Fluid Bodies

Exploring movement through fologram and grasshopper

Capturing organic motion through computational body mapping

Research Project · Harvard MDE
Role: Computational Design · Motion-based Modelling · Parametric Modelling · Material Simulation
Team: Hana Khurshid, Liz Wu

Fluid Bodies is a computational exploration of motion, materiality, and light inspired by the dynamics of jellyfish in water. The project investigates how organic movement can be captured through motion-based modeling and translated into a responsive digital form.

Using Fologram, bodily motion was recorded and used to sculpt the geometry of the jellyfish body and tentacles. This motion data was translated into a parametric model in Grasshopper, allowing the form to evolve dynamically rather than remain static. The model was then developed in Blender to study the interaction between glass-like materials, light, and water.

Custom shaders were constructed using vector-based calculations, measuring distances between geometric elements to drive transparency, refraction, and glow. Additional shader logic simulated underwater caustics and depth-based light behavior, creating a layered representation of how light interacts with translucent bodies in fluid environments.

Raw recorded data through fologram visualized in Grasshopper

Method

Motion capture and parametric modeling were used to generate form, while material and lighting behavior were explored through computational simulation. Bodily motion was recorded using Fologram and translated into a parametric geometry in Grasshopper. The resulting model was refined and visualized in Blender, where custom shaders driven by vector-based calculations simulated translucency, refraction, and underwater light caustics.

Gathering points using fologram

Adding points of legs captured through fologram

Adding depth through code

Coding overall Jellyfish

Color change through blender nodes