Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces material properties and performance in the context of interactive artifacts. Covers criteria for material selection, including durability, environmental effects, tactile properties, manufacturing processes, compatibility and effects of particular forms of use.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course provides students with an understanding of materials choices in designing interactive objects and environments. The range of available materials and manufacturing processes is vast but all choices must respond to the requirements posed by the particular artifact being designed. The course, thus, aims first at understanding the criteria that affect material choices in design such as:

•   Physical properties of materials
•   The design process
•   Human factors/interaction
•   Social aspect of Materials (connotation)
•   Natural Forces that act on materials
•   Manipulation and the affordances of materials
•   Manufacturing/Fabrication methods including Rapid Prototyping
•   Environmental factors
•   New advances/trends in material science

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Course Objectives

This course is intended to:

• Provide students with an introduction to materials used for designing physical interactive objects and environments
• Introduce students to the physical properties (stresses, strains) of design materials in different environments
• Encourage students to distinguish the affordances of materials in relation to human factors in a range of design contexts
• Provide opportunities for students to improve through practice, prototyping techniques while undertaking small design projects
• Encourage students to investigate various production techniques and finishing processes to satisfy design and material requirements in the context of a project.

Learning Outcomes

Upon satisfying the course requirements, students will be prepared to:

• Explain the selection of appropriate materials in relation to the design process and
• Equirements of the final design project taking into account social and environmental responsibilities
• Describe a range of natural, external forces (e.g. corrosion, physical stresses and strains) and how they impact on material properties and characteristics in different environments
• Distinguish the affordance of materials in relation to human factors as identified in design requirements [e.g. aesthetic, functional, social, ergonomic, and cognitive] in different design contexts of mass-produced consumer products
• Demonstrate hand (physical) and rapid (automated) prototyping techniques (e.g. blue foam modeling, styrene, vacuum forming and 3D printing) in specified design contexts
• Specify appropriate fabrication techniques; mass production processes (e.g. injection molding, die casting and forging metals) and finishing processes (e.g. surface treatments including painting, sandblasting, plating etc.) to satisfy specific design and materials requirements

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Material Costs:

Students may spend upwards to $75 over the semester for incidentals for lab and final project assignments e.g. printing posters. This is in addition to the non-refundable $72.85 Undergraduate materials fee paid with your tuition.

REQUIRED READING:

RECOMMENDED READING: