Re-connect was a research project with Jannis Huelsen and Stefan Schwabe in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried and the Technical University in Ilmenau, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The technical perspective of the project is the advancement of a nerve-to-electrode connection system based on a 3D micro-electrode array (MEA) sensor. Our focus is to observe and understand a designers role in research processes and interdisciplinary teams through practice. This role includes structural tasks such as project planning, mediation within the team, dialogue with external experts, organisation of workshops as well as communication to the public. Further it means the ideation of potential scenarios and the development of business ideas.

In order to establish a common language within the team and to understand the technical challenges, a material based communication format was developed. This led to an emancipated involvement of all members into the technical and strategic project design from an early stage.
_________________________________________

related literature:

Tausk, V. (1933) "On the Origin of the "Influencing Machine" in Schizophrenia"

Hallstrom, W. (2007) ‘Gallium Phosphide Nanowires as a Substrate for Cultured Neurons’

Borton, D. (2013) ‘Personalized Neuroprosthetics’, www.sciencetranslationalmedicine.org

Gladstone, B.; Neufeld, J. (2011) ‘The Influencing Machine’