Course Number: ARC 497u/597u Year: Elec Credit Hours: 3 Semester(s): Spring Prerequisites: 3rd year status or higher
Instructor(s): Christopher Trumble
Course Description:
This is a workshop course which investigates the topics of geometry, material and ergonomics. Abstract principles, properties and conditions will be creatively employed and integrated through the development of an object designed for human use. Drawing, modeling, full scale fabrication and use will be our methods.
Course Objectives 1. Understanding of the inherent properties, fabrication processes and creative/technical potential of one or more materials 2. Ability to employ geometric principles (implicit/explicit, generative, organizational and structural) in the design process 3. Understanding of ergonomic conditions/criteria and the ability to effectively accommodate and incorporate them in the design process 4. Ability to effectively integrate and synthesize the multiple programmatic criteria of a single design
Course Structure and Topics Lectures will introduce conceptual provocation, technical information and precedence. Typical class times will be used for student presentations and group discussions. Laboratory sessions will be used for the design, fabrication, testing and analysis of prototypes.
Projects: 1. Conditioning exercises [3 weeks]: Students will be required to select a precedent for analysis; deducing the abstract properties of the corresponding topic. The assignment is to facilitate the student's understanding of the principles inherent to the success or failure of a designed object. Once understood in the context of the precedence the abstract properties should be rendered portable (and malleable) for the application in an original design. The three facets of this assignment will be performed concurrently.
2. Concept [2 weeks]: Students are to propose a concept for an object for human use. The concept may originate from one of the three criteria: geometry, material or ergonomics yet the concept must expand to address all three criteria.
3. Prototype [11 weeks]: Students are to develop and refine the design of their object. This stage will consist of multiple iterations requiring regular development and fabrication of components and/or whole. The process is to include drawings/diagrams required to investigate, develop, construct and describe the finished prototype.
Course Requirements No texts are required for this course. Readings, specific to each student's research, will be determined during the course of the semester.
