Tech & Design

Technology has advanced at an astounding pace over the past 20 years thanks in large part to computers and the expanding wealth of knowledge that is shared online every day.  We can easily access information and use it to drive our own learning. The barriers to manufacturing - like those to information - are also dissolving. Machines such as 3D printers and laser cutters have dropped dramatically in size and  cost. This has helped cultivate a growing community of inventors, tinkerers, and hackers who are bringing designs to life that are remarkable in their quality and complexity.

The purpose of this class is to learn about design, innovation, and manufacturing by doing it.  Our first goal is to cultivate a firm understanding of design and design thinking, a framework that guides the design process by helping us to develop empathy for those who would use our designs.   Then we’ll develop our skills and conceptual understanding of 3D design as it will allow us to render, refine, and share our designs . Then we will learn how to manufacture using the CNC tools we have in our classroom - 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC routers.  The sum of these skills will allow us to make the things that we would like to see in the world.

This is a project-oriented class.  While there will be assessments from time to time, you are expected to make things to show that you are meeting the learning goals of the class.  There will be many projects along the way and one culminating project that will be submitted at the end of the semester.