Course Topics
The course will support the development of practical skills and hands-on experiences, aiming to build up a base of knowledge and understanding concerning production processes from self-built tools to industrial production systems in the context of design. In parallel, the course encourages the development of a critical attitude towards traditional and emerging production techniques within circular and bio-based economies.
The choice of an appropriate fabrication process is one of the most important decisions in the process of making physical things. What material is being used, what quantity of parts is to be produced and what sort of geometry do they have? Processes are selected depending on our needs. If a process is not available for serial production, we might even need to create it ourselves.
Together we will be documenting the landscape of selected manufacturing processes available as industrial solutions, in-house faculty workshops, and do-it-yourself solutions. Through a systematic overview by clustering, comparing, and reviewing selected production methods we will consider how to adapt traditional processes and explore alternative ways of creation within a more eco-social future.
We will explore, analyze and prototype more accessible, distributed and democratic ways of manufacturing. Every semester includes a special focus on one or more development and processing techniques. Your so called “machine project(s)” should empower a do-it-yourself approach to local manufacturing using materials which are currently discarded or unconsidered.¿
The course will be in close collaboration with the faculty workshops and the BITZ unibz fablab. With excursions, factory visits and guest lectures we will get a closer look at the known and lesser-known realities of how things are made. The course program is adaptive and encourages any form of collaboration, relations and synergies with other fields and courses.
Teaching format
Research presentations: After the project introduction, we will research and discuss selected manufacturing processes. Individual research results are gathered and shared with each other.¿
Design for (dis)assembly: Through disassembling existing products and assembling new applications we will make the first experiences with the process of making and unmaking. Experimental setups should allow design improvisation and understanding of how things are made on an industrial scale.
Guest lectures: Guest speakers will give us a better insight in the business practices of production. For example, through interviews with a design studios/labels producing in small series and factory visits at industrial manufacturing companies.
Skill sharing: This course allows us to learn from lecturers, guests and each other. We put high value on the dialogue between the participants and will support this process of skill sharing. The content and format of the courses will be fine-tuned according to the dialogues, collaborations and dynamics of you as a group.
Learning by doing: The approach of this semester project comes with an “Learning by Doing” approach involving theme-based hands-on workshops with guest lecturers and doing practical exercises at the university workshops.
Designer maker: Unlike developing a single final product - this course focuses more on getting to know different ways of making. We provide you with inspiring talks, hands-on exercises, group discussions and creative methods for problem solving and solution finding for current and future design projects.