CD NEXT 17 conference began with an introductory session by Hamid Hassanzadeh, Founder and Creative Director of Parametric Architecture, and Micheal Pryor, CFO of Design Morphine. They discussed the previous Computational Design: NEXT conference and what we are waiting for in this session.
CD NEXT 17.0 features pioneers and professionals across various industries exploring emerging technologies in art, architecture, design, and manufacturing—here are the highlights from CD NEXT 17.0.
The conference began with a presentation by Volker Ruitinga, founder of Vertico 3D. He commenced his presentation by explaining the details of the 3D printing concrete application process. He showcased a range of projects, demonstrating various scales and functions, and provided insight into the underlying concepts, encountered challenges, and strategies for overcoming them.
The discussion included valuable information on material usage and optimization. He shared their significant contributions to the industry and the potential of 3D printing technology. Their boundary-pushing projects offered in-depth knowledge. At the end of the presentation, he highlighted their vision for the future and answered the questions from participants.
We continued with a tutorial from a multidisciplinary designer, Hashem Joucka. He started the tutorial with a short introduction to software such as Mandelbulb 3D and Fiji. He showcased several of his works and his special formulas from his experiments. He also shared his techniques for using these software to create fractal animations and turn them into 3D models for 3D printing.
Nuru Karim, the founder and principal of Nudes, started his presentation by explaining the invisible materiality in architecture and the multiple invisible materials that shape our society. These materials are intangible, but they have a great impact on decision-making regarding architecture, such as culture, emotions, digital data, memories, and social constructs. He then explained the importance of research in design, showcasing some of Nudes’ incredible projects, the thought processes behind them, and how the invisible factors played a role in reaching the final result.
Berke Debensason, architect and tech entrepreneur, delivered another insightful lecture. He shared his entrepreneurial journey in mixed reality and outlined his approach to the virtual world. Berke presented his company’s projects, detailing the design concepts and ideas behind them. He also demonstrated 3D models for headsets on Teledomica’s platform, providing a practical overview of their applications in mixed-reality environments. He concluded the presentation by addressing questions about the industry and their work.
We had another inspiring tutorial with the architect and computational designer Salma Ghanim. She showcased her works and provided an in-depth tutorial on creating organic patterns using Maya and Houdini. Salma shared her techniques and tips for designing meshes and materials, focusing on using blending tools to achieve intricate patterns.
In the last presentation of the first day, Bilge Nur Saltik, the founder and creative director of Form and Seek, shared her journey in the design industry and gave insightful information about the design processes. During the presentation, she showcased a collection of projects on various scales and materials and shared the ideas behind each project.
Bilge also discussed how she uses computational tools in her work, incorporating 3D printing, VR, and AI technologies. Her projects are featured in numerous exhibitions, reflecting her innovative approach to design. After the presentation, she answered the questions of the participants.
In the first lecture of the second day, Hao Chen, architect and founding partner of HCCH Studio, shared her approach to parametric design and innovation in the construction industry and how they integrate these methods into their projects. She highlighted using various materials from their experimental design process, including membrane, brick, and plastic.
Hao explained how to simplify the design process and showcased impressive projects with these materials. She provided a comprehensive overview of each project’s journey, from design to construction application. The lecture concluded with Hao addressing questions from the audience.
We continued with an amazing tutorial from architect and computational designer Aman Jain. He provided a comprehensive demonstration of using Grasshopper to create complex geometries, from form finding to the fabrication process. He explained his techniques for finding forms with blending plugins. He also showed properties for assembled geometries to make them flexible and bendable with a degree of benignity based on the material.
Shridhar Mamidalaa, architect and founder of SRI World, delivered an inspiring lecture. He took us through his journey in the design industry and offered valuable insights into his design processes. Throughout the presentation, he showcased several projects in different scales and materials, sharing the concepts behind each. He also discussed his use of 3D printing in his work. He shared his approach to computational design and sustainability. The session ended with a Q&A, where he addressed questions from the participants.
After a short break, we had a fantastic lecture from Matteo Silverio, Venice-based architect and founder of Rehub Glass. He began his presentation by sharing his journey into the field. He discussed his passion for bridging the gap between traditional glass manufacturing methods and new technologies, introducing innovative ideas and themes to the industry.
Matteo highlighted his extensive use of digital simulations and tests to achieve optimal results while emphasizing the importance of reducing and repurposing waste. His work aims to redefine the concept of “fragile” about glass. At the end of the presentation, he answered the questions from the participants.
Josef Stöger, a multi-disciplinary artist and designer, delivered the final tutorial for the conference. He began by showcasing his inspiring work and then briefly introduced clay, ceramics, and 3D printing. This included information on forms, types, and clay processing and preparation history. Josef also shared detailed insights into ceramic printing.
He then shared his amazing approach to combining nature and technology. After the insightful lecture, he started using Grasshopper to create unique designs for printing. The tutorial concluded with a live printing demonstration and a Q&A session with the audience.
We had a stunning lecture from Güvenç Özel, founder of Ozel Office, who started his presentation by sharing a selection of his previous projects, where he harnessed machine learning to create truly remarkable interactive architecture. He explained how his work focuses on developing relatable and emotionally engaging designs.
Güvenç shared his approach to integrating artificial intelligence into the design process, emphasizing how it allows him to transform digital concepts into tangible, real-world experiences. Through his use of advanced technologies, he aims to push the boundaries of architecture and create spaces that resonate personally with their users. The session ended with a Q&A, where he addressed questions from the participants.
