CDFAM Computational Design Symposium

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/

Organization:MITPresenter:Alfonso Parra RubioCrease, Fold, Transform. Presentation AbstractFolding is a fundamental process found throughout nature on multiple scales. Rather than altering the material itself, folding transforms its shape, offering a powerful means of engineering without compromising integrity.This presentation explores, from an engineering and design perspective, the unique potential of folding and discrete assembly as a design and manufacturing tool across multiple scales in engineering.From millimeter-scale bulk cellular materials to meter-scale structural corrugations and actuated robotic systems, and ultimately to architectural shell structures spanning tens of meters, folding enables the creation of high-performance, architected materials.Speaker BioAlfonso Parra Rubio is a PhD candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working at the Center for Bits and Atoms led by Neil Gershenfeld. His research explores how folding and discrete assembly can be combined to design and manufacture architected materials across multiple scales: from bulk cellular materials (millimeters to centimeters), to structural corrugations and actuated systems (centimeters to meters), and up to architectural-scale shell structures (meters to decameters). His work fundamentally explores how materials and structures are designed, engineered, manufactured, and assembled. In addition to his academic research, he founded RnKolektive, a collaborative platform for sculptural exploration. This parallel practice focuses on mixed-media works that merge folding techniques with blown glass, creating pieces that use the same research contributions but with an expressive intention.


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Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/

OrganizationPrinceton UniversityPresenter:Tuo ZhaoSuper-Modular Chiral Origami MetamaterialsPresentation AbstractMetamaterials with multimodal deformation mechanisms resemble machines, especially when endowed with autonomous functionality. A representative architected assembly, with tunable chirality, converts linear motion into rotation (1). These chiral metamaterials with a machine-like dual modality have potential use in areas such as wave manipulation, optical activity related to circular polarization and chiral active fluids. However, the dual motions are essentially coupled and cannot be independently controlled. Moreover, they are restricted to small deformation, that is, strain ≤2%, which limits their applications. Here we establish modular chiral metamaterials (2), consisting of auxetic planar tessellations and origami-inspired columnar arrays, with decoupled actuation. Under single-degree-of-freedom actuation, the assembly twists between 0° and 90°, contracts in-plane up to 25% and shrinks out-of-plane more than 50%. Using experiments and simulations, we show that the deformation of the assembly involves in-plane twist and contraction dominated by the rotating-square tessellations and out-of-plane shrinkage dominated by the tubular Kresling origami arrays. Moreover, we demonstrate two distinct actuation conditions: twist with free translation and linear displacement with free rotation. Our metamaterial is built on a highly modular assembly, which enables reprogrammable instability, local chirality control, tunable loading capacity and scalability. Our concept provides routes towards multimodal, multistable and reprogrammable machines, with applications in robotic transformers, thermoregulation, mechanical memories in hysteresis loops, non-commutative state transition and plug-and-play functional assemblies for energy absorption and information encryption.References:(1) Frenzel, T., Kadic, M. & Wegener, M. Three-dimensional mechanical metamaterials with a twist. Science 358, 1072–1074 (2017).(2) Zhao, Tuo (presenter), Dang, X., Manos, K., Zang, S., Mandal, J., Chen, M., & Paulino, G. H. Modular chiral origami metamaterials. Nature, 640(8060), 931-940 (2025).Speaker BioTuo Zhao is a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University. His expertise is in computational mechanics, nonlinear topology optimization, soft robotics, and mechanical metamaterials. Tuo is currently addressing the scalability challenge for developing useful metamaterials. By integrating an untethered actuation scheme (e.g., three-dimensional magnetic fields and micro-magnetic responsive materials), he designs micro-robotic machines with tunable properties on demand.


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Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/

Organization: STILFOLD
https://www.stilfold.com/
Presenter:Julia HannuGreener by Every Fold. Strength in Every Curve. Presentation AbstractThis talk introduces STILFOLD’s innovative origami-inspired manufacturing process, where metal sheets are folded into form. The process uses both straight and curved crease folding, expanding the possibilities of how sheets can be transformed into products. This, to make curved crease folding accessible to a wider community of designers and engineers – moving it from a niche research technique into a scalable industrial method. Our aim is to develop a more environmentally friendly way of making things – reducing the number of parts, energy consumption, material use and transportation needs. Achieving this involves multiple layers of complexity: from designing folding patterns of efficient structures to developing dedicated folding systems for production at scale.The presentation will share insights into how STILFOLD is pushing to transform folding into a sustainable and practical approach to manufacturing – and what that could mean for the future of design, engineering, and production.Speaker BioJulia Hannu is a Software Engineer and Computational Design Lead at STILFOLD, where she develops digital tools and algorithms to enable new approaches to sustainable manufacturing and design. Her work centers on transforming complex geometric challenges into practical, efficient, and user-friendly solutions. With a background in architecture and an MSc in Architectural Computation from UCL, she combines experience from practice and academia to bridge technology, design, and sustainability.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/

OrganizationTetmet
https://www.tetmet.net/
Presenter:Rachel AzulayConformal Lattice Design Made Easy: A CAD-Integrated ApproachPresentation AbstractTETMET has developed an innovative process to produce large-scale lattice structures in an automated way, enabling applications across multiple industries.However, existing lattice design software has significant limitations, particularly when it comes to creating efficient, manufacturable conformal lattice structures. Most available tools were developed with general 3D printing in mind, offering only basic latticing capabilities that fail to meet the demands of more advanced applications.Our approach takes a different path by integrating lattice design seamlessly into traditional CAD workflows. By combining the flexibility of CAD with the specific requirements of lattice generation, we significantly enhance the design process—allowing engineers to work with familiar tools while unlocking new possibilities for complex, high-performance structures.Speaker BioRachel holds a PhD in Lattice Structure Design and leads the Application Engineering team at TETMET. She specializes in transforming complex customer challenges into innovative, lightweight lattice solutions, bridging cutting-edge research with real-world applications.



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Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/
OrganizationScawo3DPresenter:Philip Schneider + Timo ZollnerComputational Design for Assembly: Automating Design Workflows for 3D Concrete Printed Freeform StaircasesPresentation AbstractBuilding large freeform reinforced concrete staircases has always been a challenge. Traditional methods rely on labor-intensive wooden or EPS formwork, making many designs too expensive. This can be changed with Selective Paste Intrusion, a new 3D concrete printing technique by Scawo3D using a large particle bed, with no constraints related to print overhangs or angles.While fabrication now allows full geometric freedom, the design process became the bottleneck. Our previous AutoCAD-based solution, initially developed for producing G-codes for CNC-milling EPS formwork blocks, was not viable for 3D printing. Manual 3D modeling made scaling production impossible, leaving the printer underused. To solve this, Timo Harboe Zollner developed an automated workflow that cuts design time by up to 95%. This approach balances automation with intuitive user input, transforming 2D geometry into finely detailed 3D models in minutes. It integrates SubDs, meshes, volumetric modeling, and implicit modeling, achieving in moments what once took days.This presentation highlights the adaptation of computational design to a new production method—one with only few geometric constraints yet capable of achieving material properties comparable to standard concrete.Speaker BioPhilip Schneider Computational & Architectural Design Lead at Scawo3D and founder of Skeno. He holds a M.A. from TU Munich with a focus on computational methods in architecture and specialises in 3D concrete printing by Selective Paste Intrusion at an architectural scale. Since 2022, he has led the design and fabrication of the first projects realised by SPI in academia and industry.Timo Harboe Zollner is the founder of Timo Harboe ApS, a Copenhagen-based consultancy specializing in automating processes related to geometry, particularly within additive manufacturing. With a background in structural engineering and computational design, Timo collaborates with clients to develop parametric workflows and digital tools that streamline complex design and fabrication processes. His recent projects include automating the generation of 3D-printed formwork for freeform concrete staircases together with Scawo3DAbout CDFAM:CDFAM is a global symposium series at the forefront of computational design, advanced manufacturing, and performance-driven engineering. With a strong emphasis on innovation, CDFAM highlights how leading companies and researchers are leveraging AI, machine learning, and simulation technologies to drive the next generation of design tools, workflows, and digital fabrication methods.The symposium fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange between designers, engineers, and technologists exploring the cutting edge of digital design — from generative workflows.Past presenters and partners include companies such as NVIDIA, NASA, New Balance, BMW, ARUP, Foster +, Partners, BIG, Autodesk, Dassault Systèmes, nTopology, PyhicsX, Neural Concept, Siemens and more, showcasing how computation and AI are transforming everything from aerospace to footwear.Learn more at
https://cdfam.com


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