Yang Tian

FISH.MADE

What if a fish could design its own home?

FishMade is a behavior-based habitat design system where fish help design their own living spaces. By tracking swimming paths, dwell areas, and zones they avoid, the system reveals each fish’s individual habits, preferences, and sense of comfort.

Rather than averaging animal behavior into human-centered solutions, FishMade focuses on individuality. The fish directly influences the placement and evolution of modular structures inside the tank, allowing the habitat to develop through repeated behavioral feedback.

The project shifts design control away from humans and toward another living being. Instead of guessing what a fish needs, FishMade lets the animal’s own movement guide the design. It uses one fish as the first example of a bigger idea: design does not always have to start with human intention. It can start with another living being.

Project done in collaboration with Tong Song MA 26 DE.

Fish swim through self-designed structures. Each module is 3D printed in PETG, with aquatic plants placed inside the larger modules.

3D-printed PETG modules measuring 1.75 × 1.75 × 1.75", produced in three variations.

“Shark” and “Orange Peel” swim inside their individually designed habitats.

Three modules are connected into a linear column, while the combination and placement are determined by the fish.

A mobile app allows users to track fish behavior, place fish-designed modules, and record habitat history.