Supporting the Multi-/Inter-Disciplinary Collaboration of Bio-Related Design Projects Through Tangible Tools

Abstract

Having experienced bio-related projects in the biology and design fields, the author foresees more combinations of the two types of projects in the future and has begun to think about integrated issues, including the biological application aspect and the practical design, and the collaboration aspect. If team members can quickly recognise the common issues and then communicate and iterate, they can solve problems instead of being stuck with extended emotions. However, bio-related design beginners usually need more experience in multi-disciplinary collaboration and often realise the issues at almost the end of the project. Therefore, a set of suggestive tools was designed to help novices become more aware from the beginning of a collaborative bio-related design project. The team will be primed to know each other better, visualise the design process, and touch the combination of knowledge. With the building-up process of a new common language, team members have the shared fundamen- tal of thinking and communicating. Next, they could have more trust and confidence to exert their dominant functions and be able to deal with complex knowledge further.

'Symbiosis' is the interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. Sensory Symbolsis aims to facilitate symbiosis in a multi-disciplinary team through multiple sensory developments using signs and symbols.