SPACES LANDSCAPES PROTOTYPES SIMULATION GEOMETRY ENVIRONMENTS ECOLOGIES
2018 March

Dana speaks at the CMUThink Pittsburgh event themed around Greening the Urban Environment. This Alumni Association University event introduces CMU’s innovative research and technology that could lead to healthier cities.

2018 March

Epiphyte Lab has been recognized as the Next Progressive design practice by ARCHITECT, The Journal of American Institute of Architects. Learn more about Epiphyte Lab’s design work in the interview with Dana.

2018 March

Dana presents Senyai: Vaulted Acoustics project at the Building Behaviors panel, 106th Annual Meeting ACSA, Denver, CO.

EcoLogics: Computational Techniques for Shaping the Built Environment

| Research Seminar | 2015-Current |

| College of Fine Arts CMU | Instructor: Dana Cupkova |

EcoLogics is a project based design-research seminar that investigates adaptive dynamic behaviors inspired by natural processes and biomimetics as a basis for design ideas. Students are introduced to computational design thinking and digital fabrication, using contemporary parametric modeling to incorporate environmental information into a series of recursions. The objective is to speculate about translation of performative contingencies into objects, environments and functional morphologies informed by data sets and simulation. We engage design processes in which systems’ performance metrics underpin creative exploration of organization and form. The seminar results in the design and prototype of an individually proposed project. Students are immersed in digital parametric tools and contemporary digital fabrication processes, including 3D printing, CNC milling, vacuum forming and mold casting.

SoA CMU Site
Ferroform: Organic Responsiveness
Anthony J Nitche: Optical Web

| STUDENTS: Colleen Clifford, Marantha Dawkins, Sinan Goral, Anna Gusman, Ava Kling, Shannon Iacino, Sophie Nahrmann, Anthony Necci, Trent Wimbiscus |