ANGLERFISH MACHINE


Sketching, Biomimicry Design, Concept Art
Spring 2024, 8 weeks


Tools: Pens
Team: Individual 

In a future where the ocean has consumed all land, humanIty has fund refuge in the Abyssal Zone. With sunlight a distant memory, survival hinges on artificial bioluminescence generated by biomimicry machines.


Light in the Abyss

The beginning

Studying the mechanism behind the anglerfish’s bioluminescence and exploring color in my process.

Throughout the fish’s lifetime, its stem attrtacts photobacterium to adhere onto it. This creates visible light in the anglerfish’s “lure”.

Symbiote

The fish and photobacterium

The storyboard illustrates the fish’s life cycle in micro and macro scale.

External Form

Form, history, and purpose

Observing the construction of the fish. Since preys come to the fish’s light directly, it has developed a blobby and non-aerodynamic main body.

With the abscence of color, can the form be studied more clearly?

Movement

The flow of water

Describing the motion of the Anglerfish in the form of arrows. Both geometric arrows and dynamic arrow shapes are explored.


Motion Synthesis

Every element in the process

One composition that synthesizes the motion of the fish’s blobby form as it swims, its jaw movement, and its bioluminescence as it captures the prey. 


Imaginary Machine

From nature to man-made

After understanding the relationship between motion and form, I considered their connections to people.

 I drafted prototypes of a fictional machine that mimics the Anglerfish’s bioluminescence and takes a more mechanical form.

Adding Details and Indicators

How do motion arrows complement the machine?

Further refining the machine, I integrated the motion arrows from the previous studies. They helped to restate the purpose of the machine, which is using photobracterium to create visible light.


The Story

Anglefish and its prey.

Final Form Development

Combining intentionality with detail


The Caretaker

Who uses the machine?

Biomimicry Wearables

Mechanically aqueous forms