3D Design

Art Program: Concentration in 3D Design

Explore the course offerings for 3D Design below:

ARTT 006C. Studio Architecture I: Architectures of Air, Environments in Movement

This vertical studio introduces architecture as a method of research and design. We will consider architecture's mediation of the air we breathe and the way this mediation implicates ecological, social and economic movements that are critical to communities and people. We will begin with contemporary and historical case studies of design projects that take air as a subject. Through readings, analytical drawing and model-making, we will gather a collective understanding of how these projects construct ideas and arguments about the air. By mid-semester, each student will use the expertise and point of view developed through this research to draft a proposal for a design intervention for the Swarthmore campus or the greater Philadelphia region. Interventions will be diverse in terms of how they relate to scale, site, time and program, reflecting each student's perspective. Expectations for each project will be calibrated in collective, on-going discussions. The second part of the semester will focus on developing the proposed interventions through an iterative process that could include drawing, full-scale fabrication, model-making or writing. As a vertical studio, collaborative teaching and learning will be encouraged. By the end of the semester, each student will be able to draw on existing skills -- and learn how to identify and develop new ones -- to work architecturally and communicate a design intention.

3D Design I: Design and Composition

This course is an introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles of three-dimensional design and the built environment. Through a series of hands-on projects, we will introduce basic tools and materials that are commonly used by designers to create prototypes such as cardboard, wood, clay foam, and plaster. Working independently and collaboratively, students will take an inquiry-based approach to explore the formal elements and essential functions of 3D design through unique design challenges that reflect on form in space. Iteration and experimentation are core themes in this course, and students will learn how to work from concept, to sketch, to three-dimensional objects. Throughout the semester we will engage in the critical analysis of historical and contemporary design objects and develop a practical and conceptual understanding of 3D design practice. The course is supported by lectures, readings, films, field trips, group discussions, and critiques, where students will learn to articulate essential information about their work and engage with constructive feedback.

3D Design II: Process and Iteration

3D Design II is focused on expanding skills and techniques within three-dimensional design practice. This course puts an emphasis on working between analog and digital processes as a method for ideation and design development. Basic model-making techniques will serve as a foundation for students to utilize the digital tools in the MakerSpace, including 3D modeling with Rhino, 3D scanning, 3D printing, and laser cutting. The course will explore how handmade models can be scanned, manipulated, and reproduced as a tool for working with various three-dimensional design problems. We will consider real-world scenarios through a sustained investigation of form and function, and students will explore the creation of prototypes that can lead to results in additive manufacturing, casting, flat-packed designs, and more. This course balances theory and practice and is supported by lectures, readings, class discussions, and field trips that engage with contemporary issues faced by designers, such as ethics, sustainability, and technology.