Renaissance 2.0 - expanding the morphologic repertoire in design

In the Renaissance, the arts and the sciences were considered an inseparable whole – and open-minded cooperation between distinguished artists was common. The majority of the contemporary scientific community is similarly attuned by collectively splicing together countless individual threads of knowledge, paving the way for new methods and applications. This paper argues that a likeminded modus operandi would befit the design professions; the prevalent protectionist and romanticist approach is insufficient for designers to act both as competent intermediaries of change and domesticators of science and technology. Although designers are increasingly gravitating to political issues and systemic contributions to society, they will be engaged in the shaping of the physical world for some time yet. To that end, the morphologic repertoire should be expanded, as has long since been the case in the domains of architecture and the arts.