autonomatic project

motion in form

This project was selected as one of the two winning projects for the Autonomatic research competition. The competition was a part of the Autonomatic symposium held at Falmouth College of Art 28th of January 2005.

The research centres around the following issues:

• How can digital technologies enable more sustainable designer-maker production
• How can digital technologies open up new contexts for production?
• How can designer-makers humanise objects produced through digital technologies?
• How can digital technologies provide opportunities for mass customisation?

(source: Autonomatic competition brief 2005)

This project will be developed during 2005 and exhibited in Easter 2006, follow the updates on this site as the project progresses.

Autonomatic 3D Digital Production Research Competition

The development of the digitally based maker has the last few years gone through rapid development. In a variety of ways the digital media has the potential of freeing the craft practitioner to create beyond the physical constraints of his/her skills. There are, however still important elements of the traditional craft practice which remain relevant and have yet to find a transition into the new media.
One of these elements is the direct physical interaction of the maker during creation. Creating though a CAD program offers huge possibilities but it is essentially a static and calculating exercise. This process is far removed from the physical and intuitive relationship with the form the traditional craft maker experiences. With this proposal I am aiming to integrate the vast creative possibilities of the digital media with the intuitive and physical interaction characterised by the traditional craft practice.
In addition is the element of ‘human evidence’. By this I mean the minor imperfections that is such a humanising part of the craft object. Digital media offers the captivating prospect of absolute perfection, in contrast this proposal seeks to explore the ‘free and informal’.
The proposal is based on using a digitizing arm or a motion capture device to describe shape and form freehand in space. The project builds on earlier research using the G2 Microscribe digitizer, however ‘motion capture’ may possibly be a better option as it will enable completely free movement.
Initially a series of shapes are described as linear paths by using either of these devices. These paths are fed directly into a CAD program as basic ‘frames’ for constructing vessel-based shapes. The method of vessel generation is not fully determined but various ways such as ‘sweeping’, ‘lofting’ or ‘draping’ could be explored. It is a clear aim to leave the expression of the input as much as possible. Human evidence in the paths such as ‘wobbles and kinks’ should not be altered. The completed files are to be realized via CNC milling, probably using blue foam. The intention is not for the milling to be refined but coarse and direct, using large cutters to reflect the physical nature of the input. From the milled shapes a special technique of one-piece seamless plaster moulds will be used to realize the shapes in ceramic. Creating moulds directly by milling out the negative shape could also be experimented with. The emphasis of this proposal is on the ‘complete’ making process, using the digital tools in synergy with traditional ceramic and mould-making skills.
In addition to academic dissemination (conference paper/article), I believe it even more important to communicate this kind of project to the established craft world and the wider public. This could take the form of an open day with discussions and demonstrations of equipment. I think there is still a long way to go in establishing a public understanding of the ‘Digital Artisan’ concept.

Tavs Jørgensen, April 2005