Today digital design and fabrication technologies are an integral part of common design workflows and at the basis of architectural practice. The translation/transformation from design to digital and physical matter is shaped by a range of tools and processes which are affected by material properties, technological advancements, culture and skill.

Besides determining the respective boundaries/confines of digital and physical space, this course sets out to explore their interrelation with regard to the way in which things are (virtually) designed and the way things are (physically) made.

Over the course of the semester students will get a brief overview of the historical developments and the current state of the art of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) processes.
During bi-weekly tasks they will learn how to interact and cooperate with the available CNC-Tools at the DDPLab: assess and harness the potentials of the various available methods to increase the diversity of achievable form and material effects in their design and architecture production.

During biweekly sessions students will have to execute small tasks covering the different digital design and fabrication processes available and „make“ several digital and physical prototypes. (Depending on the COVID-Measures in force)
The course is under continuous assessment (at least 80% presence at tutorial sessions is required to pass).
Additionally to the biweekly experimentation and production of prototypes, each student will produce and hand-in a documentation (in their preferred medium) of their progression.

This course is specifically addressed to students with a background in Architecture and students of DEX who have pre-knowledge of other digital tools (Illustrator, Inkscape, Sketch-Up,…) and want to focus on Digital Fabrication within their semester project.

The course will cover the basics of different 3D-Scanning techniques, manual 3D-modelling with NURBS and fabrication processes (additive, subtractive, transformative) with and handling of the CNC machinery in the DDPLab.
Students should be able to work independently on a high level between the sessions.

max. 15 participants (individual work is encouraged, but teamwork is possible if preferred, priority is given to students of architecture, who did not yet participate in the course yet.) The course is already full, unfortunately some students that have already signed up will have to be moved to a waiting list.
Tutorial sessions will be held @Seminarraum 8 and 10. Please check for each seesion in the schedule further down.
Presence at the first meeting is mandatory for participation.
Participants are kindly asked to bring their own Laptops and Software.