Using computer algorithms in design is like 'sculpting with a new material'

Alessandro Zomparelli of Italian design studio MHOX, which produces customised 3D-printed fashion accessories, says designing with computer algorithms is like exploring a new material.
"It's exciting to be a designer today, because we have digital tools that allow us to create something incredible," Zomparelli says in the the movie, which was filmed by Dezeen at MHOX's studio in Bologna, Italy.
"If you are a sculptor, then you have to know your material, you have to explore it. And using these digital tools is quite similar – there is a whole new landscape for designers to explore."
MHOX, which Zomparelli founded together with Filippo Nassetti, specialises in using generative design to create 3D-printed fashion accessories.
"We are exploring the opportunities of digital tools and 3D printing technology in product design for the body," Zomparelli says. "We are interested in exploring the aesthetic consequences of this evolution of technology."
The studio's Carapace project consists of a series of bespoke masks, which are designed and printed to order based on a 3D scan of the customer's face.
"We use a Kinect sensor," Zomparelli explains. "We then create a 3D model that is adapted to the shape [of the customer's face] using a 3D modelling tool like Maya."
Read more on Dezeen: dezeen.com/2015/12/09/vide...