ACIDO Rocket Finalist
AWS-2050: A speculative exploration of biophilic and material design, imagining new ways to bridge the gap between built and natural environments
AWS-2050 is a final-year capstone project by Dailey Trainor, submitted to the School of Industrial Design at Carleton University. Rooted in material-led and biophilic design, the project explores how responsive, nature-inspired materials can bridge the growing disconnect between urban dwellers and the natural world. Drawing from Dailey’s mixed-Indigenous perspective and a deep respect for land-based knowledge, AWS-2050 investigates the use of biomimicry and temperature-sensitive materials, specifically bimetallic strips, to create dynamic window coverings. These coverings shift opacity in response to environmental stimuli, offering a sustainable and emotionally resonant solution for future built environments that foster reconnection with nature. Aligned with the Canada Green Buildings Strategy and its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, AWS-2050 envisions a future where architecture is both ecologically responsive and culturally grounded.
About the Designer
Dailey Trainor, Carleton
Exploring material innovation, interactive experience, and Indigenous knowledge. Reimagining how design can foster connection and cultural continuity in the digital and physical space.