Due to the rapid growth of research interest in the field of additive manufacturing technology, the new manufacturing process of four-dimensional printing, also known as 4D printing, emerged. This new manufacturing process allows to develop programmable 4D textiles with new shape-change properties.

The new field of 4D printing holds promising, unexplored potential. In order to take a closer look at this area and to enter the new terrain of 4D printing on a creative level, nature is again used as a role model in this master‘s project. It has already established an evermore efficient design process: Thanks to evolutionary processes, nature has continuously produced new and innovative solutions for millions of years in order to adapt to the everchanging environment. 

In this master project, the hidden potentials of 4D printed surfaces are explored using just such evolution-based factors. New properties and applications of 4D textiles are being researched through parametric form finding and module formation of previously mostly parqueted surface geometries. This approach is motivated in particular by the assumption that abstract principles of evolution can be used to enrich the exploration of the diversity of forms.

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This master project produces modular, expandable 4D textiles, which final form and size is not regulated by the size of the printbed. In addition, the knowledge gained through the design process is compiled in a design framework, which serves as a guide for iterative, intuitive design with mutual digital and physical prototyping.