CDFAM Computational Design Symposium

In this first episode of Season 4 of the CDFAM Podcast, we kick off a new series of talks recorded live at CDFAM Amsterdam 2025.

This season will feature presentations from across the event, with new episodes released weekly. We begin with the closing keynote by Mathew Vola, Director and Computational Design Fellow at Arup.

Mathew shares his perspective on the evolving role of computational design in the built environment, offering a unique framework for interdisciplinary collaboration based on the Ikigai concept: finding alignment between what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

He walks through two in-depth case studies, demonstrating how data-driven design processes, parametric modeling, and early-stage machine learning can help reconcile diverse stakeholder needs, reduce risk, and improve project outcomes.

Topics Discussed:

* The evolution of computational design at Arup

* Parametric and AI-powered workflows in architecture and engineering

* Applying Ikigai to stakeholder alignment and design process

* Designing for outcomes across sustainability, performance, and constructibility

* Lessons from complex, high-stakes urban development projects

To learn more about CDFAM events and upcoming talks, visit cdfam.com

The presentation with visuals can also be found on YouTube:

This episode is part of the CDFAM symposium series, where designers, engineers, researchers, and software developers come together to explore the future of computational design across scales—from materials to buildings, components to systems.

CDFAM events are held in cities around the world and focus on applied innovation at the intersection of computation, performance, and fabrication.

To learn more, access recordings, or find out about upcoming events, visit cdfam.com.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenter: Onur Yüce Gün

Organization: New Balance

This presentation speaks of computation and design, exploring the depths of machine intelligence and the philosophy of being.

The aim is to empower the audience with tools so they can navigate the effects of computational design thinking across the disciplines of Architecture Engineering and Construction, product design, and visual arts, and develop strategies to take insightful steps amid fast-developing AI technologies.

The CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Series brings together leading experts from design, engineering, architecture, academia and software development for a series of knowledge sharing and networking events focusing on computational design at all scales.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenter: Kristen M. Edwards

Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s DeCoDE Lab

Engineering Design is undergoing a transformative shift with the advent of AI, marking a new era in how we approach product, system, and service planning. Large language models have demonstrated impressive capabilities in enabling this shift. Yet, with text as their only input modality, they cannot leverage the large body of visual artifacts that engineers have used for centuries and are accustomed to. This gap is addressed with the release of multimodal vision language models, such as GPT-4 with vision, enabling AI to impact many more types of tasks. In light of these advancements, this work presents a comprehensive evaluation of GPT-4 with vision across a wide spectrum of engineering design tasks, categorized into four main areas: Conceptual Design, System-Level and Detailed Design, Manufacturing and Inspection, and Engineering Education Tasks.

The CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Series brings together leading experts from design, engineering, architecture, academia and software development for a series of knowledge sharing and networking events focusing on computational design at all scales.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenter: Prof. Ole Sigmund

Organization: TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DENMARK

Ole Sigmund is a Danish Professor in Mechanical Engineering who has made fundamental contributions to the field of topology optimization, including microstructure design, nano optics, photonic crystals, Matlab code, acoustics, and fluids.

Read an Interview with Prof. Ole Sigmund from 2022 and his thoughts on AI for Topology Optimisation in 2024

The CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Series brings together leading experts from design, engineering, architecture, academia and software development for a series of knowledge sharing and networking events focusing on computational design at all scales.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenter: André Wilmes

Organization: Rafinex

André Wilmes has co-founded Rafinex to solve customers’ most challenging engineering design and optimization challenges with the most advanced mathematics. Rafinex creates novel algorithms which go beyond current market CAE tools by accounting for real-life variability using uncertainty quantification methods and by considering manufacturability; allowing safe and profitable usage by everyone in engineering design. André has researched numerical methods for simulating composite nano-materials at Imperial College London and has given guest seminars at leading research centers including NASA and TU Munich. He has experience as an R&D project manager in the ceramics and manufacturing industries, where he developed new simulation methods and experimental prototype processes in a variety of material topics ranging from fracture mechanics to optics.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenter:

Peter Clausen & Pascal Hebrard

Organization:

Dassault Systemes

Dassault Systèmes (3DS) and the 3DEXPERIENCE® Platform provides the principal platform for MODSIM integrating modeling, simulation and optimization. In 2016, 3DS uniquely released CATIA Function Driven Generative Designapplication, which integrates topology optimization and CAD-reconstruction of the new geometry in a single application. Since then, multiple applications have been released with focus on generative design using other non-parametric optimization methods like shape, bead and sizing. Additive manufacturing (AM) was the initial driver of these developments, but the later years also have focused more on classic manufacturing methods like casting, milling and stamping. The common denominator for all these End-To-End workflows is that they start from a CAD-model and the result is a new CAD-model. We will present state-of-the-art End-to-End workflow with focus on conventional manufacturing, which for most industries is still far more important than additive manufacturing.

CDFAM computational design symposium provides a unique opportunity to learn about cutting-edge technologies and techniques, and to network with leading academics and industry professionals in design, engineering and architecture at in person, two day events held around the world.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenters: Bradley Rothenberg and Markus Lempke

Organizations: nTop + Siemens Energy

The demand for energy worldwide is ever growing. At the same time the need to reach Carbon Net Zero requires technology shifts as well as drastic efficiency increases in existing infrastructure. In this talk we want to show some examples how Siemens Energy utilizes implicit modeling and computational design to help address these challenges. Furthermore we will give a glimpse into nTop computational models and how other customers are using implicit modeling to solve advanced design challenges. We’ll also present the new features that will further accelerate the adoption of computational design in energy applications and beyond.

The CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Series brings together leading experts from design, engineering, architecture, academia and software development for a series of knowledge sharing and networking events focusing on computational design at all scales.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenter:

Thomas Rees

Organization:

ToffeeX

Physics-driven design tools such as topology optimization, while transformative at the conceptual level in engineering, have yet to significantly impact production components due to limited adoption in industry workflows. Through a series of case studies and technical analyses, this presentation examines the barriers to the integration of these tools into industry workflows, and in particular those preventing the mass production of topology optimized parts (such as cost and manufacturing constraints). We will demonstrate technical solutions which allow engineers to harness these tools across various sectors, enhancing value creation and efficiency for generalist engineers.

The CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Series brings together leading experts from design, engineering, architecture, academia and software development for a series of knowledge sharing and networking events focusing on computational design at all scales.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenter: Moritz Valentino Huber

Organization: Hyperganic

Moritz Valentino Huber is the Director of Engineering at Hyperganic, a company at the vanguard of the advanced manufacturing sector, especially in 3D printing, with operations in Munich and Singapore. With an extensive professional background spanning over eight years in additive manufacturing, Moritz Valentino’s contributions began at the Fraunhofer Institute IGCV, focusing on multi-material Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (LBPF) printing. His career highlights include pioneering work at ArianeGroup on the Space4.0 initiative, integrating Metal LBPF printers with Ethernet for enhanced manufacturing digitalization, and developing predictive maintenance models for Metal LBPF machines using machine learning. At Hyperganic, he leads engineering efforts to address key challenges in sustainability and efficiency in the fields of thermal management, lightweighting and next gen consumer goods through the combination of innovative software solutions and addtive manufacturing.

Interview with Moritz Valentino Huber

The CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Series brings together leading experts from design, engineering, architecture, academia and software development for a series of knowledge sharing and networking events focusing on computational design at all scales.

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Berlin, 2024

Presenter: Ruiqi Chen, Software Engineer, & Andrew Sink, Senior Application Engineer

Organization: Carbon

This presentation delves into the use of computational design and additive manufacturing in producing customized, high-performance applications at scale. We’re not talking hundreds or even thousands–Carbon is on a mission to produce one million custom parts per month. Highlighting a collaboration between software developers and engineers at Carbon, this presentation showcases the unique scientific and technical challenges with a mission of this scale and complexity, and the solutions developed along the way. As a leader in bringing additive manufactured, high-performance products to market, we’ll focus on the methodology behind developing an automated workflow for custom parts, including computational design techniques, dual cure material science, and the adoption of additive manufacturing processes. The discussion will cover critical aspects such as design optimization, performance simulation, and the challenges of production scalability. Attendees will gain insights into the precise application of computational tools in enhancing product customization and performance, reflecting on the potential for future advancements in manufacturing technology.

The CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Series brings together leading experts from design, engineering, architecture, academia and software development for a series of knowledge sharing and networking events focusing on computational design at all scales.