Power2Play - Power to build a Seahawks guitar for Paul Allen

Once again, Sherwood and Kelso High Schools are advancing education with their fab labs. (Just search in this blog for Sherwood and you'll see several posts.)

The two schools have collaborated with the Power2Work foundation to build a custom electric guitar and case. Commissioned for Paul Allen and the Seattle Seahawks 12s, it is one of the first guitars designed and manufactured through its program.

Projects are multi-school collaborations, where students experience a professional work environment. By engaging high school shop teachers and other partners, they've outfitted over 30 high schools throughout Oregon, Washington, and Alaska with digital fab labs. With the Power2Work's goal to teach meaningful skills, kids learn to build everything from guitars to houses.

A few fun facts about the Seahawks guitar:

• The guitar case was manufactured out of old Sherwood High School bleachers. 
• The pickups are Normandy Extreme Shielding Twangshifter.
• The guitar is three kinds of wood: alder, black walnut, and maple.
• The custom body artwork was donated by Shelby Tiffany.

Article in GeekWire ....

Speckle.xyz - Share Grasshopper models online

Speckle lets you quickly share Grasshopper models online with just one double-click.

Developed by D/A/S, while working at The Bartlett, UCL Faculty of the Built Environment, within the InnoChain project.

Download from food4Rhino...

3D Europa sculpture by Leonel Moura

This very large 3D-printed sculpture was created by Portuguese artist Leonel Moura. Moura, an artist with a history of combining art, robotics, AI, and 3D printing, shows work around the world. In the U.S. he has a piece in the permanent collection of the American Museum of Natural History.

The 5-meter tall woman figure stands with arms stretched wide like most 3D models, with a firm gaze fixed on the horizon in front of her. Made up of 300 multi-colored 3D printed blocks and fittings, she resembles a high-tech harlequin.

Moura created the pieces out of PLA plastic using eight permanent 3D printers in his studio. The creation of the piece, titled “3D Europa”, took six months to develop. It included collaborations of many people, plus a few companies like Beeverycreative, 3DFactory, and Wurth that sponsored and provided several fixing materials.

The model was done in Rhinoceros.

The sculpture was presented at the ICT 2015 conference organized by the European Commission in cooperation with the Town Hall of Lisbon.

It is no surprise that Moura has turned his attention to 3D printing as he has been fascinated with the non-human components of artistic creation. Tapping into this “artificial creativity”, as he terms it, means acknowledging that there is more to art than intention. After all, several art movements, since surrealism, tried to achieve art without conscience or intention. Moving from this complete intentionality, Moura works to integrate and create ideas and processes beyond his control in conjunction with the machine. He explained in his manifesto:

“I discard the relevance of the lack of intentionality and consciousness in robots. It is well known that in modern art history, there are many examples of art movements and artists that aimed to achieve precisely those goals. Actually, modern art is rooted in the exploration beyond common sense reasoning towards the fields of subjectivity, experimentalism, randomness, and more recently chaotic determinism and emergence. Machines can in fact ‘do their own things’ since, once the process is triggered, the result is not only independent from the human that originates it as it is unpredictable. This means that the product of ‘artificial creativity’ is human at the start but nonhuman at the end.”

Details...

Online Level 2 Rhino for Windows begins November 2

Image credit: Kyle Houchens, The Outside

Our Level 2 Rhino 5 for Windows online course begins November 2nd. Kyle Houchens will be the instructor for this course. Kyle is a very talented industrial designer, skilled instructor, an Authorized Rhino Trainer, the owner of The Outside Digital Design, and a McNeel technician.

Sign up today!


Dates/Times

• Orientation: Monday, November 2, 9:00 am - 10:30 am
  
• Training: Tuesday-Thursday, November 3-5 and November 10-12, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  Note: All times listed are Pacific time zone. Calculate your time zone.

All sessions are instructor-led and will be recorded for later viewing. If you cannot make a session, watch the video and catch up before the class meets again.

For a sample of Kyle's online Level 2 training, watch this video. Password: Test

Register here...

Workshop in Barcelona: Nero | Mapping

Nero | Mapping

5-7 February 2016

Structured in multiple phases, this workshop offers firsthand experience with aerial robotics, data mapping, and data visualizations. The workshop aims to create a theoretical and experimental framework based on open-source tools. It focuses on extracting data from the air to better understand environmental conditions.

This Noumena workshop is at Green Fab Lab in Barcelona. Noumena is a collective group focused on design, research, and education based in Italy and Spain.

More information...

11th RhinoDay Italy

11th RhinoDay Italy
Università degli Studi di Padova - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Edile e Ambientale
13-14 November 2015


The 11th Italian User Meeting, organized by Università degli Studi di Padova - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Edile e Ambientale and sponsored by ZEN's srl, has been announced. Registrations are now open.

Apart from the users' live presentations, Giulio Piacentino and Giuseppe Massoni (McNeel) will show the latest news on Python, Grasshopper, and Rhino, and other things.

Details and registration (in Italian)...

Thea for Rhino contest

Thea Render announces the beginning of a new contest for Rhino users! Everyone is invited to join the contest for winning Thea for Rhino licenses.

Details...

NewSchool Symposium: PRACTICE, October 24

NewSchool Symposium: PRACTICE
October 24, 2015, 8AM-8PM
NewSchool of Architecture and Design
San Diego, CA

Register here...

The theme of this year’s symposium is based on ‘Practice’, one of the school’s ‘Institutional Pillars’, with a special focus on computational processes in the modern practice of architecture and design. Digital technologies and fabrication methods are becoming an important part of the integrated processes for design, analysis, and construction. This year’s symposium will focus on how computation is shaping the practice of architecture and its allied disciplines.

Workshops include:

• Introduction to 3D Modeling (Rhino), Michael Riggin
• Introduction to Parametric Design (Rhino and Grasshopper), Rajaa Issa

Details...

Evening Workshop Series in London by SimplyRhino UK

In this session, we introduce how CAD is used in the jewelry industry. Learn the principles of CAD through the digital construction of a crown set engagement ring, with thread and grain set shoulders. This practical workshop is suitable for beginners to CAD who have experience of the goldsmith trade. 



In partnership with the Goldsmiths' Centre, SimplyRhino UK presents a new series of evening taster workshops dedicated to those entirely new to CAD. Within these two-hour sessions, you'll have the opportunity to get hands-on and see how CAD can help improve your existing workflow.

We're commencing the series with a jewelry focus in recognition of the fantastic work produced in this area by the Goldsmiths' Centre itself. In future workshops, we plan to extend our scope to include other industries. More information on the 2016 sessions will be published in December 2015. 

Complete details...

Registration...

BIM GeomGym IFC and BullAnt now available for Rhino 5 for Mac

GeometryGym just announced the availability of its plugins BIM GeomGym IFC and BullAnt for Rhino 5 for Mac:

BIM GeomGym IFC is an OpenBIM add-on for Rhino and Grasshopper. It enables IFC (Industry Foundation Class) models to be generated and exchanged to ARCHICAD, Revit, Bently, Tekla, and any other BIM software with IFC capability.

BullAnt is a Rhino/Grasshopper plugin primarily for architects and engineers (but also other Rhino/Grasshopper users). It features computational design tools to enhance and extend the parent program and other third-party plugins. BullAnt commands include mesh relaxation (minimal surfaces), mesh inflation (ETFE cushions), symmetry automation, tessellation (polygon packing), structural modeling/sketching (including parametric generation in Grasshopper), geodesic domes, and curve network processing. 

Download from food4Rhino...

New Updates: EvoluteTools D.LOFT and EvoluteTools LITE / PRO

EvoluteTools D.LOFT and EvoluteTools LITE / PRO have new updates! Check out what's new on Evolute's blog.

Download EvoluteTools from food4Rhino...

Rhino Level 1 training in Istanbul, Turkey

RhinoTürkiye has organized new Rhino 5 Windows Level 1 training starting October 26th, in Istanbul. 

Complete details and registration (in Turkish)...

Arch2O - NEXT7 Competition

For the second consecutive year Arch2O challenges architects, artists, urban planners, engineers, designers, students, and creative individuals to envision the Next7 -- by conceiving a proposed condition (or set of) which fundamentally different from the present. The future is going to be different. How? This competition is completely plastic and up to the individual entries to decide and define.

Each entry should specify at least one major difference that makes the future unique from the present. This condition should fundamentally alter what and how everything is.

The future presents problems that cannot be solved 1 or even 2 dimensionally. Any solutions must therefore incorporate an amalgam of disparate, new approaches. Entries are encouraged to solve problems in their defined futures with post contemporary technologies or methods. Failing this, there should be a clear demonstration of advancement in techniques; either advancement towards the positive, or the negative. Again, this is up to individual entries.

Arch2O puts forth that sustainable approaches incorporate parametric techniques, a reexamination of the analogue, and forward looking technologies. Entrants must decide for themselves what sustainability means. Entrants should consider that the time frame for the competition is set at an undetermined point in the future, so restrictions set on current technologies may not exist. Cars may fly, fusion might work, things may be roughly the same, save for one or two defining features. Things may be better or worse. These possibilities should be considered and incorporated into entries. The main focus of the competition will be architecture.

Early registration is now open until January 15, 2016.

Final deadline is February 7, 2016.

Complete details...

Workshop in Barcelona: Recursions

Recursions 

27-29 November 2015

In this Noumena workshop, you will explore iterative strategies through parametric design. The main tool for the course will be Grasshopper and Anemone. Anemone is a simple but effective plugin for Grasshopper that enables you to create loops in a simple and linear way. You will explore strategies such as iterative growth, L systems, fractals, recursive subdivisions, and more.

This workshop by Noumena will be at Green Fab Lab, Barcelona. Noumena is a collective group focused on design, research, and education based in Italy and Spain.

More information ....

10 PhD positions at Center for Geometry and Computational Design, Technical University Vienna

The Center for Geometry and Computational Design, Technical University Vienna, invites applications for 10 PhD positions in the Doctoral College 'Computational Design'. Application deadline is November 10, 2015. The Doctoral College starts in January 2016.

The Doctoral College Computational Design (DC:{CD}) at TU Wien, Center for Geometry and Computational Design, is the first PhD program in Austria at the interface of several areas of research excellence: Computer Graphics and Algorithms, Software Technology and Interactive Systems, Computer Aided Automation, Discrete Mathematics and Geometry, Architectural Sciences, Art and Design, History of Art, Building Archaeology and Restoration, Interdisciplinary Construction Process Management, and Mechanics of Materials and Structures.

The prerequisite for becoming a PhD student in the DC is a completed master degree or equivalent (e.g., Dipl.-Ing., Dipl.-Inf.), preferably with distinction, in the following fields:

• Architecture
• Civil engineering/structural engineering
• Computer science/informatics
• Mathematics
• Mechanical or industrial engineering
• Physics

For more details on PhD topics and how to apply, see:
http://gcd.tuwien.ac.at

China Design Week in London

China Design Week (London) 2015 UK-China Cultural Exchange Year Launch and exhibition is taking place between 19-25 October. The launch, exhibition, and conferences are in conjunction with President Xi Jinping's State Visit and China-UK Year of Cultural Exchange.

China Design Week (CDW) aims to be one of the highest profile design events between China and the UK. The goal is to promote pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between the creative industries from both countries. This year CDW is about Creative China - Created in China and Created for China. The main theme of China Design Week exhibition is Design, Innovation and Technology. CDW aims to promote Chinese and British designers and enterprises in all scales within the field of creative and technology industries.

Exhibition dates: Monday to Sunday 19-25 October 2015

Time: 10:00 - 18:00

Register for free tickets: https://goo.gl/3fBTB2

Venue: Compressor House, Royal Albert Dock, London E16 2QD

Conference 1: Transforming Made in China to Created in China

Time: 13:30 - 16:30

Register for free tickets: https://goo.gl/uxPkBQ

Key exhibitors: 

ABP

Farrells (Sir Terry Farrell) - Rhino User

Zaha Hadid Architects - Rhino User

Benoy - Rhino User

KREOD - Rhino User

MAD - Rhino User

Wolfgang Buttress - Rhino User

SURE Architecture - Rhino User

Feng He Mu Chen Architects and Interiors - Rhino User

Pauline Wong

Complete details...

LAST CALL: Free Webinar of Rhino for Mac

McNeel Europe

October 2015
10:00 am (CEST)

If you want to have a quick view of Rhino 5 for Mac, do not miss this free one-hour webinar. There are very few seats left. Sign up now!

- Spanish: October 19, 2015 - FEW SEATS LEFT! Sign up...
Panelist: Rodrigo Bárcena

- French: October 20, 2015 - FEW SEATS LEFT! Sign up...

Panelist: Vanessa Steeg

- Italian: October 21, 2015 - FEW SEATS LEFT! Sign up...

Panelist: Giuseppe Massoni

- German: October 22, 2015 - VERY FEW SEATS LEFT! Sign up...

Panelist: Verena Vogler

- English: October 26, 2015 - ALMOST SOLD OUT! Sign up... 

Panelist: Rodrigo Bárcena

VII Conference in Furniture Design +mob

Join us at the VII Conference in Furniture Design +mob where Fransec Salla Martínez, from McNeel Europe, will speak and conduct a workshop in the +mob 2015.

This is no cost with prior registration. Register here!

Date: 20-21 October 2015

Location: Auditorio Ruta N, Medellín, Colombia

For more information please contact Centro Tecnológico del Mobiliario.

What is a RhinoFabStudio? A RhinoFabStudio™ (fabrication studio) is a small-scale digital workshop, certified by McNeel, with an array of Rhino and Rhino compatible software and computer controlled tools and training. These tools cover the various leading-edge industrial methods and materials needed to design, analyze, and fabricate almost anything.

Iris - WebGL Exporter, now also for Rhino 5 for Mac

Iris is a free Work In Progress file export plugin for Rhino 5 x64 for Windows, Rhino 5.1 for Mac OS X, and Rhino WIP (Windows and OS X). Iris generates a JSON document that is parsable and viewable through WebGL in a modern web browser. The objectives for the plugin include:

• A fast and easy way for Rhino users to distribute their designs with the least amount of dependencies possible.
• Conversion of as many Rhino Object Types and Features as possible in a static scene.

Download Iris - WebGL Exporter from food4Rhino...

"El món de Joan Claret", book presentation

If you are in Barcelona on Friday October 16, 2015, don't miss the opportunity to attend the presentation of the book "El món de Joan Claret" at the MNAC museum.

The presentation will be followed by an audiovisual show by "Hijos de J. Claret" with the collaboration of Jan Kokol (Architect and Artist) and music by Daniel Mumbrú.

Jan Kokol has used Rhino and T-Splines to recreate in 3D the work of Joan Claret. This will be part of the audiovisual:

Joan Claret, abstract painter...

Program details (in Catalan)...

Symposium on Geometry and Computational Design at TU Wien

The center for Geometry and Computational Design cordially invites interested company representatives, faculty, students, and the interested public to the Symposium on Geometry and Computational Design on November 30th, 2015, at TU Wien. This symposium follows up on the very successful opening event of the center in November last year with a series of lectures. 

Leading researchers will present recent developments in geometry, computer graphics, computational design, and architectural engineering. For more program details and for abstracts of the talks see our webpage http://gcd.tuwien.ac.at. 

Also, the center proudly celebrates the start of the new, interdisciplinary Doctoral College “Computational Design” initiated by the center in collaboration with the TU Wien faculties of Mathematics and Geoinformation, of Informatics, of Architecture and Planning, and of Civil Engineering. 

The symposium is free for all attendees. Register via email at gcd-meeting@geometrie.tuwien.ac.at until November 23rd.

Complete program here...

MicMacTools 1.0—scripted tools for Rhino for Mac

Mitch Heynick released the first version of MicMacTools. This is a set of Python scripted tools from his library put together specifically for Rhino for Mac. They are an outgrowth or subset of his MaqueTools toolbar for Rhino for Windows.

The tools should work in Rhino for Mac 5.1 or later.  The tools are not recommended for 5.0.2 or earlier.

To see what tools are inside MicMacTools, read Mitch's PDF guide.

Explanations, download, and installation instructions ....

Modeling and 3D Printing workshops in Barcelona

Workshop: De la servilleta a la mano con Rhino

October 22 and 23, 2015

Barcelona

iCreatia, in collaboration with FabCafe Barcelona, and Betahaus, has organized two workshops in Barcelona that show the sketching-3D / modeling-3D printing workflow. Felixprinter and Roland 3D printers will be shown live.

Día: 22 de Octubre en el FabCafe

Horario: de 16 a 20h.

Lugar: Calle Bailén, 11 (Barcelona)

Inscripción obligatoria:

http://fabcafe.com/barcelona/events/rhino3d

Día: 23 de Octubre en la Betahaus

Horario: de 10 a 14h.

Lugar: Carrer de Vilafranca, 7 (Barcelona)

Inscripción obligatoria:

http://www.eme3.org/2015/eme3_2015/de-la-servilleta-a-la-mano/

Use of Interior Space for Furniture Arrangement

The RhinoFabStudio at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana invites you to a conference about the Use of Interior Space for Furniture Arrangement.

Francesc Salla Martínez, from McNeel Europe, will deliver a lecture intended primarily for architecture students. It is open to public and free of charge. Francesc will address his conference on the preparation of an architectural model for the design of an interior space with Rhino 5 and VisualARQ.

Register here! 
Date: October 19, 2015 
Time: 2:00 pm-4:00 pm  
Location: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia. Aula #314, Bloque 9 

Organized by: Rhino3D Colombia - UPB
For more information call (+57 4) 412 3015 or contact Andres Franco

What is a RhinoFabStudio? A RhinoFabStudio™ (fabrication studio) is a small-scale digital workshop, certified by McNeel, with an array of Rhino and Rhino compatible software and computer controlled tools and training. These tools cover the various leading-edge industrial methods and materials needed to design, analyze, and fabricate almost anything.

Charlotte Asherson “2300”

This amazing project is modeled entirely in Rhino by D2W's jewelry designer Dovydas for Charlotte Asherson, a graduate of Central St Martins in London.

Charlotte wanted her collection to look masculine and heavy, and had a few specific stone setting methods in mind, such as tension setting and channel setting. But making her collection traditionally from precious metal was not viable, so she turned to CAD and 3D printing.

From her initial sketches she worked with Dovydas to produce the entire collection using D2W’s Nylon SLS printers, finishing the prints to a high metallic finish and setting with Swarovski crystals.

Complete project info...

MSc in Strategic Product Design in Thessaloniki

The MSc in Strategic Product Design at the International Hellenic University is accepting applications for the postgraduate program that starts the end of October 2015. 

The International Hellenic University is based in Thessaloniki, Greece, and offers study programs exclusively in English. 

Download the application form here... 

More information about the program...

Grasshopper plugin developer joins Proving Ground

Grasshopper plugin developer David Stasiuk is joining Proving Ground as Director of Applied Research.

David has actively contributed to the computational design world with several significant tools and plugins. His most recent tool, Cocoon, adds advanced mesh creation and refinement capabilities to Grasshopper.

David has extensive experience in applying data-driven workflow and cutting-edge technology in research and practice. As part of his PhD research at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, David explored a wide range of topics, including parametric workflows, advanced geometry, interoperability, fabrication, and complex material assemblies.

In his work as a specialty consultant at Method Design, he developed 3D structural connection models for 1050 unique stone panels in the Louisiana State Museum and Sports Hall of Fame designed by Trahan Architects.

Nathan Miller, Founder and Managing Director of the Proving Ground, adds, "I have known Dave for several years and have been eager to collaborate with him. I couldn't be happier to have him on board in these early days of Proving Ground. A data-driven building industry requires the unique combination of practical experience and innovative thinking. Dave brings all that and more to the table. I look forward to working with him to develop new solutions for our clients and the building industry!"

To check out David's work, visit his web site Bespoke Geometry.

Live Online Webinars: Introducing Rhino 5 for Mac

Webinar Series: An Introduction to Rhino 5 for Mac

McNeel Europe

October 2015

10:00 am (CEST)

Learn more about what is in, what is out, and what is coming next for Rhino 5 for Mac in this 1-hour webinar conducted by the Tech Team experts of McNeel Europe in different languages:

- Spanish: October 19, 2015
Panelist: Rodrigo Bárcena

- French: October 20, 2015

Panelist: Vanessa Steeg

- Italian: October 21, 2015

Panelist: Giuseppe Massoni

- German: October 22, 2015

Panelist: Verena Vogler

- English: October 26, 2015

Panelist: Rodrigo Bárcena

Important details:

• Space is limited. Sign up today!
• This webinar is free to all attendees.
• Presentation will take approximately 40 minutes followed by another 15 minutes for Q&A.
• After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 

Register now: Spanish...

Register now: French...

Register now: Italian...

Register now: German...

Register now: English...

Wavelet - Audio Waveform Custom Soundwave Bracelets

Wavelet - Audio Waveform Custom Soundwave Bracelets

Wavelet is all about the power of words and making memories last forever. When people go to their web site (or for the time being their Kickstarter), they record or upload a message that they would like to communicate to a friend or loved one. They take the soundwave, or audio waveform, of that message and transform it into a 3-Dimensional piece of jewelry that they can give as a unique gift. 

The company's main goal is to give people a truly unique new way to express affection and facilitate connection.

The method created to produce their silicone rubber bracelets is one that takes advantage of the parametric processes found in Rhino. Nick O'Donnell states, "From the moment they receive an audio file until the moment the bracelet is ready to be extruded and created, Rhino is the software we use." 

Check out the following links and pictures:

• Kickstarter link 
• Web page link 
• YouTube Kickstarter video link 

For more information please contact Nick O'Donnell.

RESHAPE15 | Winners

Announcing the winners of the RESHAPE15 | wearable technology competition 2015! 

This competition has been established to promote research, education, and production of digital ideas. The goal is to activate a prolific exchange of knowledge and information for the growth of an entire community joined by the love for innovation.

According to selection criteria, the Jury, formed by experts of fashion design, digital fabrication and computation design fields, selected three winners and two honorable mentions. RESHAPE15 received 70 applications from 25 different countries from all continents. The winners were selected for their conceptual ideas, understanding of design to production strategies, and market viability.

First place goes to Pinar Guvenc, Inanc Eray, Gonzalo Carbajo, and Marco Mattia Cristofori for their project Sponge Suit from USA. The project is swimwear that is environmentally proactive, economically sustainable, and intelligently manufactured by combining cutting edge 3D printing and nano-scale clean-tech material (super-hydrophobic carbon based material called the Sponge) research.

Second place is Selina Reiterer and Constantinos Miltiadis for their project JOHN PAUL GEORGE & ME from Austria. The project addresses interactive wearable textiles. And the project brings to children an interactive musical game, encouraging and stimulating their musical interest as well as their collaboration with each other to perform music.

Third place is Emmanouil Vermisso, Mate Thitisawat, Boutros Bou-Nahra, and Heather Akers for their project Carotid Thermo-Regulator from USA. The project is about reinventing the traditional neck Ruff as a liquid translator of bodily emotion. The idea resulting from the transformation of thermal data into graphics becomes an inherent ornamental quality of the piece.

The two honorable mentions include Judyta Cichocka and Zach Challies for their project Digital Outlook and Aino Aarnio-Juurinen and Visa Kupias for their project Avanto.

Check out all the entries.

Club Rock Café Prague new interior design

Photo by www.klapper.cz

Jiří Šmejkal from Studio Scenografie has been kind enough to share his interior design project at the Club Rock Café Prague:

"I would like to present realization of my project on your web site. The project is about interior reconstruction of Club Rock Café, Prague. 

This music club includes theatre hall, gallery, music hall, pub and is located in the centre of Prague at Národní street. Project was realized during this summer and official opening took place at the beginning of September.

I work as an architect/designer in a studio Scenografie, Prague. Assignment was to restore the function of foyer with new chillout zone and to connect upper floor of gallery staircase nad music hall in downstairs.

Whole project was made in Rhinoceros 5.0. We make all parts of our work in Rhino from studies, visualization to production drawings for our manufacture. In this project it was same procedure as well. I used also Grasshopper for designing the shape and also for fabrication preparing."

See more photos on Studio Scenografie Facebook page...
Read more here (in Czech)...