Eindhoven designers Edhv have created a series of posters by tracking the movements of insects.

Called Debug, the artwork is produced by an experimental machine which uses tracking software to map the movement patterns of insects such as woodlice and crickets, and translate them into graphics.

The insects move in different patterns depending on their species, the kind of environment they are in, and objects placed in their path.

The project will be on show until 3 May as part of an exhibition named Design by Performance at the Z33 Centre for Contemporary Art and Design in Hasselt, Belgium.

Photographs are by Kristof Vrancken.

The following text is from Edhv:

Debug

Currently Edhv is developing their vision on organic and reactive identities. “For Bits 'n Pieces, exhibition in New York at Material Connexion, we have built an experimental machine that prints artwork with the help of insects.

Every species of insects has its own behaviour which is influenced by its environment, for instance light conditions and obstacles along its path.

This means all species walk different routes and paths, also according to their size, instinct, capabilities, etc.” Edhv's machine will be translating these species' specific movements into graphics which then will be printed as posters.

Every one of them is unique. Some posters are made by woodlice, some of them by house crickets.”We used tracking software and scripting to map the walking patterns of these little creatures.

The complexity of movement leads to stunning results.” Debug will be shown next at the exhibition Design by Performance in the Center for Contemporary Art and Design Z33, Hasselt, Belgium.

For the design firm Edhv in the Dutch city of Eindhoven, established rules and boundaries are a welcome invitation to break and overcome them. For the designers at Edhv insist on giving every idea the freedom to develop.

Allowing it the necessary time is an important part of the process, as are disparate perspectives and the shifting makeup of the teams.

“Designing also means knowing when not to design. At Edhv we focus on research and concept before even thinking about how to design.

This leaves open all possibilities until late in the process and leads to surprising results, drastic turns and bizarre discoveries. Something you would never have thought of at the start of a project.

Things like that only happen if you can find the courage to let go of the control factor, the safe path, and embark on a journey into unknown territory.

Error, failure, coincidence, and flaws are crucial ingredients of our creative process.”

“We like to see ourselves as architects. The only difference is that we don’t build buildings. We build identities.”