Syllabus

Digital Presentation

(Digital Representation)

Deployable Food Distribution Node (Food Cart)

CRN 3118 Fall 2009

25 W.13th St. RM.E205

Tuesday, 6:00-8:45 PM

John Cerone _ ceronej@newschool.edu

Bret Quagliara _quagliab@newschool.edu

Description
The course will develop students’ knowledge of both polygonal and NURB-based software packages that they will then utilize to develop a comprehensive 3d database capable of facilitating the feedback loop that occurs between design and fabrication. The model functions not only as an updatable system in which relationships are established between entities, but as a testing ground to analyze the changes that invariably occur as parameters evolve over the course of the design process. Information from the database can be rapidly extracted to provide the necessary output for design communication, CNC fabrication, and detailed assemblage documents, streamlining the design work-flow. This process helps foster fluency within the software creating a situation in which design is unencumbered by technical restraints.

If we understand the design work-flow as a three-part feedback loop comprised of Conception, Execution, and Evaluation, it is typically the case that the majority of efforts are spent in the execution phase.  Technical difficulties in production are exhaustive and limit the iterative process compromising the objective evaluation of results.  When a disproportional effort is spent battling software, we sacrifice the opportunity to investigate appropriate design solutions; establishing efficient and systemic techniques for operating within multiple software platforms returns this opportunity.

Objectives
-Demonstrate capabilities of various softwares and realize their potential interconnectivity, highlighting less obvious methods for one platform to drive/interact with another.
-Detail efficient and systemic techniques for operating within the software platforms covered in the course.
-Understand and construct the model as a database comprised of a connected network of layers that toggle the expression of various relationships and properties.
-Develop students’ command of representation techniques
-Discuss current CNC methods of fabrication, and their roles within the design process.

Assignments

Semester Long:
Each student is responsible for the design of a deployable food distribution node (food cart) located at the site of 14th and 9th ave in Manhattan.  In addition to addressing basic design parameters, students must also develop systems capable of responding to a wide range of environmental aspects.

Components

-Hub-base unit which includes all sub components and a surface for food preparation
-Surface deployed from hub unit that provides shading and can be configured to define the zone of the dfd
-Detachable Modules- detach from hub to provide multiple means of site occupation. Each module is defined by its function as a single entity and the aggregate it comprises

Deliverables

-Working Digital Data Base Model of food cart that is representative of the data base as defined in class

-Animation/Drawings of the deployment scenario containing a descriptive analysis of relevant design systems

and components
-Physical Models: numerous iterations of components highlighting the evaluation/analysis stages of the design feed back loop

Weekly:
5 short assignments will be given early on in the semester in order to develop students understanding and technical execution of the material covered in class lectures.
The first three assignments will focus on creating efficient models that are embedded with surface, sectional, and experiential data which is then analyzed and overlayed with the author’s intent.
These aspects are combined and expressed through 3d/2d drawing, and collage.
Additionally, the subject of our studies will shift in scale going first from the small scale pavillion typology of architecture, to that of an environment suit, and from there to the level of the architectural detail.
Each assignment offers its own set of challenges both technically and representationally, and will help students acclimate to the dfd design problem that operates somewhere in between all three scales.
The second group of assignments builds on the modeling techniques developed throughout phase one of the short assignments category and expands the mode of output to fabrication.  Assignmnets 4 and 5 will operate as a testing ground to experiment with various types of material connections that students will integrate into the 3d model and then execute/test during fabrication
Requirements
Weekly Posts To Course Blog
Class Participation
Completion of Weekly Assignments
Completed Laser Cut Tutorial
SHORT TASKS:
While not explicitly graded, it is highly recommended that students complete them. The short tasks have been integrated into the course to bring everyone up to speed with basic software techniques that will be utilized throughout the duration of the class.

Evaluation and Grading
Class / blog contribution and participation 25%
Weekly assignments 25%
Data base performance 25%
Final Presentation 25%
*emphasis will be placed on process, clarity of communication and system relationships

School Policies
Please refer to student handbook.

http://www.newschool.edu/forms/ss_student_handbook.pdf

Schedule

Week 01 _ Introduction / Course Overview
9/01

Design  Problem Introduced

Techniques: Basic Rendering/Navigation in Rhinoceros and 3d Stuxio Max, Compositing
Given:
Assignment 01:Food Selection
Deliverables: One A4 board that details what food your DFD will distribute.  Additionally, your board will outline the research topics and calculations outlined in the Assignment 01 handout.
Week 02 _ Interfacing
9/08
Due: Assignment 01:Food Selection
Laser cutter Tutorial must be completed
Relationship between the design model and CNC modes of fabrication
Demonstration of parametric modeling as a design tool

Techniques-Modeling,  Unrolling Surfaces, Assembly Diagrams, Tool Paths

Given:
Assignment 02:Site Analysis
Deliverables: Have the surrounding site area built in 3ds Max or Rhino, one camera matched view using either of the two software packages, initial concept or analysis sketches.  Camera match and sketches formatted on one A4 board.
Short Task: Modeling Tutorial 01
Week 03 _ Designing Relationships
9/15
Due:Assignment 02:Site Research
Techniques: Modeling Basics Part 2, Modifiers, intro to basic parametric techniques, Stack Relationships, Rendering via Mental Ray
Given:
Assignment 03:Modeling and Represention Segment 01
Deliverables: One Position Statement and Graphic Response in A4 Format Posted to the Blog.
Short Task: Modeling Tutorial 02
Week 04 _ Animating
9/22
Due: Assignment 03:Modeling and Representation Segment 01
Techniques: Intermediate modeling techniques, keying in 2d/3d/4d, Curve Editor, Animation Constraints, Matte Shadow Materials, AfterEffects, Sun Systems
Given:
Assignment 04:Modeling and Representation Segment 02
Deliverables:One position statement and Graphic Response in A4 format posted to the blog.

Week 05 _ **no class (Rosh Hashanah)
9/29
Due: Assignment 04:Modeling and Representation Segment 02
Techniques: Scriptographer,  Displacement Modifier, Materials
Given:
Assignment 05:Modeling and Representation Segment 03
Deliverables:One position statement and Graphic Response in A4 format posted to the blog.

Week 07 _  Advanced Modifiers / Dynamics

10/13

Due:Assignment 05:Modeling and Representation Segment 03
Techniques: Rigid Bodies/Soft Bodies, Reactor, Tweening Geometry,
ASSIGNMENT 06:DFD Initial Concept Sketches
Deliverables:Sketches outlining at least three conceptual models for your dfd in A4 format.
Short Task:After Effects Tutorial
Week 08 _ Wire Parameters / Parametric Relationship Systems
10/20
Due: Assignment 06:DFD Initial Concept Sketches
Techniques:Track Editor, Expression Editor, Distance Formula, Min/Max Constraints, Animated Stacks
Given:
Assignment 07:Modeling and Fabrication Segment 01
Deliverables:Cut files for the architectural surface specified in Assignment 07 must be posted to the blog.  Bring assembled surface to class.

Week 09 _ IK Systems / Bone Structures
Due:Assignment 07:Modeling and Fabrication Segment 01

Techniques-Skin Modifier, Link Constraints, IK Solvers,
Given:
Assignment 08:Modeling And Fabrication Segment 02
Deliverables:Numerous iterative models representative of the design decisions that have been made as a reponse to the process of fabrication.
Week 10 _ Particle Systems / Crowd Simulation
11/03
Due:Assignment 08 Modeling and Fabrication Segment 02
Techniques: Particle Flow, P-Bomb, Forces
Given:
Assignment 09:DFD Concept Sketches 02
Deliverables: Board(s) describing 2 detailed and annotated concepts for both surface and hub components of your dfd in A4 format.

Week 11 _ Scripts, Macros, and Plug-ins

11/10
Due:Assignment 09: DFD Concept Sketches 02


Techniques: Plug-ins. Understand and utilize a vast collection of enhancements that are available including Soulburn Scripts, Ghost Trails

Given:
Assignment 10:Integrating a kinetic/responsive system into your DFD.
Deliverables:Concept sketches in A4 format, and three assembled models describing the effects of these systems.

Week 12 _ Designing Design Presentations
11/17
Due:Assignment 10: Integrating a kinetic/responsive system into your DFD

Techniques: Case studies in design presentation
Given:
Assignment 11: Animatic 01: Story Boards/Designing the Presentation

Deliverables:Story boards outling concepts, diagrams, fabrication sequences, and contextual elements in a manner that best describes your DFD system.

Week 13 _ **no class (Thursday schedule)

11/24


Week 14 _ Preliminary Presentations
12/01

Due:Assignment 11: Animatic 01: Story Boards/Designing the Presentation
Pin-up and discussion of Assignment 11.
Given:
Assignment 12:Animatic 02:
Deliverables:1 minute long Animatic

Week 15 _ **no class (finals week)
12/08
Due:Assignment 12:Animatic 02
Animatic discussed in desk crits.

Week 17 _ Final Review
12/22
Presentation and discussion of all deliverables

**Schedule may shift slightly to accommodate guest lectures


Week 16 _ Individual desk crits
12/15

Week 06 _ Bitmapping
10/06

By defining a highly layered and efficient 3dmodel/interface early in the design process, we provide ourselves the opportunity to be extremely specific in the information that is extracted or drawn.  These descriptions are next overlaid with another subset of information known as intent, allowing ideas to be articulated and communicated with purpose.   Utilizing specificity eliminates the potential of the default, ultimately producing a leaner, more focused rendering of the concept.