Course Description

Digital Design and Fabrication investigates the transformation of conceptual design to production documentation and manufacturing within contemporary digital media. Situated at the threshold between virtual and physical, design information and artifacts, it is comprised of both design computation methods as well as material fabrication techniques. The course introduces advanced concepts of design computation such as imperative and declarative techniques of design description and analysis for fabrication, computer aided design and manufacturing workflows and technologies of materialization such as conventional fabrication protocols as well as rapid prototyping and numerically controlled manufacturing.

Course Notes

Student Access to Course Materials

Prerequisites

20.211 Introduction to Design Computation

Weekly Schedule

Monday Lecture 10:00 – 11:00
Monday Workshop 11:00 – 14:00 Group 1 + 2
Monday Workshop 15:00 – 18:00 Group 3 + 4

Course Schedule

Classes consist of one-hour lecture per week containing active learning components for all students together (LT 2.404). In addition the course has a three-hour workshop session, where much of the technical, hands-on material is practiced. Workshop sessions are held twice a week each time for half of the students. These sessions take place at the Capstone 9 (2.506). Students must bring their laptops in workshop sessions. The software used in the class is: Rhino3D, Grasshopper, RhinoCAM, Fusion 360 and Solidworks which is available by IT.

Learning Objectives

Apply concepts of imperative (scripting) and declarative (parametric) modelling (CAD/CAM) to create, represent and document architectural design information for production.
Apply methods of part and assembly composition (and decomposition) workflows to understand material and manufacturing complexity and select appropriate methods of production.
Apply conventional and computer controlled manufacturing methods (cutting, machining and printing) to create physical prototypes to communicate design intent.
Apply computer aided design and manufacturing methods to design, produce and present a small scale installation

Measurable Outcomes

Evaluate methods of prototyping and fabrication using various technologies (eg. laser and water-jet cutting, machining, 3d printing) in terms of quantitative metrics such as material use/waste, documentation and production time requirements, and qualitative factors such as finishing, affective and visual performance.
Demonstrate understanding of the variety of design description, documentation and production methods and technologies in terms of their capabilities and limitations.
Respond to the implications of the transformation of design information through various representations (3D/2D, sketches, design/shop drawings and machine files) within the context of provisioning for design-built precision and tolerance.
Demonstrate the potential for a creative convergence (or divergence) between original design intent and final outcome through the various phases of representation transformations from design to production mediated thought design computation.

Grading

Assignment 01 10%
Assignment 02 15%
Assignment 03 15%
Mid-Term Exam 15%
Assignment 04 15%
Assignment 05 30%

People


Stylianos Dritsas Course Instructor Assistant Professor, ASD	Zi Qing Lee Teaching Assistant Senior Student, ASD	Diana Yeo Teaching Assistant Senior Student, ASD

Digital Design and Fabrication 2016