Assignment: Voxel Model

Assigned: Thursday, September 11

Due: Thursday, September 18 @ class start

Assignment Description:
As a warm up exercise, and to start to familiarize ourselves with the very basics of Rhino, create a model using only 1x1 "voxels" (volumetric pixels) on the grid of the construction plane.  Your challenge is to create a representation of your summer (whatever that means to you!), and of course, to strive to create the GREATEST VOXEL MODEL EVER PRODUCED.  EVER.

Assignment Requirements:

1.) Create a 1x1 voxel in Rhino, and with grid snap enabled, use the alt+drag the gumball handles of your voxel to quickly clone copies of it

2.)  Create at least two materials to apply to your model in "render" view mode.

3.)  Use basic commands in Rhino to create a "representation" of your summer (or some aspect of it)
4.)  Save your model where you can access it next class (i.e. on your one drive or USB drive, google drive, etc)

5.) We will create our process blogs and fist blog post (documenting our voxel creations) together next week during class.

See examples of similar assignment submissions from previous semesters here.

Assignment: Castle 

Assigned: Thursday, September 18

Due: Wednesday, September 24 @ 11:59am (NOON)

Assignment Description:

Using Rhino's basic geometry, extrude, loft, revolve and move/copy/rotate tools, students will create an original model of a "castle". Students will then assign visual materials to their creation, and capture images as screen shots. These will be documented as a new post on each student's process blog.

Assignment Requirements:

1.) Using basic processes covered in class, create a 3D model of a castle in Rhino.

2.) Assign at least three (3) different materials to objects within your castle.

3.) Take at least three screen shots of your virtual object (from various perspectives.) (hint: imagine the view port as a camera - make it a beautiful shot!)
a.) On a Windows PC: Use Snipping Tool. Instruction here.
b.) On a Mac PC: Use OSX screen shot. Instructions here.

4.) Post these renders in a new post on your process blog, along with a brief (1-2 sentences max) description.

5.) We will continue to refine these concepts and designs in class next week.

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Exemplary student work from previous semesters (from a similar assignment):

F2017
F2018
F2019
F2020
F2021A
F2021B

Assignment: Castle 

Assigned: Thursday, September 25

Due: Wednesday, October 1 @ 11:59am (NOON)

Assignment Description

Refine your castle-object design, apply realistic materials and lighting, and produce 4–6 photorealistic renders that showcase your design from multiple perspectives. Use peer feedback from class to inform your refinements, and tell a more resolved visual story of your object.

Requirements

1. Design Refinement

   • Revisit your initial castle model.

   • Incorporate critiques from the Speed Dating session: strengthen weak areas, clarify intent, resolve structural or aesthetic concerns.

   • Consider scale, balance, silhouette, and surface articulation in your refinements.

2. Materials & Lighting 

   • Assign at least 3 distinct materials (e.g. stone, wood, metal, glass) to parts of the castle.

   • Pay attention to realistic material behavior: reflectivity, roughness, translucency, edge wear, etc.

   • Set up 2–3 lighting sources (e.g. directional sun/sky, fill light, rim/edge light).

   • Consider how shadows, highlights, and ambient occlusion will interact with your materials to reveal form.

3. Rendering & Presentation

   • Produce 4 to 6 final images (renders) of your refined castle object from different angles or with different lighting setups.

   • Use camera framing thoughtfully (close-ups, three-quarter views, detail shots).

   • At least one render must be a close-up detail (focusing on texture or a junction).

   • Export high resolution (e.g. 1920×1080 or higher).

   • Include your original castle model (before refinement) as a reference side-by-side (thumbnail or overlay) in your presentation.

4. Process Documentation & Reflection

   • On your process blog or course site, post:
     a) Screenshots of intermediate stages (wireframes, material previews, lighting tests).
     b) Short commentary (1 paragraph) about the critiques you applied, how materials and lighting evolved your design, and what you learned through iteration.

   • Include any challenges encountered (e.g. noise, texture seams, light leaks).

Assignment: President's Coaster: Idea Storm & Concept Sketching

Assigned: Thursday, October 2

Due: Wednesday, October 8 @ 11:59am (NOON)

Assignment Description

This project invites you to explore the idea of the coaster as a design object. A coaster is usually a flat, round thing that sits quietly under a cup — but what if it could be more? Could it be sculptural, playful, narrative, or even a little strange?

In this first stage, your goal is not to land on a “perfect” design right away, but to generate as many ideas as possible. Think wildly, think experimentally, and don’t be afraid to push past the obvious. What else could a coaster be, besides a circle under a cup?

Requirements

• 12+ concept sketches (quick thumbnails are fine). These should explore a wide range of ideas, materials, and forms.

• A short reflection (1–2 paragraphs) explaining which 2–3 concepts you’re most excited about and why.

• Optional extras: mood boards, collage experiments, or quick 3D doodles in paper, cardboard, or clay.
  
  

Creative Prompts to Push Your Thinking

Choose a few of these to guide your sketches:

• “Wrong Tool”: Imagine a coaster that completely fails at its function — what could it look like?

• “Scale Shift”: What happens if the coaster is the size of a rug, or the size of a coin?

• “Personality Coaster”: What would a coaster look like if it expressed joy, anger, calm, or chaos?

• “Living Object”: Could your coaster change over time, reveal something when wet, or interact with light or touch?

• “Institutional Storytelling”: How might a coaster embody AUArts or the President’s role?

• Material Remix: What if a coaster was made of fabric, mycelium, found objects, or unexpected composites?

• Narrative Layers: Could the coaster tell a story, reveal hidden messages, or connect with others to make a larger design?
  
  

Submission

• Upload your sketches and reflection as a new post on your process blog

• Bring your sketches to class for group discussion and feedback.

• NUMBER your sketches for easier reference during feedback.

Assignment: Laser Cut Coaster: Select, Refine, Design

Assigned: Thursday, October 9

Due: Wednesday, October 15 @ 11:59am (NOON)

Assignment Description

Now that you’ve gathered feedback on your coaster concepts, it’s time to move from sketches to a refined digital design. In this stage, you’ll select one concept to develop further, explore materials, and model your design in Rhino (CAD) in preparation for laser cutting.

This phase focuses on translating your creative idea into a manufacturable design — balancing experimentation with craft and technical precision.

Requirements

1. Select one concept from your peer feedback session to develop further.

2. Gather materials you plan to use for your final prototype (for example: plywood, acrylic, cork, fabric, or paperboard). Consider:

   • Material thickness

   • Texture, finish, and color

   • Suitability for laser cutting or layering

3. Model your design in Rhino (CAD):

   • Accurately represent the shape, scale, and structural features of your coaster.

   • Use layers to differentiate between components or design elements.

   • Experiment with material representation — apply textures, colors, and materials in Rhino to visualize your concept.

4. Render your design:

   • Produce at least two high-quality renders showing your coaster with realistic materials.

   • Include one render in context (e.g., with a cup or glass) if possible.

Creative Considerations:

• Does your digital design capture the personality and concept of your sketches?

• How do materials influence the look and feel of the design?

• Could your design benefit from layering, texture, or engraving?

• Does the geometry make sense for fabrication (no fragile or floating parts)?
  
  

Submission

• Bring your Rhino file to class for review and laser-cutting preparation.
  
  

• Upload your rendered images and a short description (100–150 words) of your design evolution and material choices to your process blog.

Assignment: Laser Cut Coaster: Select, Refine, Design

Assigned: Thursday, October 23
Due: Thursday, October 30 @ class start

Assignment Description

This final stage brings your coaster project into the physical world. You’ll prepare your finalized design for laser cutting, select materials, and fabricate your prototype. This stage emphasizes precision, craftsmanship, and documentation — translating your digital design into a tangible, well-finished object.

Before cutting, review the technical requirements and booking information provided here:
👉 [Link to laser cutting preparation and materials guide]
👉 [Link to laser cutting BOOKING]
👉 [Link to laser cutting FILE UPLOAD]

Requirements

Prepare Your Laser-Cut File

• Ensure your design is drawn to scale (around 4 × 4 inches recommended).

• The maximum material thickness is 0.25 inches (¼") — this is the laser cutter’s maximum cutting depth.

• Verify all geometry is closed, clean, and properly layered for cutting and engraving.

• Follow the linked guide for color/layer setup and file export.

Select Your Material

• Acceptable materials include wood, plywood, MDF, acrylic, paperboard, or fabric composites.

• Avoid PVC or any material with unknown coatings or adhesives.

• Choose a material that supports your concept and enhances your design’s look and feel.

Book Your Laser Cutting Appointment

• Schedule a session with the technician using the provided booking link.

• Bring your finalized digital file, chosen material, and any test samples if needed.

Fabricate and Document

• Cut and finish your coaster prototype.

• Capture documentation of your process and outcome, including:

  • Renders of your digital design in Rhino.

  • Screenshots of your laser-cut file setup (layers, cut lines, etc.).

  • Photographs of your final prototype after cutting.
    
    

Creative Considerations:

• Does your final material choice reinforce your concept?

• Are your cut and engraving settings producing clean, consistent results?

• Does the physical coaster reflect the qualities you explored in your earlier design stages?
  
  

Submission

• Upload to your process blog:

• 1–2 Rhino renders

• 1–2 screenshots of your laser-cut file setup

• 3–5 photos of your finished coaster prototype

• Short reflection (1-2 paragraphs) on your fabrication process and results

• Bring your finished prototype to class 

Assignment: 3D Printed Hollow Form Object: Concept Generation

Assigned: Thursday, October 30

Due: Wednesday, November 5 @ 11:59am (noon!)

Assignment Description:

We will be working toward the design and creation of a HOLLOW FORM 3D Printed vessel - but first we will do some concept generation. We will each start by generating multiple concepts for our design.

Assignment Requirements:

1.)  In Rhino, generate no less than six (6) concepts for a single or double perimeter (hollow), self-supporting vessel.

2.)  As demonstrated in class, create solid models for your concepts. Use functions like extrudeCrv, planarSrf, loft, rotate and copy to generate the surfaces of your forms, along with deformation commands like Taper, Twist, Stretch and/or Bend

3.) Include at least one screenshot or render of each of your 6 concepts, along with a brief caption for each concept, on a new post on your process blog.

4.)  We will be discussing each of your designs next week in class, in order to select a concept to move forward with for our first 3D printed objects.

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Outstanding examples from previous semesters (of a similar assignment):

F2018
F2017

Assignment: 3D Printed Hollow Form Object: The Hybrid

Assigned: Thursday, November 6

Due: Wednesday, November 26 @ 11:59am (noon!)

Assignment Description:

With your partner, select three of each of your concepts and evaluate them based on the criteria below.  Then, after each settling on a final selection, brainstorm how you might go about creating a hybrid of both concepts.  Using Rhinoceros or any other 3D modelling tools you are familiar with, create a final design that hybridizes both concepts you and your partner selected, and print it on the FDM 3D Printer.

Assignment Requirements:

1.)  Select three of each of your concepts and evaluate them based on the following criteria:

        a.)  Function - how does this object function?  Is is successful in doing so?

        b.)  Form - what are the aesthetic qualities of this object?

        c.)  Self-supporting - is this object self-supporting?  Will it print without support material?

        d.)  3D Printability - Is this 3D model water tight and ready to print?  What is its likelihood for success in printing?

2.)  Brainstorm with your partner on how you might design a hybrid of two of your designs (one of your and one of your partner's).

3.)  Sketch (on paper!) at least FIVE concepts of what this design might look like

4.)  Collaborate on the design of a 3D model that demonstrates hybridity of the two selected concepts.  While it is possible to combine 3D models in the various software platforms we've explored, it might be necessary to rebuild - from scratch - the final hybrid object.

5.) Final object must fit within a 4 inch (x) by 4 inch (y) by 6 inch (z) box 

6.)  Simulate the 3D print your final design in PrusaSlic3r software.

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Documentation

7.)  This counts at THREE (3) blog posts.

8.)  In addition to images and photo documentation of all of the above steps, your posts should address all of the following:

        a.)  A brief (1-2 sentence) introduction to this project

        b.)  Your 6 original concepts, your partner's concepts, and documentation of the hybrid design.

        c.)  A brief written explanation of how your design represents a hybrid of the original concepts selected.

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Exemplary projects from past semesters:

https://art-kitekture.blogspot.com/2021/04/meet-onion-boy-cutest-vegetable-of-2021.html

https://sites.google.com/site/f2018obdf110/post-of-the-week/09potwhybridobject

http://obdfretroradio.blogspot.com/

http://3dobjectnicole.blogspot.com/2016/12/3d-printed-object-hybrid-design-fdm.html

http://bloggerroanb.blogspot.com/

http://sr3dobdf.blogspot.com/

http://mmdoborski.blogspot.com/2017/03/11-3d-printed-object-hybrid-design-fdm.html

https://zt3ddesign.blogspot.com/2017/12/hybrid-object-design-comprehensive.html

http://thesubjectoftheobject.blogspot.com/2017/11/precurser-to-3d-printed-object.html

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If you wish to make an appointment to print with a technician, see link below:
https://acad365.sharepoint.com/sites/StudioAZ/SitePages/Object-Design.aspx

Otherwise, submit your .STL file to the instructor via the assignment on Moodle.  (Include both students names in the file name!)

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STUDENT TEAMS:

Team 1: Clover & William & Alisa S

Team 2: Ally & Gurleen

Team 3: Cameron & Harleen
Team 4: Brandon & David

Assignment: Blog Post: Milestone Projects

Assigned: Thursday, Nov 20

Due: Thursday, Dec 4 @ Class Start

Assignment Description:

Create a final blog post to showcase milestone projects from this course. You can re-use media from previous blog posts!

Assignment Requirements:

1.) Select at least 3 (three) images from each of the following milestone projects documentation:

    a.) Voxel Model (renders / screenshots)

    b.) Castle (renders / screenshots)
    c.) Coaster (render + photo)

    d.) Hollow Form (render + photo)

2.) Create a new post on your process blog, and include these images (above) along with the title of each project (as listed above).

3.) **** PLEASE REMEMEBER to bring ALL physical projects (from OBDF 110) with you to class (if you are in  possession of them)

4.) That is all :)  ... Happy Winter break!