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Overview & Design Principles

I would like for my time in this course to be process-led rather than product focused. My work will be guided by the following principles:

  • Process-led design rather than solution oriented: This is inline with the incremental design philosophy of the program. To build a core and incrementally build on it.

  • Experimental in the possibilities of digital fabrication (combining and integrating various processes). How does digital fabrication enable possibilities in making?

  • Research driven: exploring the interplay between digital fabrication and traditional craft

  • Design for mastery (avoid design for convenience). I will be leaning towards the craft itself rather than the immediate and obvious utility of the design.

Methodologies, Inspirations & Research Areas

  • Kinetic Design I’m interested and inspired by movement. Things that seem to grow, fold, pivot, hang, levitate or disappear. Looking at kinetic sculptors like Reuben Margolin, who centers his practice on the concept of a wave, I want to think about kinetic design as a language that can translate natural and mathematical movements. At the core of this practice would be a deep observation and study of natural movements. From this I would like to learn how to design and simulate complex movement within 3D software.

  • Geometric & Mathematical Sculpting Inspired by the methods and philosophical underpinnings of the arabesque, I want to ground my designs in geometric forms and their natural derivatives. In this tradition, design is not invention from nothing — it is a process of discovery and revelation. The form already exists within the geometry; the designer’s role is to find it.

  • 3D Scanning / Making Molds / Casting I’m interested in investigating the design potential of constantly moving from the ‘real’ physical world to the digital space and back. I would like to develop a design methodology that uses 3D scanning technologies as a research tool that engages the real world. I would like to then either modify, scale up or down the data collected and remake them through various fabrication methods. I would like to use the Robotic Arm and other CNC tools to make subtractive models or casts.

  • Material Integration I would like to experiment with bringing materials together, using precise fabrication tools to seamlessly do so. I would like the final project to work with wood, metals and ceramics. Overall, I like to work with natural materials and avoid plastics in the final product. I also lean towards low tech design that keeps technology to a minimum.

  • Interactivity Experimentation in multimedia design. Integration of audiovisual elements and sensors in interactive design. I would like to build sensors that are sensitive to human touch. I would like to use copper wire as a sensor.

I will not be able to achieve everything however, these will be my guiding principles.