Motion As Metaphor, Spring 2011
Project: Cyclical Motion – Considering the nature of over and over…
Develop a unique machine in which cyclical motion is inherent to the essence of the machine and its meaning. You might reflect on cycles in nature, daily life, mechanisms in transportation devices, industrial fabrication, etc. Think about what unending repetition suggests, where it came from, what it points to, and/or how it’s understood culturally. Your concept should be well vetted, with evidence of the maturity that comes from trial, failure and permutation.
Our technical goal in this assignment is success at something simple, rather than shooting the moon. There’s time for that later. We’ll be learning to build mechanical linkages, and some trial and error will be important. Expect to build things several times, and pay attention to how they improve as you do.
Remember to check due dates for milestones in the class calendar!
Milestone 1 – Due Jan 25
Homework:
Begin with visual research: Brainstorm and collect a variety of images and or sketches related to the assignment. Use image searches to seek out new ideas.
Sketch out 5 concepts as points of departure.
Bring all of these materials to class to discuss.
Post your research, concepts, sketches, etc to the website as your weekly progress documentation.
In class small group discussion:
Presenting: Spread out your materials on the table, and/or pull up images on your laptop. *Concisely* present your various ideas to the group (2 or 3 minutes max). Your images should do much of the talking for you. Your goal here is to seek feedback that helps you see what you’ve collected from angles you might not have considered, or to make new connections. Spend more time listening than talking!
Each person in the group:
try to ask the person presenting a question they’ve not yet thought of. This is not a requirement; it’s a mechanism for helping the person consider their ideas in new light.
Documentation of Concepts – Due Jan 25
Images, Video, Notes, Links, etc. posted to class website.
Milestone 2 – Due Feb 1
Construct a rough version of the concept you choose. Don’t get lost in craft at this phase – use duct tape, scotch tape, paper, scissors, chipped up wood, whatever you need to make a physical sketch *as quickly as possible*. Be sure to prototype any moving parts you imaging building so that we can discuss your strategies.
Documentation – Due Feb 1
Post documentation and a brief descriptive text of your first version to the website.
Documentation – Due Feb 8
Post documentation and descriptive text of your progress to the website.
Milestone 3 – Due Feb 10
A near final draft – things working, concept present.
We will have our most significant class critique at this point.
Milestone 4 – Due Feb 17
Final piece due in class.
Documentation – Due Feb 22
Project Documentation due to website before class for discussion. Include clear, concise text describing the project and representative, well crafted images/videos. Check spelling and grammar!
