Workshop: Quick 3D Sketch Model Making

Date: October 7th, 2019

Instructor: Aviva Shulem

1. Overview of the workshop 

In this hands-on workshop, students are meant to learn techniques to make quick 3D sketch models. This phase is essential in developing 3D objects. Sketch modeling helps in translating design concepts into tangible, visible shapes, which help to finalize size, proportions and materials exploration before making the final object.

Advantages of this technique: We intend to use materials that are easy to manipulate, no need for special tools and it allows us to visualize and test a design before the completion.

Materials to explore: paper, Bristol, cardboard, chipboard, foam core, wood scraps, acrylic, masking tape, Olfa knife, X-Actor knife, hot glue, tin foil, etc.

Students and faculty are welcome, and participants are encouraged to bring specific projects, project outline and/or questions. All will be able to participate in the process of building one small model.

2. What skills and techniques were demonstrated / what specific information skills/techniques/tools/materials did you learn about?  If the workshop was participatory, what did you make?

Without a doubt, Aviva was very knowledgable on the topic at hand. She was able to cover a variety of materials, within a few hours! By the end of the session, I felt like I had more options in constructing my own 3D models.

QUICK DISCLAIMER*: the following images are from a presentation Aviva made for the workshop, therefore all its content should be credited to her. 

Aviva began with the basics, briefly explaining what a 3D sketch model/prototype is, and their possible applications in the professional world and in our student work.

She then proceeded to introduce us to simple quick 3D paper folding models that we could do to generate ideas (a tool to help establish a clear direction before committing to develop a working prototype).

Afterward, she moved onto looking at cardboard as a cheap and accessible material. She even demonstrated how cardboard, which is notorious for its rigidity, can actually be bent or curved to make cylinders, cones, etc. using a process called rolling. This involves wrapping a cardboard piece around a relatively heavy circular object (like a rolling pin) and breaking the stiffness of the material.

Lastly, seeing as Aviva herself is a product designer herself, she was kind enough to show us a few prototypes she made for some recent projects with furniture companies. This enabled us to visually see the real-world application of these new skills and techniques we just learned, and how they can be put to use/practice.

3. How might you apply what you learned to your work in this class?  Was the workshop helpful?

This workshop came at an ideal time because the following assignment (For Project 2: Abstract Artifact) entailed making a well-crafted 3D prototype of our final abstract piece. I went into the assignment knowing more methods of joining, manipulating and assembling with an assortment of recycled and readily available materials because of the comprehensive workshop. All in all, I would highly recommend this workshop in particular for any Space + Materiality student because it is beginner-friendly and very helpful in the long run as well.

4. Post 3-5 photos from the workshop showing what was taught and what the instructor made, and what you did: