Jon Isherwood and Robert Ransick
3D Technologist: Guy Snover
Fall 2013
DA4103.01
Credits: 4
Time: Wednesday, 10:10am-12noon, 2:10pm-4:00pm
Course Description:
This class examines sophisticated technologies including laser cutting, 3D printing, and CNC milling that provide new opportunities for conceiving and realizing creative ideas. We engage this new landscape of object making in relation to the fine arts and design. We will examine and respond to varying methodologies that have provoked a re-calibration of conceptual, aesthetic, and design values. Readings investigate current scholarship with respect to an ecology of things, emphasizing broader social, cultural and environmental concerns. We will develop and initiate strategies to move from idea to prototype, to final project. Students are encouraged to have some experience with a 3D program, Adobe Illustrator and/or physical computing.
Requirements:
Active student participation throughout all aspects of this course will make your experience much more meaningful and is necessary for the successful completion of the assigned work. There are reading/research assignments, weekly discussions, student presentations, critiques and the production of work during this course. Students are expected to be present for all class meetings. Please email us if you must miss a class. Chronic lateness and/or more than 2 absences will seriously jeopardize your standing in this course.
Students will be evaluated based on the following: Participation/attitude, creative/conceptual work, documentation of work/wikipages and progress over the term.
Wikipages:
All students are required to maintain a personal wiki site for this class. This space should act as an electonic journal and contain your research, project ideas and progress, summaries of all the class readings (must be posted by Tuesday at noon) and documentation of creative work. Individual and group pages are to be updated regularly (weekly). Each student is responsible for viewing and commenting on all student pages.
Over the course of the term you should create an annotated list of links to artists and designers that you find compelling or are influencing your ideas (this should be updated each week).
Labs/Small Assignments/Midterm:
During the first half of the term there will be a series of small assignments that are meant to familiarize students with both materials and technologies covered in class. All work is to be documented on student wiki pages (include photographs, influences and any research you completed.)
The midterm is a small scale project that will be created in collaborative teams of three: The Object Dialogues. Additional information on the project will be discussed in class.
Final Project:
Drawing upon our readings and skills acquired, students work to create their own creative projects. Students may choose to work individually or as a group. The instructors must approve projects and all research is to be documented on personal web sites–this must include photographs, sketches, influences and research.
Student Presentations/critiques:
Each student will present ideas and work regularly over the course of the term. You are responsible for documenting and sharing your creative and making process with sketches, photographs, research, influences and writing. All materials are to located on your wikipage.
Goodness:
We would like you to commit to the following this semester:
That you will be respectful of both your peers and our time and efforts with your own: that you will work your hardest, be self-motivated, learn through trial and failure and share what you learn and/or know freely with all.
That you will push yourself beyond the bounds of your comfort zone, and be brave, adventurous and surprising.
Office hours/help:
We are available for help or to discuss projects via office hours and email. Please email us if you would like to schedule a time to meet–do not leave voice mail! We are readily available via email and will regularly respond within a few hours.
Chris Chenier is the Digital Arts Technician and has regular help hours each week. For more information, please visit the POD website.
Books/Readings:
There are no required books that need to be purchased for this class. All readings will be handed out or can be found online.
Bibliography:
Computational Design Thinking, edited by Achim Menges and Sean Ahlquist (Wiley and Sons, 2011)
Dematerialization of the Art Object by Lucy Lippard (Praeger, 1973/UC Press, 1997)
Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman (Basic Books, 1988)
Design Noir: Secret Life of Electronic Objects by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby, (Birkhäuser, 2001)
In The Bubble: Designing in a Complex World by John Thackara (MIT, 2005)
The Pragmatists Imagination: Thinking about Things in the Making edited by Joan Ockman, (Columbia University Press, 2000)
Realist Magic: Objects, Ontology, Causality by Timothy Morton (OPEN HUMANITIES PRESS, 2013)
Shaping Things, by Bruce Sterling (MIT, 2005)
The Uncommon Life of Common Objects by Akiko Busch (Bellerophon, 2005)
>> Late work is not accepted!<<
This schedule is a guide and will change over the course of the term, check back often.
Part 1: 2D to 3D — Reuse, Recycle, Remake [Illustrator/Laser Cutter]
Session 1: September 4
Introduction to the course.
Session 2: September 11
Discuss reading.
View assignment.
Class visit: Josh Blackwell
Illustrator.
Read:
Handouts: “Escape Attempts” from Dematerialization of the Art Object by Lucy Lippard.
Pages 6-37 from Design Noir: Secret Life of Electronic Objects by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby.
Due:
First assignment–rethinking material, form and structure.
Session 3: September 18
Discuss reading.
Ongoing Illustrator work.
Read:
Introduction: Objects in Mirror are Closer than They Appear from Realist Magic: Objects, Ontology, Causality by Timothy Morton.
Illustrator work:
Read Pathfinder Tool
Pen tool exercise (file on VAPAX server)
Open and go through the Pentool-exercise.ai file
Illustrator work begun to remake first plastic bag assignment (rethinking material).
Session 4: September 25
Discuss reading.
Presentation of work and discussion.
Read:
“Skin: New Design Organics” by Ellen Lipton from Skin: Surface Substance and Design
Due:
Remade: Re-thinking material meets the digital.
Part 2: 3D Space and Object Dialogues [Rhino/MakerBot]
Session 5: October 2
Discuss readings.
Update on Object Dialogues collaborative project.
Rhino work.
Read:
Pages 1-44 from Shaping Things, by Bruce Sterling (MIT, 2005)
Rhino Work:
Beginners or refresh:
Tutorials
Beginners:
Brush
Use The Rhino Level Training manual exercises 55 and 66 are good. Review Sections 3, 4 & 5. (VAPAX Student server)
Refresh:
Alarm Clock
Hair Dryer
Bottle
Session 6: October 9
Discuss reading.
Update on Object Dialogues collaborative project (first round of students nearly ready to print).
Rhino work.
Read:
Pages 45-94 from Shaping Things, by Bruce Sterling (MIT, 2005)
Session 7: October 16
Brief discussion of reading.
Rhino modeling near (or) complete.
Update on Object Dialogues collaborative project (all students ready to print).
Fine-tuning Rhino work and preparations to print.
Read:
Pages 95 – 106 from Shaping Things, by Bruce Sterling (MIT, 2005)
Session 8: October 23
Critique of Object Dialogues.
Due:
Object Dialogues collaboration.
Part 3: Putting it all into practice
Session 9: October 30
Individual meetings with Jon and Robert–first draft of final project ideas. Sketches, references, and written description to be on student wikipage.
November 6: PLAN DAY
There is no class today, but you are encouraged to be working in the labs.
Session 10: November 13
Presentation of revised final project ideas to entire class. All presentation materials (sketches, references, research and written description) are to be located on student wikipages.
Session 11: November 20
Project updates. Working.
November 27: Thanksgiving Break
No class.
Session 12: December 4
Final project update–work should be nearing completion. Working.
Session 13: December 11
Final projects discussion and critique.
Last class. (All work from the term must be complete and located on student wiki pages by the start of class.)