INTRODUCTION

Computation is deeply integrated into our everyday lives today. The use and consumption of technology have become ingrained in our daily lives and habits. We are also not involved in the development of these technologies as much as we should be. By using code and coding creatively, designers can gain insights into how to contribute and make a difference.

The microsite demonstrates the exercises and workshops that were conducted throughout the semester as well as the process and results of the activities.

WORKSHOPS 01 – 04

Over the semester I participated in 04 different workshops covering topics such as Creative Coding, Projection Mapping, Making, and Physical Computing. Here you will find some of the process documentation and deliverables that were created in small teams of up to 3 people or individually.

01 CODING — AXIDRAW

It was mainly AxiDraw that we chose to learn in the workshop due to its ability to help students understand the transition from coding to physical design using a machine. Having been presented with the brief, our first goal was to figure out what the machine could do and its limitations. Once we understood it, we could move to designing it and working through its ideation.

02 SCREENS — PROJECTION MAPPING

We gained an insight into the use of projectors and how to project images on different surfaces and within different settings during this workshop. It was the main objective to understand the theory of projection mapping and to create prototypes of the surfaces to be used in projection. The aim was to figure out the sides and surfaces of the prototype so that the code was accurately mapped and the design was projected completely.

03 MAKING — FROM CODE TO THING

Learning about the workflow from digital to physical during the Making workshop was beneficial for me. I gained a better understanding of how a physical object can be created from start to finish by following the step-by-step process.

The process of creating a satisfactory polygon took me three attempts, but I believe it was worth the effort. In every attempt, I was able to learn something new and improve. A single wrong cut would have made me have to start from scratch, so patience and meticulous attention were necessary.

04 PLAY — PHYSICAL COMPUTING

We learned a lot about how computers interact with the physical world and vice versa in our physical computing workshop. During the workshop, we looked at both computers and physical objects. To begin with, we learned how to use paper, a battery, LED lights, and copper tape to make a simple circuit that illuminates a small paper object. Then, we learned how to interface with the Arduino board.

I learned from this workshop that it is important to understand that the aim of the workshop is to familiarize myself with the whole concept of creating a circuit and not just paper crafting. In that regard, my team prioritised circuit planning over concept and theme.

CONCLUSION

What have I learned over the course of this semester? It became even more apparent from these workshops that understanding code is more relevant than being able to code. I think that both are equally important, but learning and understanding some code can assist me in communicating across disciplines when I collaborate with other designers. While this is a computation module, I appreciate the opportunity it gave me to improve my craftsmanship through the different workshops. Particularly during the physical computing and making workshops, precision and meticulousness were highly emphasised.

Some of my most interesting findings this semester are: Exploring the many ways computation can be used to create immersive experiences and make tools. Fusce scelerisque augue ut neque.

What are some of my achievements? The simplest of learning outcomes, such as understanding the functioning of an electric circuit, gaining an understanding of the functions and limitations of the AxiDraw machine or gaining insight into the paper industry have been a few of my accomplishments this semester.