STA 385 : INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENTS AND DIGITAL FABRICATION
SPRING 2013
Krege Art Center, FFT Lab (Room 5)
T/TH 11:30 – 2:20
Course Credits: 3
Instructor: Associate Professor Adam Brown
Office: 314 Kresge Art Center
Office Hours: Wednesday 1-3pm or by appointment
Email: brown293@msu.edu
URL: http://adamwbrown.net
GA: Ryan Groendyk
Email: groendy4@msu.edu
Cell: 405-605-9079
Office: 517-432-2465
Connect to course on Angel
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Interactive Environments and Digital Fabrication is a hands-on studio course designed to introduce students to 3D modeling, visualization, 3D prototyping and fabrication using CNC and rapid prototyping tools. The ultimate goal of the course is to use an extended 3D tool set and research practice that will result in the conceptualization of installations, objects, sculpture and other intermedial art forms.
The course will be divided into three primary components: During the first part of the class, class participants will be introduced to 3D modeling software (Rhino3D) and computer-based manufacturing techniques such as Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) 3-axis machining to create physical forms from computer drawings and models. Throughout the semester, students will engage in group labs and individual projects. Students will be made aware of a variety of fabrication technologies and labs available at Michigan State University via “Radical Walks” to help inform our creative process.The final component of the class will be dedicated to working on a final project.
Students are expected to regularly consult the course website for project and homework due dates. You should expect that the schedule will be adjusted periodically throughout the semester, and it is your responsibility to stay informed via the website and regular class assignments.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Students must complete a series of invidual projects, labs and a final project as well as actively participate in class critique to successfully complete this course.
The course is divided into three primary components:
- 3D Modeling and Fabricating Labs
- Individual Projects
- Final project - Final projects may be either individual or collaborative
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES:
We will be ordering the vast majority of our supplies in bulk to cut costs and shipping fees. This fee will need to be paid in the Art office located on the first floor of the Kresge Art Center. ~$105
USB Jump Drive
Sketchbook
Reccommeded: Subscription to Lynda.com
*Final projects will require you to purchase additional materials that are not included in the general materials and supplies list.
EVALUATION AND GRADES:
Overall grades are based on in-class participation and completed projects. I will be looking for development of conceptual clarity, evidence of research, aesthetic application of software and technology, understanding of project concept and problem solving abilities. Expectations will be explained in detail for each project when it is assigned. If anything seems unclear, you are responsible for asking the instructor for clarification far in advance of the due date. In order to receive a grade, students must turn work in by the due date outlined in the syllabus. Work that is not turned in on time will result in a reduced grade.
Projects will be evaluated on the basis of:
• Technical and conceptual quality
• Development throughout the course (strive for excellence)
• Quality of documentation
• A willingness to act on criticism
Grading Criteria:
Participation and Attendance 15%
Technical Exercises/Labs 15%
Projects 30%
Final Project 40%
Participation:
It is very important that students come to class prepared and participate to their fullest level of ability. Group critique and discussion is an essential tool for developing comprehensive artistic knowledge and vocabulary. Therefore, it is critical that students learn how to talk about their own art and the work of other artists. During critique and class discussion, strive to offer constructive feedback. Listen to the comments made by your peers and the instructor to evaluate the effectiveness of your work. It is important that you express ideas clearly, and have fun. Projects must be complete to be included in a critique. Please pick up after yourself and keep the computer lab clean.
Phone use, texting, e-mailing, and non-course related web surfing is not permitted during class time.
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is mandatory. Interaction and collaboration are an important aspect of the learning process and are critical for establishing trust among your peers. Please note that three unexcused absences will result in the deduction of 1 full letter grade of STA 385. Being late to class is very disruptive. Please make sure that you arrive to class on time. Attendance will be taken at 11:45. If you arrive after attendance has been taken you are considered to be late. Three late arrivals are equal to one absence.
COMMUNICATION:
Make sure your MSU email account is properly forwarded to the location where you read email.
THE LAB:
Machinists from The Physics and Astronomy Machine Shop at MSU will be assisting with CNC and milling.
Physics and Astronomy Machine Shop
Tom Palazzolo
Rob Bennett
LAB HOURS & LOGISTICS:
Access times to the FFT LAB (room 5) will be announced. We will be looking for volunteer monitors to supervise the lab in order to extend working hours. If you are interested in becoming a Lab Monitor, please see me after class. If you wish to reserve and check out equipment such as video cameras, data projectors or for information about the printing lab go to the VRL Info for Faculty and Workshop participants page and/or contact Alex Nichols
Reasonable Accommodation Policy:
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities, with documentation from the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (http://www.rcpd.msu.edu), may be requested by contacting me at the start of the term. Contact me as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your involvement in this class.
Academic Integrity:
In accordance with MSU’s policies on “Protection of Scholarship and Grades” and “Integrity of Scholarship and Grades,” workshop participants in STA 491 are expected to honor principles of truth and honesty in their academic work. Academic honesty entails that workshop participants will not plagiarize. This means (1) workshop participants will not submit someone else’s work as their own (e.g., they will not submit another student’s paper or project, etc., nor will they hand in a paper copied from the web or another published source). Academic honesty also means workshop participants (2) will not knowingly permit another student to copy and submit their work as that student’s own and (3) will not use unacknowledged quotations or paraphrases as part of their work. As provided by university policy, such academic dishonesty or plagiarism may be penalized by a failing grade on the assignment or for the course. Failure in a course as a result of academic dishonesty will also result in written notification to the student’s academic dean of the circumstances. Additional discussion of cheating or academic dishonesty is available on the Ombudsman’s web page.
Copyright notice: Many of the materials created for this course are the intellectual property of Adam Brown. This includes, but is not limited to, the syllabus, lectures and course notes. Except to the extent not protected by copyright law, any use, distribution or sale of such materials requires the permission of the instructor.