Deep Design Lab

Deep Design Lab is a multidisciplinary research group committed to creating better worlds for all beings. We operate at the intersection of design, ecology, technology, and ethics, employing evidence-based, data-driven design experiments to develop new theories and practices. These experiments encompass physical installations, computational modelling, advanced visualisation, and scenario-based forecasting. Projects include immersive digital storytelling about rare and endangered plants, computational studies of tree geometries, and prototypes of near-surface habitats to develop bioreceptive building elements. Deep Design Lab seeks to advance innovative approaches that support thriving, interconnected more-than-human communities, contributing to more sustainable and equitable futures.

This Wiki describes the goals and activities of a research and design collective called Deep Design Lab. You can look up our research notes, publications, or video presentations.

Our open-access article about decision-making in more-than-human worlds is out.

Roudavski, Stanislav, and Douglas Brock. “From Dingoes to AI: Who Makes Decisions in More-than-Human Worlds?” TRACE ∴ Journal for Human-Animal Studies 11 (2025): 56–96. https://doi.org/10/g89xj8.

^{Prosthetic Nests for the Powerful Owl: Excerpt from video showing installation of prototype in System Garden at the University of Melbourne.}

This domain contains lab projects, courses and publications organised by year of completion.

This domain contains people associated with the Deep Design Lab, with links to their projects and publications.

Members

The list of active members includes people who consistently participate in the lab's various collaborative activities.

• Nonhuman
• Doug Brock
• Ashley Davis
• Bonnie Gordon
• Alexander Holland
• Dan Parker
• Stanislav Roudavski
• Julian Rutten
• Nancy Samayoa
• William Ward
• Tony Yu

Collaborators

Individuals

• Yoav Bar-Ness, Editor, Tasmanian Geographic | Ecologist & Consultant, Outreach Ecology
• Tamatoa Bambridge, Research Director, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) | Rāhui Center, French Polynesia | Centre for Island Research and Environmental Observatory (CRIOBE)
• Joanna Bagniewska, Departmental Lecturer in Environmental Science, University of Oxford
• Brock Bastian, Professor of Psychology, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne
• Jay Black, Experimental and Analytical Geochemist, Geography, The University of Melbourne, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Nick Bradsworth, Officer, Zoos Victoria | Doctoral Researcher, Ecology, Deakin University
• N'arweet Carolyn Briggs, Boon Wurrung senior elder, Founder and Chair, Boon Wurrung Foundation | Professor, Monash University
• Chiara Bettega, Animal Ecologist, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, The University of Milan
• Marc Andrew Brightman, Professor of Anthropology, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna
• Mia Cobb, Research Scientist, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne
• Katherine Dafforn, Associate Professor, Natural Sciences, Macquarie University
• Marta Figueiredo, Architect
• Elisa Giaccardi, Full Professor, Design Department, Piolitecnico di Milano
• Philip Gibbons, Professor, Ecology, Australian National University
• Ada Grabowska-Zhang, Departmental Lecturer in Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Oxford
• Vanessa Grotti, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna
• Amy Hahs, Senior Lecturer, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne
• Alison Haynes, Faculty Member, Ecology, University of Wollongong
• Thomas Hesselberg, Research Associate, Department of Biology, University of Oxford
• Bronwyn Isaac, Assistant Lecturer, Biological Sciences, Monash University
• Gwyllim Jahn, Founder, Fologram | Lecturer, Architectural Computing, RMIT
• Therésa Jones, Associate Professor, Biosciences, The University of Melbourne
• Mohsen Kalantari, Associate Professor, Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne
• Darren Le Roux, Environmental Project Officer, ACT Parks and Conservation
• Brendan Lanham, Research Fellow, Marine Ecology, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne
• Martin T. Lockett, School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne
• Anton Maksimenko, Scientist, Imaging and Medical Therapy, The Australian Synchrotron
• Luigi Marchesi, Ecologist, Museo delle Scienze di Trento | MUSE – Science Museum of Trento, Italy
• Brian Martin, Professor, Director, Wominjeka Djeembana Indigenous Research Lab, Monash University
• Jon McCormack, Professor, Human-Centred Computing, Monash University
• Rebecca Miller, Honorary Member, Ecosystem and Forest Science, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and The University of Melbourne
• Rachel Miller, Sustainability Officer, The University of Melbourne
• Rebecca Morris, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne
• Jessica Neath, Research Fellow, Monash University
• Gabriele Mirra, Assistant Professor, Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology (AE+T), Design and AI, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
• Denny Oetomo, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, The University of Melbourne
• Christine Parker, Professor of Law, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne
• Alberto Pugnale, Senior Lecturer, Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne
• Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor, Ecologist, University of Wollongong
• Filipe Salbany, Head Beekeeper, Blenheim Palace, UK
• Sidh Sintusingha, Senior Lecturer in Landscape Architecture, The University of Melbourne
• Andrew Smith, Operations Officer, Burnley Campus, The University of Melbourne
• Kylie Soanes, Research Fellow, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne
• Jason Thompson, Professor, Urban Design, Transportation, and Health, The University of Melbourne
• Tim Uebergang, Team Leader, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
• Tanya White, Managing Director, Principal Zoologist/Ecologist, Habitat Management Services
• Jasper Wijnands, Data Scientist, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)
• Mitchell Whitelaw, Professor, Design, School of Art, Australian National University College of Arts and Social Sciences
• Nicholas Williams, Professor, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne

Organisations

Commercial

• Aerometrex
• Aspect Studios
• Arup
• Fologram
• Grimshaw Architects
• Hassell
• InlandRail
• Lendlease
• Melbourne Tree Care
• McConnell Dowell
• The Hemp Building Company

Governmental

• ACT Parks and Conservation, Australian Capital Territory Government, Australia
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Victorian Government, Australia
• FB IDEAs, Melbourne, Australia
• Knox City Council
• Liverpool City Council
• Melbourne Museum
• Moonee Valley City Council
• Museo delle Scienze di Trento | MUSE – Science Museum of Trento, Italy
• Parco Naturale Paneveggio Pale di San Martino | Nature Park of Paneveggio Pale di San Martino, Italy
• The City of Melbourne
• The City of Port Phillip
• VicRoads
• Zoos Victoria

Non-Governmental

• BirdLife Australia
• Blenheim Palace
• CERES Environmental Park
• Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve
• Friends of Merri Creek
• Merri Creek Management Committee
• Narrap ('Country') Team - Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
• Port Phillip Bicycle User Group
• World Wide Fund for Nature | World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Academic

• ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University
• Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna
• The Australian Synchrotron
• Design Intelligences Institute, Politecnico di Milano
• Rāhui Center | Des communautés souveraines en matière de gestion
• The System Garden, The University of Melbourne
• University of Oxford
• Wominjeka Djeembana, Monash University