When I look at the difference between creativity & aesthetics and technology & realization I find it to be in function of one another. They inform each other and are very closely linked to one another. Though the difference is still clear. Where first I thought that Technology and realization was mainly focussed on arduino’s, sensors and actuators needing to implement mechanisms to create working interfaces. I now see the intentionality in fabrication methods acknowledging them as skills independent critical to the realization of prototypes. Learning that different design processes are certain expertise area orientated. One of which being a material driven design process exposed to and applied during my third project. that fits with Technology and realization.
One of the main weaknesses that I identified in my first year was my ability to make high level and precision mechanisms. This is a skill I am working on through following the course Designing actuated Systems at the moment through Fusion 360 competency increase. Also diving into soft robotics and their aesthetic application.
Material driven design process in Project 3
Future development
I see great potential in the application of actuated systems in translating nature to the digital culture of the West. We could use it as a medium to communicate the distance between nature and everyday life that we have built into our culture. Looking into the translation and recombination of sounds produced in nature through adding sensors to, e.g. trees to measure the differences in their sap streams to create synthesiser music like done by Bert Barten (Bertbarten.com - BERT BARTEN, n.d.).
References
Bertbarten.com - BERT BARTEN. (n.d.). bertbarten.com. https://www.bertbarten.com/
