lab 4 – digital fabrication 

Lab Exercise

Working individually, you will design and build a small physical object. Find inspiration in these sources:

• Duchamp’s “Fountain”
• Kara Walker’s “A Subtlety”
• Alexander Calder’s” Josephine Baker”
• Isamu Noguchi
• Charles & Ray Eames
• Zaha Hadid
• Alvar Aalto
• H.R. Giger’s aliens
• Tomas Saraceno
• Bruno Munari
• Maywa Denki’s toys
• Karim Rashid
• Rem D Koolhaas
• Marc Fornes
• Lygia Clarke 
• Yayoi Kusama
• Li Hongbo

Once you have considered how this project will manifest as a 3D piece, use methods of digital fabrication to realize and construct that model following the constraints below:

• Use PLA material to print something no bigger than 125cm^3 (i.e.: 5cm x 5cm x 5cm). Create a STL file.
• Feel free to use other materials that help you with your piece’s structure: cardboard, thread, wires, etc.
• You can use tools such as paper tape, tape, glue guns or soldering irons to build your piece. 

During this lab, you will prepare the files according to the instructions you learned during the lectures. 

Documentation

Document your work, including  your designs and the  fabrication. Make sure you register the process of using the different machines and tools to create your physical model.
You are asked to also include a reflection on your work. Please use the following guiding questions for your reflection:

1. Write shortly about your previous experiences communicating ideas and prototyping if you have any. Compare the crafting method you have used in the past to prototype and what you learned today. How do you think that these digital fabrication methods can help you for your future projects?
2. Read The art of interaction. Based on your reflections on the reading, define in your own words what interaction is for you.
3. Finally, explain what contributes to a successful interactive experience based on your definition of interaction.