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Connections Program:
A Web-based media studio collaboration between the California Polytechnic
University (San Luis Obispo), the University of Oregon, and the University
of Utah. ______________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTORS
Julio Bermudez (University of Utah)
Nancy Cheng (University of Oregon)
Thomas Fowler (Cal Poly, SLO)
OBJECTIVES
- To examine the communication and representation opportunities afforded
by new media technology
- To understand possibilities and constraints in designing with others
- To become familiar with computer tools for remote design collaboration
& communication.
- To develop groupwork skills & strategies for collaboration.
PREPARATORY WORK
Three - four weeks (05 - 31 January) have been assigned for readings
and discussion as well as computer skill building. See
reading list.
PART ONE: REPRESENTATION INQUIRY (1-5 February / 1 week)
Challenge: Connecting Through Communication During the first part of
this term, you have familiarized yourself with the nature of architectural
space, representation and media. You have also realized that the 'aura'
of a place is very hard to convey using descriptive tools. But, can
the technology and media of today with its unprecedented power go beyond
what Benjamin wrote 60 years ago? What are the limits and potential
of the new media to help you grasp and communicate the essence of an
environment ? (called the "quality without a name" by Alexander and
"genius loci" by Norberg-Schulz)
You are asked to construct representations of a place that communicate
its quantitative as well as qualitative aspects to people living hundreds
of miles away that have (and probably will) never visit your site. You
will have to resort to old as well as new representations tools and
ideas and in the process generate "hybrid depictions" that advance or
even transcend existing communicative conventions. Hybrid here means
the making of imagery that conveys (1) the information necessary to
understand space and, at the same time, (2) qualitative aspects of architecture
difficult to depict using traditional methods (e.g., time, light, tectonics,
three-dimensionality, emotions, etc.). To do this you may need to borrow
textures, scan freehand drawings, capture photo images from your site,
use filter or special effects, build and do video capture recording
of a physical model of your place, paint, sing, etc. You may also need
to become more aware of how you experience reality and the best (and
alternative) ways to communicate to others. Please, remember that "more
is not necessarily better" but often quite the opposite. This is the
challenge for the first part of our Collaborative Media Studio.
Logistics
The work will be done in teams of 2 or 3 students from within each school.
Each local group will be given one of 3 real places (exterior or interior)
and asked to make an interpretation of that site that is communicable
to the students from the other two schools.
PART TWO : DESIGN INQUIRY (8-19 February / 2 weeks)
Challenge: Connecting Through Design You have been given a place mediated
via representations and technology. You are now to respond to its "aura"
by designing an object or space to be located within that environment
so that it improves, contrasts, supports, extends, challenges, or alienates
it. Your intervention must be site-specific. The design subject should
be simple and highly qualitative. Street furniture is a good example
but not limited to.
An important aspect of your work will be to carry on your design process
with somebody hundreds of miles away. You will have to develop techniques,
protocols, etiquette, and any other necessary means to interact and
communicate with them. You will proceed to design using manual and electronic
tools as well as diverse communication modalities (face-to-face, data-to-data,
and face-to-data). This will demand a continuous movement between analog
and digital media both in real and in cyber spaces.
Logistics
This work will be done in teams of 2 or 3 students from different schools.
You will communicate via the Web, phone, fax, etc. The design process
should follow media iterations in parallel with electronic communication.
It is essential that you communicate and collaborate based on criticism
and interaction. Your team (assisted by the instructors) will have to
coordinate the interaction of its members following separated, sequential
and/or parallel activities. Each member will have to take on and explore/develop
their partner's ideas while they translate these proposals to a different
media (e.g., if student A sends student B a sketch, B needs to 'translate'
it into a 3D physical model, manipulate it digitally, build an electronic
model, etc.). In other words, each successive interpretation will be
fixed in different material or virtual media.
TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA
Suggested representation/media technology. Photoshop, Premiere, VideoCam,
Video-capture (or DVD), Digital PhotoCam, Scanning, etc. as well as
traditional manual methods (i.e., sketching, model making, painting,
etc.). DXF files will be probably necessary (generated via any CAD software,
maybe Form-Z or autoCAD)
Suggested communication technology includes desktop video-conferencing
(CU_SeeMe), Web authoring, e-mail, FTP/Fetch/Web sharing, faxing, telephone,
Netmeeting for application sharing (AutoCad, FormZ) with perhaps a session
of PictureTel or highquality video conferencing. The work will be posted
on the Web.
FINAL REVIEW
A live review is scheduled for (TBD)
EVALUATION
Evaluation will follow these criteria:
o Understanding of representation and media to convey architectural
meaning
o Mastery at using analog and digital tools
o Success in communicating place and design (regarding quantitative,
qualitative, and experimental considerations)
o Breath and depth of media inquiry
o Ability to interpret, link, represent and communicate 2D-3D representations.
o Digital and material articulation and craftsmanship
o Aesthetic elegance
o Group collaboration, communication, and success
o Coherence and evolution in the design and communication process
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