The future of living, thinking, working, learning and collaboration is not out there to be discovered, but to be invented, more precisely to be designed. In the age of computation, to be computationally designed” (Mihai Nadin, 1994).
Computational Design is a discipline founded by Mihai Nadin and taught at the University of Wuppertal since 1994. Its purpose is to develop a computational theory of design and to prepare students to design products and processes through digital means. These products and processes themselves integrate digital technology (they are embedded systems).
The increasing complexity of information and products brings up new challenges for the designer. How can access to and preparation of functions and contents of new digital media be composed in order to ensure optimal awareness, navigation, and operation in the user? What new fields appear to the designer in addition to product-related functions? How does design affect other computer-related human activities?
Since the founding of the Computational Design Program, its goal has been to constitute the future world of ubiquitous computing. In light of its goal, Computational Design works with future designers in analyzing, structuring, and organizing digital communication and interaction systems for a variety of products, as well as for hardware and software. Among the subjects that Nadin and his students approach are:
in the domain of Ubiquitous Computing.
In Interface and Interaction Design, the following projects have been pursued:
Among the research projects carried out by students of Computational Design, under Nadin’s guidance, are:
For more information visit: http://www.code.uni-wuppertal.de