Machining Aesthetics: Tool Making as Design Research

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Abstract

This paper examines tool making as a form of design research. With the widespread availability of open-source electronic prototyping platforms and its knowledge, designers are no longer the end user of emerging technology and digital toolsets. Instead, we see a surge of designers dappling in the discipline of software, material and mechatronic engineering, escaping the constraints of existing computer numeric controlled (CNC) tools through designing and fabricating novel machinery. This paper presents three case studies from a master level design studio led by the authors. The results of each project
include a novel CNC machine supported by a series of material prototypes that acts as evidence of the agentive capacity of the tool to deliver design outcome and its potential application in the industry. Through examining tool making in architecture education, critical making is seen as drivers in design processes that has agency associated to it which delivers emerging tectonic and effects; we call Machining Aesthetics.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 1st Annual Design Research Conference (ADR18)
EditorsDuncan W. Maxwell
Place of PublicationSydney
PublisherUniversity of Sydney
Pages517-529
ISBN (Electronic)978-0-646-99249-5
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes
EventADR18: Annual Design Research Conference - University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Duration: 27 Sept 201828 Sept 2018
https://www.sydney.edu.au/architecture/news-and-events/events/annual-design-research-conference.html (ADR18)
https://www.sydney.edu.au/content/dam/corporate/documents/sydney-school-of-architecture-design-and-planning/research/ADR18_program.pdf (Conference Schedule)

Conference

ConferenceADR18: Annual Design Research Conference
Abbreviated titleADR
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CitySydney
Period27/09/1828/09/18
OtherThe Annual Design Research Conference for 2018 (ADR18) was devoted to design research in built environment fields (architecture, landscape, interior, and urban design), it consisted of plenary sessions and a curated exhibition for design works.

ADR18 was held at the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning in association with the Tin Sheds Gallery on 27-28 September 2018. ADR19 will be held at Monash University, and subsequent years at various partnering universities.
Internet address

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