INT 435 Digital Fabrication and Furniture DesignMEF UniversityDegree Programs Interior DesignGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy Statement
Interior Design
Bachelor Length of the Programme: 4 Number of Credits: 240 TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF: Level 6

ECTS Course Information Package

School/Faculty/Institute Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture
Course Code INT 435
Course Title in English Digital Fabrication and Furniture Design
Course Title in Turkish Digital Fabrication and Furniture Design
Language of Instruction EN
Type of Course Flipped Classroom
Level of Course Advanced
Semester Fall
Contact Hours per Week
Lecture: - Recitation: - Lab: 3 Other: -
Estimated Student Workload 126 hours per semester
Number of Credits 5 ECTS
Grading Mode Standard Letter Grade
Pre-requisites ARC 202 - Architectural Design IV | INT 202 - Interior Design II
ARC 202 - Architectural Design IV | INT 202 - Interior Design II
Co-requisites None
Expected Prior Knowledge 4 semesters of design studio
Registration Restrictions Only Undergraduate Students
Overall Educational Objective To learn to understand digital design tools integrated with relevant fabrication methods for furniture making.
Course Description In this course participants will experiment with complete workflows covering design, documentation and fabrication processes widely used in computer aided design and making of furniture. Advanced software will be introduced as design tools in touch with materiality. Concepts such as parametric, algorithmic, digital etc. are usually understood by students as producing novel and/or complex pictures in an abstract environment outside physical realm. To overcome this perception in the context of this course, sofware will be used as efficient tools to digitize and quantify abstract design into the physical limitatons of material. Documentation for fabrication is another important aspect of the course. In this sense students will learn how to extract information from design tools, such as volumetric measurements, vectoral drawings and optimized 3D models. Depending on availability of machinery, extracted information will be used to fabricate scaled mock-ups.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) understand advanced computer aided design tools;
2) comprehend the logic of algorithmic design;
3) integrate computer aided design tools with digital fabrication;
4) apprehend various workflows widely used in computer aided design and fabrication of furniture and architectural elements;
5) understand fabrication machinery, their limitations and corresponding applications;
6) experiment feeding information to fabrication tools.
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3 4 5 6
1) Ability to read, write and speak effectively in Turkish and English, equivalent to a B2 European Language Passport Level in English.
2) Ability to use information and understanding of the perceptive, experiential and behavioral aspects of human – space relationship as an input of interior design.
3) Ability to re-interpret the Interior Design profession under the light of rapidly changing theories and approaches.
4) Ability to develop a personal and critical perspective towards the design of spaces.
5) Ability to effectively implement interdisciplinary design and research principles into the solution of problems in her/his field.
6) Ability to bring together her/his knowledge and insight obtained from various sources into the design of interior design problems in a creative way.
7) Ability to use the ethical methodology necessary to develop sustainable interior design approaches with the perspective of social responsibility.
8) Ability to access and use knowledge towards the development of interior spaces using materials and products within the scope of sustainability.
9) Ability to use entrepreneurship, creative thinking and leadership skills towards developing innovative interior design approaches.
10) Ability to find solutions to interior design problems by developing interdisciplinary approaches and within the context of local, national and global networks.
11) Ability to present design ideas in visual, verbal and written media as well as ability to share ideas using analog and digital techniques in national and international professional circles.
12) Ability to develop sensitive and sustainable design approaches respecting needs of various users, local and regional values, natural and cultural heritage.
13) Ability to design interiors in an integral fashion with building systems.
14) Ability to determine individual learning needs in order to become an intellectual professional and the ability to connect with national and international professionals as well as groups.
15) Ability to develop interior design proposals that are suitable for national and international standards, professional etiquette, regulations and legal procedures.
16) Ability to keep track of contemporary research, inventions, approaches and technologies in order to develop new ways of thinking and creating.
17) Ability to create a difference through design solutions by defining and evaluating social and spatial problems, ability to make those available to the society.

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None S Supportive H Highly Related
     
Program Outcomes and Competences Level Assessed by
1) Ability to read, write and speak effectively in Turkish and English, equivalent to a B2 European Language Passport Level in English. H Participation
2) Ability to use information and understanding of the perceptive, experiential and behavioral aspects of human – space relationship as an input of interior design. S
3) Ability to re-interpret the Interior Design profession under the light of rapidly changing theories and approaches. S
4) Ability to develop a personal and critical perspective towards the design of spaces. S
5) Ability to effectively implement interdisciplinary design and research principles into the solution of problems in her/his field. H Presentation
6) Ability to bring together her/his knowledge and insight obtained from various sources into the design of interior design problems in a creative way. S
7) Ability to use the ethical methodology necessary to develop sustainable interior design approaches with the perspective of social responsibility. S
8) Ability to access and use knowledge towards the development of interior spaces using materials and products within the scope of sustainability. S
9) Ability to use entrepreneurship, creative thinking and leadership skills towards developing innovative interior design approaches. S
10) Ability to find solutions to interior design problems by developing interdisciplinary approaches and within the context of local, national and global networks. H Presentation
11) Ability to present design ideas in visual, verbal and written media as well as ability to share ideas using analog and digital techniques in national and international professional circles. H Presentation
12) Ability to develop sensitive and sustainable design approaches respecting needs of various users, local and regional values, natural and cultural heritage. S
13) Ability to design interiors in an integral fashion with building systems. S
14) Ability to determine individual learning needs in order to become an intellectual professional and the ability to connect with national and international professionals as well as groups. S
15) Ability to develop interior design proposals that are suitable for national and international standards, professional etiquette, regulations and legal procedures. S
16) Ability to keep track of contemporary research, inventions, approaches and technologies in order to develop new ways of thinking and creating. H Presentation
17) Ability to create a difference through design solutions by defining and evaluating social and spatial problems, ability to make those available to the society. S
Prepared by and Date ABDULKADİR EREN ÖZTÜRK , September 2019
Course Coordinator AKTS1
Semester Fall
Name of Instructor Öğr. Gör. ABDULKADİR EREN ÖZTÜRK

Course Contents

Week Subject
1) Roadmap of the course + discussion: what is digital? what is fabrication?
2) Programming shape: extrusions and grids
3) Programming shape: offset and gaps
4) Furniture 1: Application of methods and assessment
5) Programming shape: Sub-division methods, component-based design
6) Programming shape: Triangular, rectangular, hexagonal tiles
7) Documentation: Vectoral drawings and notation
8) Furniture 2: Application of methods and assessment
9) Prototype fabrication
10) Programming shape: Consecutive sections and waffle structures
11) Programming shape: Space enclosing shapes and building methods and materials
12) Documentation: Structural analysis, automated multiple sections and notations
13) Furniture 3: Application of methods and assessment
14) Prototype fabrication of selected work
15) Final Assessment Period
16) Final Assessment Period
Required/Recommended ReadingsAnderson, Stanfor (2004) Eladio Dieste, Innovation in Structural Art Sakamoto, Tomoko (2008) From Control to Design, Parametric/Algorithmic Architecture Mendes, Achim (and others) (2018) Digital Fabrication Lawson, Stuart (2013) Furniture Design, An Introduction to Development, Materials and Manufacturing Gura, Judith (2012) Design After Modernism, Furniture and Interiors 1970-2010
Teaching MethodsDigital fabrication and Furniture Design is a flexible lab course in line with principles of active learning. After brief discussions of pre-consumed course material, students work individually or in groups, while instructor is ready to help throughout the whole process. Each new topic starts with analyzing a selected project and trying to guess its design, documentation and fabrication processes. Particular details, repetitive or unique aspects, use of materials and related building methods are discussed. Students are encouraged to think as the designer who is expected to produce the construction project of the shown work. Challenging issues of the designing and making processes are identified. In the second part, some methods to address identified issues are thought. Students are actively working on their computers at this moment. Depending on the selected project, this contains advanced use of algorithmic design tools such as grasshopper, python script, or third-party programs to common design software. Assessment is divided and continuous throughout the course to keep interest levels high and stress levels low. All assignments are equally important and attendance is graded. Students have a say at what they will learn within the limitations of course description.
Homework and Projects3 Assignments
Laboratory Work-
Computer UseYes
Other ActivitiesShort video screenings and field work
Assessment Methods
Assessment Tools Count Weight
Attendance 1 % 25
Homework Assignments 1 % 50
Final Examination 1 % 25
TOTAL % 100
Course Administration aberenozturk@gmail.com
-
80% attendance is compulsory for a successful outcome. Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism: YOK Disciplinary Regulation

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity No/Weeks Hours Calculation
No/Weeks per Semester Preparing for the Activity Spent in the Activity Itself Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours 14 1 3 1 70
Homework Assignments 14 4 56
Total Workload 126
Total Workload/25 5.0
ECTS 5