About

Radical Design consists in creating dynamic objects not only inspired by ecosystems but compatible with them. Instead of using plastic or lithium batteries for example, we investigate how to algorithmically reconfigure living systems and craft reactive shape-shifting devices that can be actuated with situated energy and eventually compost. 

Based on the Radical Atoms vision by Hiroshi Ishii, we concretize it with bio-compliant materials such as biopolymers and techniques like organic 4D printing, Quorum Sensing and parametric folding (programmable origami and kirigami). 

Radical Design is also inspired by experimental researchers from Italy’s so called Radical period (Superstudio, Archizoom, STUDIODADA, UFO), UK (Archigram), USA (Papanek, CAVS) and Poland (Wodiczko) in the 60’s who argued that Design is symbiotic with nature and critical to culture .

Since the 8O’s, Interrogative Design workshops invite artists to create objects intended to be put in public space in cities to question our relationship with it. In the same spirit, we aim at inviting researchers to question the impact of their practices while pushing them to radically new interaction paradigms based on minimal programmable environments using ecological resources from their environment and active matter.