Project details

Using 3D scanning technology, students selected the teams’ model (strongly encouraged to use themselves as the subject) and scanned them with an X-Box Kinect scanner. During the first week students developed the scope of their designs (keeping reasonable levels of complexity in mind) and develop a tectonic model by hand which informed both the garment and the jewelry. From there students used the scan and develop the garment geometry in the software and prototype it. Materials were left open to those that can be safely cut on a laser cutter (remembering the intention is to also develop technical skills in addition to the failure-oriented pedagogy). Students were simultaneously encouraged to be creative and ask questions of the technology through their material explorations which looked at paper, leather, plastics, felt, etc. There was a volumetric limitation on the 3D printed jewelry which was based on available materials.

The research, while not at the scale of a building, suggests that the students gained an appreciation for construction assembly and detailing while also dealing with the technologies for fabrication (3D printing, laser cutting, sewing, etc). It is not unlikely that these skills will subsequently be extended into larger full scale projects that will require the same line of questioning: What do we know? What do we not know? What do we need to know? How do we locate the knowledge to bridge the observed gap to get things built at 1:1?

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