Translations

MFD: Material-based Design Informed by Digital Fabrication

Rivka Oxman digital fabrication media has produced 2. Background Faculty of Architecture and Town a new symbiosis between technology By undertaking systematic study into Planning, Technion ITT and design. This symbiosis has now the chronological development of the , Israel driven the emergence of broad changes relationship between manufacturing [email protected] in the coming into existence of material and fabrication technologies (Kieran & praxis as a dominant phenomenon of Timberlake, 2004; Iwamoto, 2009) it was the last two decades. The revolution Keywords: Informed Computational possible to define the firstrelationships of digital material has provided new between fabrication technologies and Processes, Digital Tectonics, Digital forms of design affordances that have Materiality, Performance Based Design, design. The effect of this profound shift of transformed design culture in all of the technological influence within the design Generative Design diverse fields of the design discipline. disciplines was referred to as the culture The evolution of the field ofMaterial- of making (Mori, 2002; Anderson, 2012). Fabrication-Design (MFD) is the result ABSTRACT Today, the current shift is influencing a of the rapid development of new Recent development of digital growth of experimental material-based fabrication media, the growth of the fabrication and materialization design research in both academia and general acceptance of digital materiality technologies is enhancing change practice: R. Oxman & R. Oxman, 2014; as an important emphasis of design and within design processes. In this work Carpo, 2013; Dunn, 2012; Beorkrem, the consequent impetus to new theories we formulate a new conceptual 2013; Sheil & Glynn, 2011; Gramazio and methods. schema termed Material-Fabrication- et al., 2014. Through analysis of recent Design (MFD). MFD’s are defined as The growing convergence of design and experimental and pioneering works we computational informing processes materialization technologies is today are beginning to conceptualize a series of that enhance tectonic relationships creating an intense level of professional, unique MFD models that are exemplified between form, structure, and material academic, and research involvement by leading case studies. within the logic of fabrication with material praxis in design, with the The following section begins to define the technologies. By undertaking resultant evolution of a range of media- systematic approach, MFD models concepts and principles of design and related design practices (R. Oxman & R. materialization technologies. are identified representing knowledge Oxman, 2010). Based upon advances in of innovative digital material- computational technology, design can based design. The work explores, currently be informed by materialization 2.1 Rapid-Prototyping formulates and explains the impact processes. Digital media are extending Technologies of Rapid Prototyping (RP) of these developments on theories, possibilities of the relationship between were defined as a group of techniques knowledge and processes of design. form generation and material production, used to quickly fabricate a scale model, We demonstrate through comparative and designers are beginning to make part, or assembly by Computer-Aided analysis of various selected decisions related to choice of material Manufacturing (CAM) using three- representatives of precedents and and production method from the stage dimensional Computer Aided Design case studies, emerging design models, of conceptual design. Within design (CAD) data. The concept of rapid principles, processes and techniques. disciplines such as architectural and prototyping of models to provide feed- engineering design, these developments back during the process of design was 1. Introduction are breeding a broad theoretical shift an early rationale for the relationship Beyond the first classical integrations in both design generative processes and between design and fabrication. of CAD/CAM, the continued evolution of materialization methods. Important in manufacturing, rapid

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prototyping by fabrication technologies biological fabrication, enabling design classifying the diverse Materialization was also soon recognized as a potentially and production at nature’s scales. Models of Design. significant technology for design (Kieran & Timberlake, 2004). 2.3 The Concept of Computational 2.5 Materialization Models of Design Informing Processes Experimentation with new materials and 2.2 Fab Labs: The Emergence of Design Understanding design as a synthesis of materialization principles is becoming Fabrication Laboratories explicit and externalized information integrated within the rationale of Today, digital modeling techniques processes such as presentation, emerging digital design processes support the linkage between the digital generation, performance, and evaluation thus enriching the integration of new and the physical model in design by was explicated and formulated as a strategies of design and production creating information that is translated computational operative process of (Gramazio, Kohler, & Oesterle, 2010; directly into the control data that drives digital design (R. Oxman, 2006). The Schodek, Bechthold, Griggs, Kao, & the digital fabrication and integrates emergence of informed computational Steinbur, 2004; N. Oxman, 2010, 2011; design, fabrication and manufacturing in design processes, combining new Menges, 2012; N. Oxman et al., 2015). a single process (Sass & R. Oxman, 2006; developments of parametric modeling In order to characterize the processes Kolarevic & Malkawi, 2005; Kolarevic & environments, e.g., Generative and types of relationships between fab Klinger, 2008). The rapid growth of this Components and Rhino Grasshopper, technologies and design, research has relationship between the physical and the algorithmic generative languages, visual been undertaken into the definition of material has contributed to the rise of the scripting and coding possibilities is also the Materialization Models of Design. concept of the Fab Lab. beginning to enable the integration These are models of design in which of the materialization processes in the potential of material design and A fabrication laboratory, or Fab Lab conceptual design (R. Oxman, 2012). fabrication is a major factor in the (Gershenfeld, 2007), is a multi-tool center design concept. for rapid prototyping and manufacturing. 2.4 The Concept of Informed Tectonics Fab Labs usually include a suite of Due to the emergence of computational 3. MFD: technologies for additive and subtractive Material-Fabrication-Design strategies such as: laser-cutters, 3D informing processes enabling the printers; CNC (Computer Numerically mediation between form, structure Material Fabrication Design is defined Controlled) cutting, sectioning, and material properties in processes as a computational informing process contouring, and milling machines. Fab of design, tectonics is again becoming that enhances the tectonic relationships Labs can also include robotic potential a seminal and operative concept of between form, structure and material for the mounting and maneuvering of digital design. Tectonic relationships within the logic of fabrication and robotic fabrication devices. are now capable of being informed technologies (N. Oxman, 2011; R. Oxman, and thus mediated by digital media 2012; Menges, 2012). The formulation A unique kind of Fab Lab has been through each of the stages of design of terms and definitions of concepts and developed by the Mediated Matter from conception to production. The principles in MFD have been derived Group, at MIT Media-Lab (N. Oxman, multi-stage continuously informed from theoretical studies and critical Oritz, Gramazio, & Kohler, 2015) where mediation of the tectonic content of analysis of selected case studies. The architects, designers and biologists designs is an essential component of examples presented below demonstrate collaborate, developing and testing novel material-based design that is defined different MFD models (Figures 1-4, p. 54, tools, to support new design processes by the term informed tectonics (R. 55, 57) that are integrating in diverse and products across-scales exploring new Oxman, 2012). The diverse classes of ways the three components of Material, types of form generation such as growing informed tectonics are denoted by the Fabrication, and Design. These three materials, using top-down additive characteristic relationships of form, components of MFD are briefly described manufacturing and bottom-up biological structure, and material in fabrication as follows: growth. The lab of the Mediated Matter design. It is these classes of informed Group is become a medium for exploring tectonics in fabrication design that the relationship between digital and constitute the basis for defining and

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3.1 Material and principles of material systems of is rich in new technologies as well as a The convergence of digital design, physical, natural, and digital materials. bountiful selection of important examples materialization processes, and A material system represents the of experimental design. Despite the fabrication technologies is breeding an formal logic and integration of material characteristic of a strong technological expansion of material design research properties, structural behavior, and their presence, much of the work is rich in and practices in architecture as well as relationships to the environment and its innovative thinking and lyrical quality traditionally more industrial and craft- impacts on physical and digital form- in the designs. MFD is a wave of change oriented design fields such as industrial finding processes. Digital design and that is creating a profound influence design, fashion design and jewelry design. fabrication inspired by nature is a new upon all fields of the design discipline. research field termed Material Ecology. Contemporary material design originated This new research field developed by The objective of this preliminary study in the technological extension of , explores processes of shape is to begin to systematically review the traditional models of design based on generation of classes of various material brief history of the field, and to define the well-understood traditional materials systems such as weaving, folding, and major concepts, issues and intellectual (Addington & Schodek, 2005) such as layering in micro and macro scales. resources. In this section, we present a wood, steel, etc., and their relationships brief review of selected content of the with form, structure and construction. 3.3 Fabrication-based Design field and briefly present certain key The extended use of digital techniques (Building Scale) concepts and precedents. in material-based design is becoming The forms and processes of fabrication 4.2 Classes of MFD Models a dominant design model among have become a source for the generation experimental design practices (Barkow, of new design concepts in architectural In order to be able to understand 2010). The current discourse on materials design (Gramazio & Kohler, 2008). We what might be considered ‘models’ of includes such advanced concepts as not only design within the potential of MFD design orientation, we briefly smart materials, responsive materials, etc. fabrication, but buildings are frequently present certain terms and concepts of In architecture, material experimentation designed within the design rationale of the approach. relates to a great extent to the design of fabrication (Mayer, 2011; Scheurer, 2010). the building envelope and to fabrication- 4.2.1 Tectonic Order derived structural systems (Shröpfer, The fabrication of material systems 2011). reflects the relationships of material Tectonic order is the relationship of properties, material performance, influence between the design of form, 3.2 Material-Fabrication and Material material behavior, and materialization structure, and material. One of the Systems (Across Scales) strategies and techniques. The type of important recent developments in tectonic order has been the ability to The origin of current fabrication fabrication-based design of material systems is a key concept in the MFD advance materialization processes to the technologies can be traced back to the early conceptual phases of design. In the evolution of computer technologies approach. To understand the MFD models there is a need to appreciate the desired traditional model of architectural design associated with the automation and materialization, processes frequently production of the final stages of design relationships between the material system, performance strategies, and the follow design conceptualization phases and to the first CAD/CAM systems that can be represented as: (Schodek et al., 2004). fabrication technique of the selected technology in each model. from Form - to Structure - to Material Due to the impact of informed computational processes on design, 4. MFD Models Today, with the rapid development of new beyond the traditional use of the term fabrication technologies, the selection ‘material’, understanding the concept 4.1 Introduction and Objectives of material and fabrication techniques of Material Systems and its relation The design world of MFD is may be done at an early design stage; to fabrication is central to this field. approximately two decades old. Within materialization design and fabrication This novel concept exploits the logic that brief span of design history, the field technologies can in this case act as an

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input in the conceptual phase of design. for the partis in much experimental their central field of research and the This tectonic order can be represented as: architecture, as well as an important foundation of their design processes. source of architectural innovation. from Material - to Structure - to Form Finally, we have selected to present The following sample of principles and work of Neri Oxman at the MIT Media In MFD, there is generally a radical types of material systems represents Lab (Figure 5, p. 58) as an example of reversal of information flow in tectonic the formal logic of various classes of a new world of design potential and order in design, in which fabrication formal types that can be characterized architectural richness that innovates techniques and their affects upon by their selected material and structural functionally and artistically within the formal and behavioral content of behavior. We compare below form to the potential of an emerging Material materials becomes a dominant part fabrication processes versus fabrication Ecology founded upon Mediated Matter. of the content of conceptualization, to form processes. The examples present a body of design thus creating an architecture of digital resulting from a direct relationship to the materiality. The Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain, fabrication technology; the advancement designed by Jürgen Mayer (Figure of which is one of the important 4.2.2 Technologies and Techniques 1, p. 54) is a large-free-form urban objectives of the design development spatial grid structure fabricated in process. Novel technologies are enabling wood. While the origin of the concept design and production at product and was not conventionalized in the 6. Conclusions: Digital building scale; these include pioneering fabrication technology, the realization fabrication technologies such as Laser Materiality: The Design World of the design was dependent upon its of MFD Cutter, 3-D printing, Water Jet, CNC total involvement with the potential Milling/Routing, and Robotics. These of fabrication technologies to act as a MFD opens a field of broad and technologies continue to innovate construction solution. innovative potential for architecture rapidly. For example, recently research and design. We are now in the process experiments at MIT have developed Similarly with Shigeru Ban’s and of advancing our work on MFD models new techniques of additive fabrication Designtoproduction’s Golf Club (Figure and we strongly believe that as the field demonstrating how 3D printing can be 2, p. 55), again fabricated in wood, the becomes more prominent in architecture used in the design process, producing origin of the concept is not necessarily and design, the potential for important homogeneous material design (cp. in the fabrication process. However, the contributions shows great promise. Part component parts design) through elegance, lightness and complexity of of this promise for architecture and manipulating multi-property materiality the form are totally dependent upon the design derives from the rich body of as in natural design (N. Oxman et al., potential of fabrication. contributions that have been mvade in 2015). the last two decades to the concept of With respect to the influence of Digital Materiality in general and to the 5. MFD Case Studies fabrication in design, we can contrast definition and explication of the field of the above designs with the pavilion of Material Fabrication Design as a new It may be generally stated that the Menges and Knippers at the University world of design discovery. m increasing prominence and performance of Stuttgart (Figure 3, p. 57). In this of fabrication technologies have case, it is the integration between design elevated the design of material systems rationale, structural concept and unique into a seminal problem of design in fabrication of two-dimensional elements architecture, and one that has become that have been employed to create a formative in the generation of design woven fabric-like structural form. concepts. In the selected case studies that are illustrated it is possible to In the work of Gramazio and Kohler observe that the increasing centrality (Figure 4, p. 57), encoding digital of the design of material systems has materiality and assembly using frequently become the foundation industrial and Flying Robots has become

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