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Learning in a digital fabrication course on building tangible artefacts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2024

Vijayakumar Nanjappan ,
Georgi V. Georgiev ,
Hernan Casakin  and
Sohail Ahmed Soomro
Vijayakumar Nanjappan
Affiliation:
Center for Ubiquitous Computing, University of Oulu, Finland School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork, Ireland
Georgi V. Georgiev*
Affiliation:
Center for Ubiquitous Computing, University of Oulu, Finland
Hernan Casakin
Affiliation:
Ariel University, Israel
Sohail Ahmed Soomro
Affiliation:
Center for Ubiquitous Computing, University of Oulu, Finland Sukkur IBA University, Pakistan
*
georgi.georgiev@oulu.fi

Abstract

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This paper examines how students' ideas evolve into physical prototypes within a digital fabrication design course. Examining the materials used, customization approaches, iterations, and team dynamics of 26 student projects reveals interplays between ideas, available tools, materials and constraints. Findings show the predominance of techniques, design preferences, concept refinement, and teamwork challenges. The implications highlight the value of hands-on iteration for alignment with reality and the need to support collaboration skills alongside technical prototype development.

Keywords

design educationprototyping3D printingfablabdigital fabrication
Type
Design Education
Information
Proceedings of the Design Society , Volume 4: DESIGN 2024 , May 2024 , pp. 2943 - 2952
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
The Author(s), 2024.

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