modeLab Material Matters II Workshop

Material Matters II is a two-day intensive design, prototyping, and fabrication workshop to be held in New York City during the weekend of May 12-13, 2011. As the next installment in the modeFab series and building upon the research developed in Material Matters I, this workshop will examine the procedural distinctions between two modes of design production: the first relying primarily on cerebral processing (a conceptual domain isolated from the wildness of matter and energy) and the second motivated by material’s capacity to act as an agent in the discovery of form. The workshop will operate through a framework of computational and fabrication strategies that hinge on the peculiarities of material and the emergent set of knowledge associated with the work of the hand. In a fast-paced and hands-on learning environment, we will iteratively develop digital and fabricated prototypes utilizing Grid-Based Modeling techniques via Paneling Tools and Machining Strategies with RhinoCAM. Furthermore, the workshop will provide participants with instruction in digital fabrication techniques and direct access to CNC equipment. This workshop will consist of a series of instructional lectures, open work sessions, and guided exercises, beginning with an introduction to Computational Geometry and Grid-Based Modeling. The workshop is structured to allow each participant time to iteratively develop design prototypes, moving quickly from digital design environments to material artifacts and back again throughout the weekend. As part of a larger online infrastructure, modeLab, this workshop provides participants with continued support and knowledge to draw upon for future learning. Attendance will be limited to provide each participant maximum dedicated time with instructors. Workshop Details and Registration: http://modelab.nu/?p=5274