and physically replicable as tools within the design process.
 

NATURAL MATERIALs

Natural material structures hold a huge potential of unexplored design and material solutions. Understanding natural, complex geometries is the basis for bionic innovations.

transformation

Computed tomography scanning is used to record the structure three-dimensionally at the micro level and make it digitally accessible. Morpha shows design possibilities for data conversion and transmission and makes the micro level accessible for design.

PHYSICALIZATION

The sintered 3D printing process enables the physical and scalable reconstruction of the complex constructions. By linking it to additive manufacturing, microstructures can thus also be integrated into the implementation phase of the design.

 
 

interdisciplinary research
In order to identify further considerations and potential areas of application for the concept, experts from various scientific and design disciplines were interviewed about the potential of microstructures and their accessibility. The answers serve as a basis for first drafts and technical fields of application, which are currently being elaborated by further, design-related discussions.
 

Researched subject areas:

  • Biology / Stefan Oberlin - McManus Lab SanFrancisco
  • Biomechanics / Eliott Goff - ETH Zurich
  • Design and Research / Christop Guberan - Écal & MIT
  • Mechanical Engineering / Tobias Humbel - B&F
  • Architecture / Adrian Wendel - WIR-Architekten
 
©MORPHA   info@morpha.net   2022