MECENG 292C: Advanced Special Topics in Design
Design with Morphing Materials and Mechanisms
3 units | 2025 Fall, Tu/Th 11am – 12:29pm | Etcheverry 3108 | The course is open to graduate level students across disciplines.
Instructor: Lining Yao | liningy@berkeley.edu
Course Description
This course explores morphing matter—materials and mechanisms that can respond and adapt to their environment by changing shape or other physical properties. Through a combination of technical and design perspectives, students will learn about these dynamic systems and their design applications by drawing on principles from materials science, advanced fabrication, computational design, and design thinking.
Course content is delivered through integrated lectures, team-led reading discussions and lightweight hands-on labs, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. Throughout the semester, students will engage in two team-based projects that apply theory to real-world scenarios.
We will examine a range of morphing material systems—e.g., pneumatic actuators, shape-memory thermoplastics, hydrogels, natural morphing materials and tendon-driven mechanisms—and discuss their applications in fields such as soft robotics, augmented reality devices, self-assembling food, and smart textiles.
For more information, please refer to: https://morphingmatter.org/courses/morphing-materials-2025
Learning Objectives
The working mechanisms of morphing matter; general understanding of making techniques of various morphing materials;the design thinking and hands-on design projects with/on morphing materials.
Grading
In-class participation (attendance, Q&A, discussion) 20%; one-time assignment (prepare a 20min literature review presentation in class) 20%; mid-term project (presentation, project concept, execution quality, teamwork spirit) 25%; final project (presentation, project concept, execution quality, teamwork spirit): 35%.
More Information
Syllabus
Syllabus has not been fully finalized. Example topics for lectures could include the following:
Lecture: “Natural Morphing Matter – Plants and Microorganisms”
Lecture: “Shape Changing Interfaces: Machine Enabled”
Lecture: “Case Study: Living Actuators with Bacteria”
Lecture: “Case Study: Bioderived and Biohybrid Actuators for Natural Conservation”
Refer to the video showcasing final projects from an undergrad version of the course from in former years.