Biodesign NYC
IDISC-1885
Rhode Island School of Design | New York City
Wintersession RISD Global Travel Course | Jan 5-26, 2025
Peter Yeadon, Professor | pyeadon@risd.edu | 917-628-1258 (m)
Upasana Pandey, Teaching Assistant | upandey@risd.edu
Elective | 3.0 Credits
Course Map
CIVILITY STATEMENT
As we enter this study together, please be mindful that RISD is an academic community dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the development of integrity. In order to thrive and excel, this community must preserve the freedom of thought and expression of all its members. A culture of respect that honors the rights, safety, dignity, and worth of every individual is essential to preserve such freedom. We affirm our respect for the rights and well-being of all members.
Membership in the academic community places a special obligation on all members to preserve an atmosphere conducive to the freedom to teach and to learn. Part of that obligation implies the responsibility of each member of the RISD community to maintain a positive learning environment in which the behavior of any individual does not disrupt the classes of teachers or learners. Please review RISD’s Code of Student Conduct here: https://policies.risd.edu/student-life/code-of-student-conduct/
If you feel uncomfortable with something that has happened in this class that breaks our commitment to civility, I encourage you to raise it in class, if you feel comfortable doing that. If you don’t, then please speak with me outside of class. If you would prefer to ask our TA or a friend to speak on your behalf, then I would welcome that as well. If you aren’t comfortable with any of those options for any reason, then I encourage you to speak with RISD Global, or one of the appropriate contacts on this webpage: https://www.risd.edu/about/policies-disclosures
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In many ways, biodesign presents a whole new paradigm for our Age. It’s design with/for biology. It transcends the limits of biomimicry, seeking to capture not only the variety of ways in which the natural world can inform projects, but it also promotes an understanding of the principles and processes that result in the myriad materials, forms, patterns, and relationships we see in the living world. The products and outcomes of biodesign feature ways of making that parallel nature’s strategies for yielding design and material solutions, and systems of production and engagement, that work with the natural world to promote conditions that are conducive to life on this diverse planet.
As such, biodesign involves an approach to design and production that replaces conventional mechanized systems of industry with biological processes. Its design tenets are biological principles that are observable in the living world. Things grow and evolve, so its products are not thought of as ends in themselves; they’re part of a system, an ecology that design hopefully enhances. Therefore, biodesign projects are often complex, taking many factors into consideration, and are usually the result of a collaborative process that involves many specialists and generalists from a variety of fields, including artists and designers.
At RISD, the biodesign studies that we have undertaken have supported RISD’s strategic plan, NEXT: by introducing our students to new, collaborative ways of making and knowing; by engaging sustainability through a variety of means that can help decarbonize and detoxify our communities; and, by pursuing accessible projects, resources, and opportunities that can contribute positively to diverse peoples, and our planet. But RISD is not a hub for the study and practice of biodesign, so we need to continue our work while finding new ways to engage biodesign communities elsewhere, both near and distant. Fortunately, just down the tracks, there’s a global center where biodesign has been flourishing for many years: New York City.
Therefore, located in NYC, this travel course will provide you with an opportunity to learn about biodesign, and create meaningful contributions to the study and practice of biodesign, by directly engaging pertinent issues and projects with some of its global pioneers and influencers.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
You will be meeting a lot of people who are members of the biodesign/bioart and bioscience/biotech community in NYC. They’ll be sharing their work and interests with you, and we’ll be discussing the broad range of issues it raises and engages. Their participation in the course will provide you with an intensive introduction to biodesign, and will support the diverse conditions that are needed for the creation of original ideas. During the course, you’ll be working with biomaterials, researching projects and precedents, experimenting with CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically edit organisms, making presentations and leading discussions, and conceiving of new works of biodesign that respond to a number of prompts that guests will introduce when we meet with them.
The biodesign community in NYC is diverse and is globally connected. It includes many people who frequently visit from around the world to collaborate on projects, and attend exhibitions, conferences, and events. So we will have opportunities to rigorously examine a number of issues that are local and global. Students are expected to attend all lab/studio tours, meet guests, participate in group discussions, execute biolab experiments, complete assigned readings and undertake independent research, participate in all class meetings, and create original works of biodesign that improve or enhance the ecology and community that your biodesign work might be a part of. You will be provided information, through presentations, discussions, readings, experiments, tours, and other resources, to allow you to focus on the following learning objectives:
- to develop an appreciation of biology, and an understanding of ways in which it can inform design innovation;
- to identify design tenets that are informed by biological principles;
- to think of design works/projects as part of a system, an ecology that your design hopefully enhances, not as an end in and of itself;
- to develop an appreciation of the broad implications of biodesign, by learning about, and from, artists and designers who work with biology;
- to learn about biomaterials, and to directly work with them to understand their properties, behaviors, and potential advantages and disadvantages over other materials and industrial processes;
- to learn about synthetic biology and the rise of CRISPR-Cas9 in the design and creation of new organisms;
- to contemplate new design applications for biological materials and processes, applications that might capitalize on their unique properties and systems, and at the same time, might help us address important problems;
- to develop reasonable and credible opinions or claims, based on research and evidence;
- to develop innovative works that elegantly, and appropriately, integrate biological functionality;
- to develop an independent sense of experimentation and scrutiny, yet participate in critical discourse;
- to work well with others through collaboration, and to consult with experts from a range of fields with the utmost professionalism;
- and to have fun exploring New York City.
Finally, while some modes of representation, such as drawings, models, and photographic imagery, have privileged static materials and lifeless artifacts, the active and reactive nature of biodesign may require a new approach to visualization and communication. It may need to depart from the limitations of fixed images and stationary objects, and instead become a means to aptly demonstrate the dynamic organisms and systems that enable biodesign. Therefore, throughout the course, you will need to consider how you might best represent your ideas and your design work, in terms of visual communication for presentations, to effectively demonstrate that biology is an integral part of your future vision for biodesign. It’s vital to any understanding of the work.
COURSE SCHEDULE
All students are required to attend all class sessions and tours, as these are invaluable and essential opportunities for learning. No other required meeting times will be arranged outside of our Mondays through Fridays class schedule, below. Class sessions must begin on time and will not be recorded. Therefore, do not be late for class or you will miss important information, and be deemed absent (see Additional Information on absences, below).
Project assignments will be issued on the dates listed below. You are expected to complete all assignments as specified in each assignment handout that’s issued. Each completed assignment is due before class begins on its due date, or it will be considered late and will significantly reduce your grade. The semester is arranged as follows, but is subject to change, so RELOAD THIS PAGE FREQUENTLY:
Before NYC
Before classes begin, each student is to create a five-minute presentation on their works/interests, using this shared Google Slides presentation file, to be presented on January 6, 2025.
Assignment 1 Issued on December 19, 2024. Before classes begin, six teams prepare to deliver presentations and lead discussions on aspects of biodesign that they critically examined, considered, and discussed. Assignment 1 is due on January 6, 2025.
Assignment 1 Issued on December 19, 2024. Before classes begin, six teams prepare to deliver presentations and lead discussions on aspects of biodesign that they critically examined, considered, and discussed. Assignment 1 is due on January 6, 2025.
Su 01/05
after 3:00 pm
@ Freehand Hotel
All students arrive and check into their rooms on/after 3:00 pm.
You must let Upasana know when you’ve arrived and have checked in.
All students arrive and check into their rooms on/after 3:00 pm.
You must let Upasana know when you’ve arrived and have checked in.
Mo 01/06
12:50 pm
@ Freehand Hotel
Students meet Upasana in the hotel lobby, and then walk to our meeting space @ Hidden City Loft.
Students meet Upasana in the hotel lobby, and then walk to our meeting space @ Hidden City Loft.
1:00 pm
@ Hidden City Loft
Meet and Greet. Students give five-minute presentations on their own works/interests, using this shared Google Slides presentation file.
Course Introduction by Peter
Assignment 1 Due. Six teams deliver presentations and lead discussions on aspects of biodesign that they critically examined, considered, and discussed.
Assignment 2 Issued. Each student is to create a proposal for a work of biodesign. Envisioned work must consider signals that point to this future, be plausible/credible, and map the context/ecosystem within which the work would exist. Assignment 2 is due on January 24, 2025.
Meet and Greet. Students give five-minute presentations on their own works/interests, using this shared Google Slides presentation file.
Course Introduction by Peter
Assignment 1 Due. Six teams deliver presentations and lead discussions on aspects of biodesign that they critically examined, considered, and discussed.
Assignment 2 Issued. Each student is to create a proposal for a work of biodesign. Envisioned work must consider signals that point to this future, be plausible/credible, and map the context/ecosystem within which the work would exist. Assignment 2 is due on January 24, 2025.
7:00 pm
Group Dinner in the East Village
Tu 01/07
12:00 pm
Meet Peter in the hotel lobby. Depart for Industry City.
1:00 pm
We 01/08
11:20 am
Meet Peter in Hotel Lobby. Depart for Brooklyn Navy Yard via NYC Ferry (11:53dep; 12:07arr)
12:15 pm
Lunch at Brooklyn Navy Yard
Fr 01/10
1:20 pm
Meet Peter at the Hotel. Depart for Times Square.
Weekend
No Class Meetings. Students are working on Assignment 2.
3:00 pm
@ Hidden City Loft
Meet Aaron Nesser, Co-Founder & Former CTO of Keel Labs / AlgiKnit
Meet Aaron Nesser, Co-Founder & Former CTO of Keel Labs / AlgiKnit
Tu 01/14
12:00 pm
Lunch on Park Avenue South. We’ll depart from the hotel at 11:56 AM, SHARP.
4:00 pm
@ Biodesign Challenge
Meet with Paul Rubery, Executive Director, and Veena Vijayakumar, Program Director
Meet with Paul Rubery, Executive Director, and Veena Vijayakumar, Program Director
We 01/15
11:45 am
Meet Peter in the hotel lobby. Depart for Industry City.
1:00 pm
@ Genspace
Biothreads materials exploration with Lolo Ostia
+
Review results from CRISPR experiments (60 min)
Biothreads materials exploration with Lolo Ostia
+
Review results from CRISPR experiments (60 min)
Th 01/16
11:20 am
Meet Peter in Hotel Lobby. Depart for Brooklyn Navy Yard via NYC Ferry (11:53dep; 12:07arr)
12:15 pm
Lunch at Brooklyn Navy Yard
Fr 01/17
12:00 pm
Lunch on Park Avenue South. We’ll depart from the hotel at noon, SHARP.
2:00 pm
@ Cooper Hewitt Design Museum
Meet curators Andrea Lipps and/or Caitlin Condell to learn about Nature: Collaborations in Design exhibition.
Meet curators Andrea Lipps and/or Caitlin Condell to learn about Nature: Collaborations in Design exhibition.
Weekend
No Class Meetings. Students continue to work on Assignment 2.
Mo 01/20
11:30 am
Meet Peter in the hotel lobby. Depart for lunch nearby.
12:40 pm
Depart for Brooklyn Army Terminal.
7:00 pm
Deadline for providing Upasana with your order for our class lunch on Wednesday. Peter orders lunch for pick up.
Tu 01/21
12:30 pm
Meet Peter in the hotel lobby. Walk to The Village.
We 01/22
12:20 pm
Three students meet Peter at hotel lobby, to help pick up class lunch.
1:00 pm
Lunch @ Hidden City Loft
Meet Aradhita Parasrampuria, Founder of Cellsense
Assignment 2 Work-In-Progress Session with Aradhita
Meet Aradhita Parasrampuria, Founder of Cellsense
Assignment 2 Work-In-Progress Session with Aradhita
Th 01/23
No Class Today. Students continue to work on Assignment 2.
Fr 01/24
1:00 pm
@ Hidden City Loft
Assignment 2 Due. Students present to Daniel Grushkin, Founder of Biodesign Challenge and Co-Founder of Genspace
Assignment 2 Due. Students present to Daniel Grushkin, Founder of Biodesign Challenge and Co-Founder of Genspace
7:30 pm
Farewell Dinner @ JaJaJa Mexicana - West Village
63 Carmine St (Between Bedford and 7th Ave)
CLASS DISMISSED!
63 Carmine St (Between Bedford and 7th Ave)
CLASS DISMISSED!
Sa 01/25
No class
Su 01/26
12:00 pm
@ Freehand Hotel
Students must check out of their rooms before noon, or they may be charged for an additional day at the current daily rate, not the group rate.
Students must check out of their rooms before noon, or they may be charged for an additional day at the current daily rate, not the group rate.
PROJECT DOCUMENTATION
Documentation requirements for each project assignment will be issued with each project handout. Your documentation will provide RISD with a record of your study, and any information contained in the files may be used and credited to you in future electronic or printed media publications, either in whole or in part, and might be posted online (e.g., biodesign.risd.edu). At every opportunity, you shall include ONLY YOUR OWN original writing, images, and other materials. Please be advised that it is highly recommended that you make a copy of the files for your own records.
Documentation submissions will be evaluated in relation to the stated objectives of the course and a demonstrative consideration of:
- Craft and quality of writing
- The quality, resolution, and legibility of images and other media (e.g., movies)
- The appropriateness of the images/media in relation to the objectives of the study
- Selective documentation of the whole work, and significant parts of the project
- Evidence of ambitious and thorough research and experimentation
- Adherence to the submission requirements stated in assignment handouts
READINGS AND RESOURCES
Specific readings and online videos will be recommended and/or issued in advance of meeting guests. Typically, their work has been published/cited in those readings.
ANTICIPATED COSTS
Students are responsible for their own travel to/from New York City, and for their own meals while they are in NYC. You will need to purchase your own sketchbook/journal to take notes and develop projects. Students will pay for their own transportation on the MTA Transit system and for passage on NYC Ferry; you should budget about $50/week for this (you’ll need to use your own phone for MTA/OMNY subway/bus tap-to-pay transit, and to use the NYC Ferry app).
Expenses that are covered by RISD include: a shared group meal at the beginning and at the end of the course, a few group lunches (maybe four or so, total), hotel accommodations for each student, course meeting space, access to labs/studios we will visit, all biolab fees and lab materials/supplies, all guest speaker fees and guest critic fees, and any textbooks and other course materials (including any biomaterials) that you’ll be required to use in the course.
EVALUATION
All review sessions are invaluable opportunities for learning. Although these sessions may inform grading by the instructor, grades are not determined by the reviews. Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the RISD Course Announcement 2024-2025 and how those policies are interpreted and applied. The value of each project assignment, as a percentage of your total evaluation for this course, is as follows:
Assignment One 20%
Assignment Two 60%
Participation 20%
Your evaluation is determined by using the following grading scale:
A (4.0) Excellent
This grade is for exceptional, original work that demonstrates outstanding achievement. The grade is given for sophisticated work that has exceeded course requirements, assignment requirements, and course objectives. Such works are conceptually and technically superior, as a result of extraordinary independent research that has produced critical insights and new or unexpected knowledge. Works awarded this grade are entirely comprehensive and demonstrate substantial effort, leadership, and significant achievement in the areas of skills, critical thinking, inventiveness, scholarship and discovery.
B (3.0) Very Good
This grade is awarded for very good work that exceeds the minimum course requirements, assignment requirements, and course objectives. Such highly skilled works are the result of sustained and meaningful inquiry, demonstrating independent research that offers knowledgeable insights that are persuasive. Works awarded this grade are thorough and demonstrate considerable effort, participation, and important achievement in the areas of skills, critical thinking, innovation, and scholarship.
C (2.0) Satisfactory
This grade is awarded for work that fulfills the minimum course requirements, assignment requirements, and course objectives. Such satisfactory or adequate works benefit from readings and research, and show some mastery of skills and concepts. Works awarded this grade have deficiencies and only offer obvious insights, but demonstrate effort and basic working skills and knowledge.
D (1.0) Poor
This grade is awarded for work that marginally meets the minimum course requirements, assignment requirements, and course objectives. Such work is often derivative and demonstrates clearly deficient skills and/or does not show an understanding of the course material, or expectations.
F (0.0) Failure
This grade is awarded for work that fails to meet the minimum course requirements, assignment requirements, and course objectives. Such unsatisfactory work offers very poor research and shows serious deficiency in skills and knowledge that justify a clear failure to meet course expectations.
DISABILITY SUPPORT
Rhode Island School of Design is committed to providing equal opportunity for all students. If you are a student with a disability that may require accommodations to complete the requirements of this class, then I encourage you to discuss your learning needs with me and RISD Global well before the semester begins. Once an approval letter from the Office of Disability Support Services is submitted, accommodations will be provided as needed. For more information on how to receive accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services at 401-709-8460 or disabilitysupportservices@risd.edu.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RISD is committed to creating and providing a learning, living and working environment free from gender-based discrimination. Find out more at the website for Equity and Compliance here.
RISD recognizes that any member of our community may choose a name to identify themselves that differs from their legal name. RISD's Chosen Name Policy strives to accommodate this self-identification.
In order to provide support to transgender and gender variant students who, for whatever reason, need special accommodations due to gender identity/expression, I encourage students to speak with the Office of Intercultural Student Engagement (ISE) which can help students with navigating the policies and practices of the college.
All students are expected to attend every class on time and be prepared to contribute constructively to class activities. Read more about RISD’s Absence Policy here, and our Academic Code of Conduct here.
CAPS
RISD’s Office of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides a range of mental health services to help students improve emotional, interpersonal, and academic functioning, including:
- Individual and group counseling
- Recommendations to off-campus providers
- Outreach events related to educating and improving mental health within the college
- A crisis therapist on-call (for after-hours mental health emergencies)
- Psychiatric/Medication services (upon recommendation from a CAPS counselor)
Emotional well-being is essential to personal development and integral to the creative process. Counseling provides a space to address issues that may be interfering with your work or personal life.
LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW
Please note that January 10, 2025 is the last day to drop this course; the course withdraw period with a “W” grade begins on January 11th.