Design Fabrication is an introductory course in the field of advanced computing, prototyping and building fabrication. The class is focused on the relationship between design, various forms of computer modeling both explicit and generative and the physical representation of information using rapid prototyping devices.
The office of Gehry Partners, and Norman Foster have mastered computational techniques using CAD CAM technologies to construct buildings such as of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and the Swiss Re building in London. These offices use various methods of computer modeling to run computer controlled devices (CNC Machines) at the end of the design process.
In contrast this course will explore tools and techniques taken from these offices and current research projects using rapid prototyping and apply them to the new design office. The work will explore the idea of the design office built of computers and small rapid prototyping devices that simulate the CAD CAM process. Questions in the course will be focused how will these methods change the language of design and the current design process.
This course is taught in five phases starting with simple rapid prototyping using solid modeling software, and end with digitally mocked up building components fabricated from CAD files using CAD CAM devices in collaboration with Parametric modeling software. The course meets once a week with a lecture and a hands-on session to follow.