In the past decade, the relationship between technology and craft has seen a significant reversal. Once considered antithetical, or even antagonistic, technology has entered a symbiosis with craft. Rather than bracing for obsolescence, designers/artists/architects across creative fields are embracing digital tools as the new medium for human expression. This process ultimately gives the impression of a creative “hand” still at work, even if aided by machines.
Armed with prodigious expertise in software, and developing our own programming and coding, our team came up with creative solutions to bridge technology and craft. Utilizing rendering software like 3DS Max and Rhino, and coupled with our branded algorithmic plug-ins, renderings are transformed into printable objects. Through exhaustive experimentation, we found the perfect balance of material cost, efficiency and strength, ensuring that the molds can be easily reproduced.
Additionally, the easily stored digital catalogue of parts allow for easy reprinting of a mold, should an element ever need replacement or repair. Pieces could simply be removed from a wall or building facade, and a new one could be reprinted and recast on-site the same day.
What sets our practice apart is the aspect of participation through the design process, giving clients the ability to directly engage in the creative progression using our system tools. Once key design criteria (like pattern and shape) are established and input into the system, our custom algorithm can generate changes in real time, with clients pushing and pulling the façade using our software interface to fine tune their desired configuration.
This process ushers into the modern age the forgotten craft of the “hand”, while democratizing the process of design, and allowing anyone to participate in executing what was previously unimaginable.
Credits:
- EDG - Richard Untherthiner
- EDG - Steven Tsai
- EDG - John Meyer
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