Conference Agenda

Nature has long inspired innovation in design by offering insights into sustainable and meaningful structures and processes. This research explores how integrating computational design tools with biological processes by mimicking the silk-spinning behaviour of Bombyx mori silkworms can inform product design renderings. When placed on flat surfaces, silkworms produce intricate, non-woven, flat silk tapestries that deviate from their natural cocoon structures. Phase 1 of this study involved raising silkworms and observing their silk-spinning behaviours under controlled conditions. These observations informed Phase 2, where computational tools, specifically Houdini software, were employed to simulate the natural flat spinning patterns of the silkworms to create a geometry node for application on rendered product design surfaces. Phase 3 applied the node on a rendered Isamu Noguchi lamp. Results include successfully utilizing silkworms to develop a flat woven silk sheet, creating a geometry node in Houdini, and applying the pattern algorithm in a computer rendering as the shade of a Noguchi-style lamp. This study demonstrates how biologically inspired patterns inform product development and presents a novel framework for product aesthetics. The paper provides photographs and renderings for each of the phases.

In an era of growing environmental challenges, design and engineering education must integrate sustainability not only as a theoretical concept but as a hands-on practice. This research explores how the incorporation of recovered, recycled, and upcycled materials, along with circular strategies (R’s), in academic projects can enhance environmental awareness among students in creative and engineering disciplines. Through a mixed-methods study involving surveys, interviews, and case studies across diverse programs in higher education, we examine the effects of using these materials on students' understanding of sustainability, resource conservation, and circular economy principles. Preliminary findings suggest that both design and engineering students engaging with repurposed materials and circular strategies gain a deeper appreciation for environment, material lifecycles, and sustainability, and are more likely to adopt sustainable practices in their respective fields. This paper highlights the transformative role that material choices and circular strategies in academic projects can play in cultivating a sustainability mindset, encouraging innovation in design processes, and promoting ethical responsibility among future designers and engineers.

This paper explores skeuomorphism in Extended Reality (XR) interfaces, focusing on its potential to enhance accessibility and promote physical engagement, particularly among older adults. By emulating real-world objects and interactions, skeuomorphic design reduces cognitive load, making digital interfaces more intuitive and accessible to a broad range of users. While flat design, valued for its simplicity, often lacks the intuitive cues necessary for navigating complex technologies, skeuomorphism offers an alternative that feels familiar and user-friendly.

In this study, participants were asked to draw associations with common digital functions like messaging and video playback. These associations provided insights into their mental models, which informed the development of skeuomorphic XR interface elements. User testing demonstrated the advantages of these designs when integrated with XR features such as hand tracking and room mapping. These elements not only improved interaction quality but also enhanced user comfort and ease of use, particularly in home settings where familiar interactions are essential.

The findings reveal a significant gap in current XR design: its limited accessibility for non-digital natives, such as older adults, who often struggle with traditional digital interfaces. By leveraging physical metaphors, skeuomorphic design can bridge this gap, making XR environments more engaging and effective for users with varying digital literacy levels. This study highlights the potential of skeuomorphic principles to expand XR usability and suggests that thoughtful design can make these technologies more approachable for all, ultimately supporting broader adoption and promoting well-being through accessible digital experiences.

Inclusive design education is a fundamental issue to be worked on with students from health-related courses to respect the society diverse. By integrating inclusive design into educational practices, health institutions can foster the development and mobilize essential competencies that empower students to create more equitable and accessible products and services in health systems.

Despite the recognition of inclusive design’s importance, there is still a lack of studies that consider it into health-related higher education. Current curricula from health-related courses often fail to consider inclusive design practices in their subjects. It’s clear that health students would benefit from inclusive design competencies to work with diverse Brazilian populations.

So, this study aims to explore how inclusive design education practices can mobilize students’ competencies in health-related higher education. Also, we intend to identify strategies that foster competencies in inclusive design, preparing students to be ethical and respectful people, dealing with the diverse Brazilian populations they will interact as future health professionals.

The study employs a qualitative approach, gathering insights from experiences and perceptions of educators, researchers, and students in health-related fields. These perspectives could provide a better understanding of how inclusive design is currently taught and identify opportunities for enhancing its integration in the development of student competencies.