CDFAM Computational Design Symposium

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CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Presentation Recordings www.designforam.com

  1. 22/12/2025

    Acoustic-Driven Computational Design: Premium Branded Audio In The Automotive Industry - Austin Mitchell - Harman International

    Organization: Harman International Presenter: Austin Mitchell Acoustic-Driven Computational Design: Premium Branded Audio In The Automotive Industry Presentation Abstract In the evolving landscape of automotive experiences, premium audio has become a defining element of in-cabin experiences and brand identity. At Harman International, we sit at the intersection of acoustic engineering, branded storytelling, and advanced manufacturing—designing audio systems globally for over fifty automotive manufacturers. This presentation explores how computational design is central to our industrial design strategy, enabling our team to generate highly manufacturable, acoustically-performative designs that are both brand-specific and scalable across diverse vehicle platforms.This talk will go beyond production work to discuss how computational design fosters entrepreneurship—creating space for designers to prototype new product categories and contribute to IP development. Speaker Bio Austin Mitchell is a senior computational designer at Harman International leading acoustic-driven computational design initiatives across automotive and lifestyle industries. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

    18 min

  2. 18/12/2025

    Computational Craft: One Footwear Designer’s Quest To Replace Himself - Samuel Whitworth

    Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/ Organization: New Balance Presenter: Samuel Whitworth Computational Craft: One Footwear Designer’s Quest To Replace Himself Presentation Abstract Footwear design, like many design domains, has long been defined by the combination of two-dimensional drawings and designers’ intuition. While these remain important elements of the field, various digital design methods are currently surging and have significantly altered the traditional footwear design process. This presentation will explore the opportunities presented by this shift through the lens of my own experience as an industrial designer turned computational designer—specifically how the application of computational methods has allowed me to expand the types of design solutions I can explore. In this sense, it’s been a journey of “replacing” my traditional industrial design role with a new hybrid role defined by what I call “computational craft.” Computational craft can be defined as a collaborative human/computer design approach, where the computer extends the reach of the human designer, while the human grounds computational results in the real world of manufactured objects and human sensibility. I will demonstrate several examples of this method in Grasshopper, including Kangaroo-based simulations, multi-objective optimization, and mesh generation/manipulation. Audience members will be able to take away new inspiration for using computational methods in their design workflows, and a feeling of confidence that computational design is accessible to anyone regardless of academic or professional background. Speaker Bio Samuel Whitworth is a Computational Designer II at New Balance Athletics, where he has contributed to both inline and innovation projects for the past six years (recent releases include the SuperComp Elite v4 and More v5.) Sam focuses on the intersection of footwear geometry and function using scripting, simulation and functional prototyping, leveraging deep skillsets in both Grasshopper and Blender. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from Brigham Young University. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

    19 min

  3. 15/12/2025

    Knit Everything: Surfaces, Systems, and the Future of Textiles - Will Samosir - VARIANT3D

    Organization VARIANT3D Presenter: Will Samosir Knit Everything: Surfaces, Systems, and the Future of Textiles Presentation Abstract What if anyone who can draw could knit? VARIANT3D exists to break down the barriers to textile manufacturing. Our proprietary software LOOP is the first and only WYSIWYG CAD system for knitting that requires zero knowledge about how knitting works. Unlike conventional knit engineering, which demands months of expert iteration, LOOP lets anyone access a vast library of knit structures and generate machine-ready files in minutes, bringing industrial complexity down to a creative interface. From instant prototyping to scalable product lines, our platform also supports automated calibration and grading. In a world saturated with cut-and-sew fabrics, we’re pioneering a decentralized, on-demand, and zero-waste model of textile production. Beyond that, we recognize that knitting is a medium that blends the language of computation, powerfully soft and flexible materials, as well as pure, collaborative human ingenuity. At VARIANT3D, we’re not just building tools—we’re also cultivating a new language for textile and material innovation. We are excited to share how this vision has shaped our process and journey as an organization, and how we are empowering the future of textiles. Speaker Bio Will Samosir is the CTO and Co-Founder of VARIANT3D, where he champions a future that is expressive, adaptive, sustainable, and open. He leads a multidisciplinary team and spearheaded the development of LOOP, a state-of-the-art software platform that reimagines how textiles are made—and who gets to make them. His life’s work is rooted in the belief that humans and computers are co-authors, and that our relationship with complex systems should be intuitive and human-centered. Will is also obsessed with computational geometry, topology, generative design, and emergent behavior. His favorite language is Python, and he’s drawn to all things polymorphic—surfaces, materials, tactile stuff, naming systems, myth and mythology, the many languages of art, and how tools shape thought. He loves music and live shows, and if you’re lucky, you might catch him biking through the summer streets of Brooklyn! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

    21 min

  4. 11/12/2025

    Accelerating Metal-to-Plastic Conversion with AI, Implicit CAD, and Mesh-Free Simulation - Eaton + Intact Solutions

    Organization Eaton + Intact Solutions Presenter: Karthik Rajan Venkatesan Neel Kumar Accelerating Metal-to-Plastic Conversion with AI, Implicit CAD, and Mesh-Free Simulation Presentation Abstract This work presents a simulation-driven generative design framework for reengineering a metallic explosion-proof enclosure into a lightweight, injection-molded fiber-reinforced plastic alternative. The methodology integrates advanced process and performance simulations with AI-guided optimization to enable rapid, intelligent design iteration. Central to this workflow is the use of implicit CAD modeling in nTop, which allows for highly flexible and parameterized geometry generation, seamlessly integrated with a robust, mesh-free simulation engine from Intact Solutions. This combination eliminates traditional meshing bottlenecks and enables direct evaluation of complex geometries without meshing or format conversion. The workflow is executed in two stages. Stage I establishes baseline using Moldflow for plastic flow simulation, Digimat for fiber orientation mapping, and ABAQUS for traditional FEA, culminating in a stress field point cloud. Stage II transitions to an AI-driven design space exploration loop, where models are trained and evaluated through a Bayesian optimization framework. The implicit CAD models are directly analyzed using Intact.Simulation for Automation without any manual pre-processing, enabling a seamless feedback loop between design and performance while supporting rapid, large-scale design iterations. This approach exemplifies the power of computational design at scale—reducing turnaround time from over 48 hours with traditional CAD and FEA methods to under 1.5 hours with the full AI-driven pipeline with implicit modeling and automated, mesh-free simulation. Speaker Bio Karthik Venkatesan is a Lead Engineer in Computational and Digital Product Development at Eaton’s Center for Materials & Manufacturing Innovation in Southfield, Michigan. His work focuses on bridging advanced simulation, AI, and generative design to accelerate the development of next-generation engineered systems. Karthik leads R&D initiatives that span simulation-driven design automation, lightweighting, and digital workflows for both traditional and additive manufacturing (AM) processes. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University, where he led multiscale modeling efforts for composite materials under DoD- and industry-funded programs. His broader research spans geometry compensation for binder jet AM, performance prediction for polymer extrusion-based AM, virtual design of experiments, and generative AI for material discovery. Karthik is also passionate about computational creativity, with interests spanning astro photography, AI-generated media, and music production This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

    21 min

  5. 08/12/2025

    Simulation and Optimization for FFF/FDM Printed Parts - Dr. Ali Tamijani - Novineer

    Organization: Novineer Presenter: Dr. Ali Tamijani Simulation and Optimization for FFF/FDM Printed Parts Presentation Abstract Additive manufacturing with FFF/FDM 3D printing has long struggled to optimize toolpaths for better structural performance. Traditional slicing software failed to fully take advantage of material anisotropy, missing opportunities to boost strength and stiffness. Novineer’s toolpath optimization software changes this by maximizing material properties through tailored print paths based on load paths, resulting in a 60% increase in structural stiffness without changing the geometry. Speaker Bio Dr. Ali Tamijani, the co-founder/CEO of Novineer, is a professor of Aerospace Engineering at ERAU. He has spent three summers at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) as a Faculty Fellow to explore the structural load paths and load flow. This was followed by investigating a Load Path-based Topology Optimization funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)-Young Investigator Program (YIP). Ali is also working on Multiscale Optimization of Additively Manufacturable Cellular Microstructures that received the National Science Foundation (NSF) -CAREER. RECENT INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES * Call for Speakers: CDFAM Barcelona – April 8–9, 2026 Flexcompute: Real-Time Computer-Aided Optimization Acoustic-Driven Computational Design: Premium Branded Audio In The Automotive Industry – Austin Mitchell – Harman International Simulation and Optimization for FFF/FDM Printed Parts – Novineer Engineering Intelligence- Sergey Pigach – CORE studio | Thornton Tomasetti Automating Design Workflows for 3D Concrete Printed Freeform Staircases – Philip Schneider + Timo Zollner This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

    19 min

  6. 04/12/2025

    Shaping Flow: Computational Design Strategies for High-Performance Liquid Heat Exchangers - Ryan O'Hara - Alloy Enterprises

    Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/ Organization: Alloy Enterprises Presenter: Ryan O’Hara Shaping Flow: Computational Design Strategies for High-Performance Liquid Heat Exchangers Presentation Abstract At Alloy Enterprises, we combine traditional CAD, implicit geometry modeling, and advanced simulation workflows to engineer high-performance cold plates tailored to the unique thermal and dimensional requirements of each customer. Our approach begins with a curated library of optimized, periodic internal geometries that serve as a foundation for thermal performance and manufacturability. Using computational design tools, we scale and adapt these geometries through parametric controls and implicit modeling techniques, enabling rapid customization across a wide range of form factors. Simulation-driven iteration ensures that each design meets target pressure drop and heat transfer criteria before it reaches the build stage. This integrated workflow allows us to balance design flexibility, performance, and production efficiency in delivering scalable liquid heat exchangers for demanding applications. Speaker Bio I am a results-oriented business development leader with over 20 years of DoD acquisition experience. I have extensive experience in advanced manufacturing, aerospace engineering, and federal contracting. I have a proven track record of driving significant revenue growth and securing substantial funding through strategic proposals and federal contracts. With expertise in technical hardware and software sales, I enable cross-functional collaboration in aerospace application development. My technical experience includes transitioning research and development activities from concept to full-scale production, leveraging advanced design and manufacturing concepts. I have demonstrated success in initiating and developing processes, including the certification of materials, equipment, and procedures that comply with aerospace and maritime standards. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

    16 min

  7. 28/11/2025

    Real-Time Computer-Aided Optimization (CAO): How GPU-Native CFD Changes the Industry - Flexcompute - Gregory Roberts

    Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/ Organization: Flexcompute Presenter: Gregory Roberts + Qiqi Wang Real-Time Computer-Aided Optimization (CAO): How GPU-Native CFD Changes the Industry Presentation Abstract Computer-aided engineering (CAE) has been a foundational tool in aerospace and photonics design, but slow workflows, high costs, and constrained design exploration limit its potential. Traditional methods rely heavily on intuition and a few simulations to validate designs, leaving vast opportunities untapped. However, a paradigm shift is underway: integrating mathematical optimization techniques like adjoint optimization and inverse design into CAE is redefining what’s possible in engineering. This modern approach – Computer-Aided Optimization (CAO) – directly leverages advanced mathematical optimization to automate and enhance the design process. CAO replaces intuition-driven, validation-focused methods with a data-driven, goal-oriented workflow by specifying design goals and using algorithms to refine configurations iteratively. Techniques like inverse design, which uses objective functions and gradient-based optimization, and adjoint methods, which enable efficient sensitivity analysis, are central to this transformation. GPU-native simulations amplify the impact of these methodologies, making it feasible to address industry-scale problems in a fraction of the time previously required. High-performance GPU computing accelerates the iterative optimization process, enabling rapid exploration of vast design spaces with unprecedented fidelity. Applications range from optimizing aerodynamic performance in aerospace to creating innovative photonic devices like metalenses and quantum computing components. This synergy of mathematical optimization and GPU acceleration positions CAO as the future of engineering design. By reducing costs, accelerating development cycles, and enabling robust design exploration, CAO allows engineers to confidently tackle complex challenges. Whether designing aircraft or photonic circuits, these advancements fundamentally reshape how industries approach innovation, driving breakthroughs across disciplines and unlocking new possibilities for high-performance, efficient design. Speaker Bio Greg Roberts is a research scientist at Flexcompute working on building gradient-based inverse design tools for photonic optimizations. He earned his PhD from Caltech in August 2023 on this same topic. His dissertation focused on the inverse design of 3-dimensional structures for advanced and high efficiency mid-infrared imaging applications. By using gradient information, he demonstrated practical design of color and polarization sorting devices that could be tiled on the pixels of focal plane arrays. Using multilayer fabrication via a finely tuned two photon lithography process, he was able to measure these novel devices to confirm their complex, target behavior. Greg followed graduate school with a postdoctoral research role at NYU applying inverse design to enhance contrast in biomedical imaging. Before graduate school, Greg worked as an embedded software engineer at an augmented reality startup called Magic Leap. Here, he optimized computer vision and machine learning algorithms to run at high speeds on a low-power embedded processor. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

    21 min

  8. 27/11/2025

    Assembly Configuration Spaces - C-Infinity - Sai Nelaturi

    Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/ Organization: C-Infinity Presenter: Sai Nelaturi Assembly Configuration Spaces Presentation Abstract All non-trivial hardware products are assembled. They are also designed and manufactured in multiple configurations to serve diverse customer needs. Product designs define a configuration space of options that can be instantiated into variants per customer order. OEMs seek to maximize reuse of subassemblies across this space to balance flexibility with cost efficiency—especially in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. The challenge is translating a product’s design structure into its assembly process structure: reframing design intent as a sequence of operations executed on the factory floor. In Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) terms, this is the translation from the Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM, “as-designed”) to the Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOM, “as-planned”). EBOM and MBOM are not separate domains, but dual representations of the same configuration. Today this translation is manual and painful. At C-Infinity we are automating this translation and building assembly configuration spaces as a foundation for product design and manufacturing planning. By treating EBOM and MBOM as dual views of one structured space, we strengthen reuse, change propagation, streamline configuration management, and enable tighter digital-to-physical integration—addressing long-standing challenges at the heart of advanced manufacturing competitiveness. Speaker Bio Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, UW-Madison. Expert in CAD, AI, and Digital Manufacturing. Former R&D Director at Carbon and PARC. DARPA and UW career award recipient. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.designforam.com

    20 min
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CDFAM Computational Design Symposium Presentation Recordings www.designforam.com

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