Bachelor Theses
To graduate from KISD, three academic theses are to be written in two teaching and research areas of your choice - a »Final Thesis« and two »Proposals«.
My theses comprehensively reflects the integrative and interdisciplinary skills I acquired during my studies. The "Final Thesis" consists of an independent written elaboration and a design work related to it and includes a draft in addition to a scientifically reflected basis. The developed "Proposals" form the conceptual basis for the "Final Thesis". All papers are printed, presented and defended in a colloquium.
"Weniger is(s)t besser" (Eating less is better – Design concepts for avoiding food waste in the catering industry)
Throwing food away without a second thought, wasting resources needlessly without feeling guilty, producing and consuming more than necessary - welcome to the twenty-first century.
The throwaway and consumer society of the twenty-first century, as well as the industrial food supply system, which ensures the devaluation of food, could be the causes of many eaters' lack of appreciation for food. Nonetheless, we cannot afford to waste so much food, both morally and environmentally.
The purpose of this paper is to create design-related methods, concepts, and ideas for the restaurant industry in order to reduce or eliminate unnecessary wasting and throwing away of otherwise edible food.
"Organismen, die Kunststoff zersetzen." (Plastic-Decomposing Organisms)
Some things decay quickly, while others last for centuries. It is loved and praised by designers, industry, and by consumers because it is cheap, versatile, malleable, and resistant to weathering or bacteria. However, these characteristic properties of plastic become an environmental problem. Most types of plastic are not biodegradable and decompose only very slowly. As a result, significant amounts of plastic waste are generated worldwide.
While researchers and museum curators are working together to find a way to preserve plastic crumbling contemporary documents, designs, and art objects for posterity, at the same time the uncontrolled decay in the environment is becoming a real threat to nature, the oceans, and all living things. The purpose of this paper is to explore natural ways to eliminate plastic and plastic waste without consequences for the environment.
"BioBricks - neuartige Legosteine" (BioBricks - new types of Lego bricks)
A new scientific revolution is underway. In the area of synthetic biology, new techniques are developing that allow the development of entirely unique types of life. Through genetic modification, life forms can far exceed the capabilities of natural organisms. They can be used, for example, to produce light, fuels, or medicines. One of these new processes is based on so-called "BioBricks." This involves isolating fragments or genes with precisely defined functions from the DNA of living species and using them to produce standardized components that can be interchanged like Lego bricks. These DNA building blocks are called BioBricks.
An entire industry has specialized in the production of reprogrammed microorganisms that have been genetically modified with such BioBricks. There are now at least 5000 reprogrammed microorganisms. Many bioengineers currently participate in a competition called "iGEm" that encourages the development of new, artificial species and, consequently, their expansion. Engineers work with living matter to create completely new and useful life themselves, and designers want to use it to break new ground. Synthetic genes are already being traded diligently. You can buy them on the internet at reasonable prices.
The purpose of this work is to explore the application areas of synthetic biology and what it could mean for everyday life.