Synthetic Aesthetics: Investigating Synthetic Biology's Designs on Nature
It is essential that designers and artists engage with the emerging field of synthetic biology, but how is not always clear.Synthetic Aestheticsprovides a fascinating interdisciplinary discussion of the key issues and ideas driving developments in this field, but more importantly for artists and designers, it offers a range of ways designers and artists from very different points on the creative spectrum can critically engage with this exciting field.(Anthony Dunne, Head of the Design Interactions Programme, Royal College of Art)Synthetic Aestheticstakes a timely view of the interface between science and design from a number of angles. The charismatic introduction sets the stage for the different in-depth views that follow. This book is a good, accessible read for all and as such will also make a great addition to education in biology, engineering, design, and humanities.(Pamela Silver, Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School and Harvard University Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering)Just as post-war designers Ray and Charles Eames showed us how molded plywood techniques for building airplane wings could result in unexpected, and now timeless, pieces of furniture, artists and designers like Daisy Ginsberg are showing us how bacteria and other biological building blocks may give us entree to an entirely new species of experiences.(John Maeda, Design Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers)