| Beschreibung |
Applications and installations for Interaction Design start as ideas and sketches. To understand if, and how they could work, the creation of prototypes is often the next logical step. In this project, you will be challenged to bring concepts and ideas to (real) life with different methods of prototyping and technologies. We will create a little zoo of connected devices that react to each other as a network of things. Over the course of the semester, each student will ideate and build a physical interface to connect and interact with this network. We will focus on originality in the context of tangible/ multimodal interaction, but also on technology and materials. We will exhibit this collection of devices at this year’s Summaery.
We will introduce you to electronics and programming of microcontrollers (e.g. Arduino or ESP32) and explore the many ways of reading inputs with sensors and creating output by driving motion, light or sound. To give things a form, we will discuss and use various prototyping and production methods, from sketches and design-oriented methods such as storyboarding up to functional prototypes built with software, electronics and physical materials.
This project will be technology driven. We will have introductions and deepening lessons on electronics, Arduino and rapid prototyping technologies to create and build prototypes. As we all experience, the generation of code with AI tools works somehow, but to build reliable systems and to get beyond simple demo examples, a deeper understanding of programming, the technology and underlaying concepts is mandatory. To broaden our maker skills, we will address methods such as 3D Printing, soldering, the creation of inflatables and other practical skills.
The project will start with weekly exercises, which will eventually evolve to the creation of circuitry and physical objects using different materials and technologies. Through a designerly approach, we will explore the many variations of how we can tackle dealing with materiality and functionality to make things work. Accompanied by literature, we will furthermore discuss the role of prototyping in the user centered design process.
This project is perfect for students who like to work hands-on with different materials and techniques and enjoy being challenged to find problems and to come up with their own solutions and concepts. Ideally you have some prior experience with electronics and Arduino, or with mechanics (moving parts) but that’s not mandatory. Most important, we expect our students to work self-motivated and thoroughly on all their exercises including the individual development of a connected device as part of a larger group project for the final deliverable |
| Voraussetzungen |
Product Design (PD) and Media Arts/Design (MAD): Creativity, practical experience with design of interactive products/objects, physical construction (e.g. 3D-printing, laser-cutting, woodwork, metalwork etc.), ideally some prior experience with electronics and Arduino or with mechanics (moving parts).
Media-Architecture (MA): Creativity, practical experience with physical construction (e.g. 3D-printing, laser-cutting, woodwork etc.), ideally some prior experience with electronics and Arduino
PD, MAD and MA: Please apply auntil 03.04.2025 by E-Mail with Hannes.waldschuetz@uni-weimar.de and eva.hornecker@uni-weimar.de (please include a description of your prior experience in relevant areas, with examples of prior work if applicable) ! |
