RETHINKING DESIGN Exhibition
Step into a new dimension – where “design” becomes an essential element of the scientific process. A visit to ETH Zurich's pavilion will have you RETHINKING DESIGN in an entirely new context. Open during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, 22 - 25 January 2019.
Take a 360° Tour
Click on the image to explore the exhibition
Since the dawn of humankind, we have designed our environment to make it our own. Whether we design for practicality or simply the desire to feel joy, science and design have always walked hand in hand. RETHINK DESIGN at the ETH Zurich pavilion, immersing yourself in a sensory experience at the interface between science and design. Touch intelligent materials and walk both virtually and physically amongst the architecture of the future. See how chemists use augmented reality in drug design or listen to the whir of a 4D printed robot take shape and swim. Sniff-out your own video game character capturing elements from the real world. Finally, tempt your palate and expand your tastebuds in Davos’ only gourmet science eatery - the Tastelab restaurant.
STRUCTURAL DESIGN
The Floor is Yours
By 2050, the rapid depletion of raw materials will leave the world without enough sand and steel to build in concrete. It’s time to RETHINK the design of buildings. This collaborative research project on functionally integrated floor slabs, demos how historic geometrical designs and new technologies can result in lighter constructions, saving up to 70% in the raw materials. More...
4D DESIGN
4D Design
Life, as we know it, exists in 3-dimensional terms - height, length, and breadth. Morphing science into the 4th dimension, “time,” ETH Zurich researchers demonstrate how polymer materials can transform both in form and function. Flat components can fold and change their shape as a function of external influences. More...
DRUG DESIGN
Drug Design with the HoloLens
Immerse yourself in the 3D world of the molecule. ETH Zurich researchers, studying Computer-Assisted Drug Design, use Microsoft’s HoloLens to visualize and understand fundamental molecular structures. The tool helps researchers ID potential proteins for active drug development. More...
ROBOT & MOTION DESIGN
Skaterbots
Combined with the latest research in computers science, 3D printing opens the door to robots with a wide range of motions and maneuvers. Robots of the future will be 3D printed enabling geometrically complex and highly customizable parts at a minimal cost. Read Stelian Coros' recent Blogpost in the external pageWEF Agenda Blog. Design your own robot and program its motion. DownloadMore... (PDF, 144 KB)
Meet SAM – The Soft Robotic Hand
In the next decade, we will be able to fabricate a new breed of bioinspired robots with increasingly lifelike characteristics. ETH Zurich’s Computational Robotics Lab presents SAM – a soft anthropomorphic manipulator. The touch of this versatile soft robotic hand is so soft it can handle fragile objects. DownloadMore... (PDF, 144 KB)
MATERIAL DESIGN
Materials that Shape our Lives
Stone, bronze, and iron – materials that shaped the lives of humankind. ETH Zurich researchers present intelligent, property changing materials on the cutting edge of science. They demo materials that transform CO2 and light into solar fuel, lightweight threads that could replace steel cable, and the future material of computers. More...
DIGITAL FABRICATION DESIGN
Digitally Fabricated House
Take a virtual walk in the DFAB House – a real-life test bed showing how digital fabrication transforms architecture and construction. ETH architects implement 5 novel digital and robotic processes – an InSitu Fabricator, Mesh Mould, Smart Dynamic Casting, Smart Slab, & Spatial Timber Assembly. DFAB house opens in February 2019. Media kit & external pagemore...
GAME DESIGN
Be a Game Designer
Create, build, and play your own game! ETH Zurich’s Game Technology Center advances state-of-the-art game tech to enhance creativity and learning. Explore the latest game technologies by building your own game or playing “Derailed” a cooperative multiplayer game where your character can travel through endless worlds. DownloadMore... (PDF, 157 KB)
TASTE DESIGN
Tastelab Restaurant
Five natural scientists with a passion for cooking revolutionize the way we think about food. The Tastelab melds the latest methods and scientific knowledge to show the close relationship between science and food. Experiment with your taste buds with ETH Spinoff, Tastelab.
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