Leitat's new aircraft seat: lightweight, cost effective, healthy and recyclable

The new aircraft seat for economy class created by Leitat weights 8,5 kg, is easy to dismantle and 90% of its weight is recyclable. It has a simple design made of composite materials. It also reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Its smart and friendly design, as well as its foldable footrest, intends to offer a new user experience to the passenger. By raising the passenger's legs, the footrest and tilt seat reduce the risk of DVT.

By incorporating composite materials instead of metallic components and significantly simplifying the seat design, Leitat’s team created a new aircraft seat that exceeds the technical quality requirements of the airplane companies.
Before bringing this product to the market, further developments are necessary and are being currently evaluated.

Rhinoceros was used during the HAIRD Project for modeling the complex surfaces of the principal components. It has been a powerful tool to design the seat's package according to the ergonomic requirements. Finally, Rhino combined with V-Ray allowed creating renderings to support the dissemination of the project. 

Complete details (in Spanish)...

AA Visiting School Jordan 2018 - MARS 2.0.

The AA Visiting School in Jordan is a 10-day intensive course based in Amman, with organized visits to the Wadi Rum Desert and Petra —both UNESCO world heritage sites. The course includes technical software tutorials in cutting-edge software, a design component, and guest lecture series.

The course focuses on speculating architecture for MARS, with the Wadi Rum desert resembling Martian landscapes. The course will highlight novel techniques in design and fabrication at multiple scales: material, architectural, and urban.

An extraordinary travel, learning, and networking experience, this is a credential for graduate studies and career opportunities.

Registration and more details...

ETH Job Opening

The Block Research Group (BRG) in the Institute of Technology in Architecture, led by Prof. Dr. Philippe Block and Dr. Tom Van Mele, is hiring a PhD student on the topic of the design and engineering of funicular shell floors, starting from September 1 of 2018 at the earliest. This project is funded through the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) in Digital Fabrication from the Swiss National Science Foundation. This project is part of an NCCR collaborative stream in bespoke digital prefabrication and the criteria optimization of performative building components.

Job details...

New Grasshopper foundation class video (in German)

Jan Philipp Drude (Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover - Fakultät für Architektur und Landschaft - Institut für Gestaltung und Darstellung) put together a Grasshopper tutorial in German that tries to lay a solid base for any computational designer. 

Most of the questions he got from students in the past were related to not fully understanding the data-structures, so he tried hard to get that across in the video.

Many thanks to Jan for sharing his know how!

Master in Parametric Design in Architecture at UPC Barcelona - Oct 2018-July 2019

Master's degree in Parametric Design in Architecture | UPC School from upcschool on Vimeo.

The emergence of ICTs has led to a paradigm shift in architecture. Parametric design, digital fabrication, 3D printing, and prototyping are revolutionizing 21st-century architecture, creating new multidisciplinary professional profiles able to meet the challenges of this socioeconomic change.

An architectural project is a complex process, in which knowledge management must link to design in an operational way. Parameters are all the categories of information that affect decision-making when a project is carried out. 

Parametric architecture can aim to go beyond geometry and the form, to design a system taking in all the variables and categories involved in the process. This is the potential offered by modern software tools: Grasshopper, Rhinoceros, Revit, Dynamo, BIM (Building Information Modeling), etc. This changes the design process, making architects into builders of systems, not just models.

Many courses provide a partial perspective, based on the direct application of software in numerical control machines to produce complex objects. This UPC master's degree offers a comprehensive approach: it trains professionals in advanced architectural creation, focusing on efficiency in buildings and a commitment to the environment.

The master’s degree in Parametric Design in Architecture is an international program that seeks to teach and explore technology efficiency. It is oriented to the integration of computational tools and digital manufacturing technology in building systems and architectural design.

It's taught at the l'Escola d'Arquitectura del Vallès (ETSAV), which has a residence for international students, as well as the latest technology in equipment and facilities. Its Model Workshop, digital laboratories, and technology & innovation research teams CODA and SMIA,  as well as its involvement in the FAB-Lab Barcelona network of Digital Fabrication Centres, mean that students can explore all the possibilities of parametric design.

Complete details and registration...

10 reasons why every designer should learn 3D

Rhino and Grasshopper were used by BMW to create the complex geometry of the “Alive Geometry” for the Vision Next 100 Concept.

Car Body Design recently published a very nice article about
why every designer should learn 3D:

"Despite all the advancement in digital technologies, as you have probably noticed most design-related websites and magazines are still dominated by 2D images: from sketches to drawings and renders, bidimensional images are still crucial in the creative design stage – which is not a bad thing, as they are still the fastest way to visually communicate and explore new ideas.

Additionally, 3D modeling has been often associated with the creation of the final, high quality CAD models – the so-called Class A surfaces – that are used for final engineering and production. This is the task of CAD/CAS (Computer Aided Styling) specialists and it’s a very time-consuming process, guided by technical requirements rather than creativity.

All this can lead design students – as well as all those who are interested in becoming designers – to think that learning 3D is not strictly necessary.

Instead, creative designers should approach 3D in a different way: as a tool that expands their creative possibilities, increases efficiency and improves the final quality of the products.

In fact, there is plenty of reasons why knowing how to model and render in 3D is an important asset for any designer – and more than ever today.

We have compiled a list of what we think are the main reasons why any designer should really consider learning 3D."

Read the complete article...

Digital Design and Production in Architecture Workshop at Politecnico di Milano - July 3-13, 2018

The workshop Digital Design and Production in Architecture, organized by INDEXLAB – Politecnico di Milano, offers a new vision of architecture and its manufacturing methodologies.

While 20th-century architecture focused on mass production and serial repetition of its components, today is strongly characterized by varied and unique elements, industrially produced through advanced CNC fabrication machines. At the same time, the rise of new programming platforms for design makes it possible to generate processes and algorithms that allow the control of form and technological aspects from the first conceptual stages of the design till the construction phase. It's now possible to integrate aesthetics and functionality, structural resistance and energy performance within one coherent design process.

In defining such “design to production” workflow, both fabrication and material limits and potential play a key role in generating competitive logical construction systems. Robots and CNC machinery contribute to the redefinition of design methodologies and construction processes, transferring most of the manufacturing from the building site to industrial production, where advanced components, integrating structure and envelope, can be designed and fabricated into complex solutions with high aesthetic and functional value.


This workshop brings together visionary companies, advanced designers, and innovation-oriented students to envision new synergies between academic research, architectural practice and industrial production.

Complete details and registration...

DreamBOOST: a scholarship project by DesignMorphine

DreamBoost is a scholarship open to all design students.

This year there are two available 1200€ scholarships. DesignMoprhine and our partners ShapeDiver, Decode FabLab, architect Botyo Dimitrov have been doing workshops, courses, and lectures since 2014. During those years we have met thousands of students who seek perfection in architecture and design. Many of them can hardly afford their studies. That is why we as a collective started an initiative to support them. In the following years, we hope this scholarship will continue to involve more students and donors to help grow the design communities’ education and boost their dreams.

Complete details...

Facebook page... 

Performance-driven Architectural Design and Planning Workshop in Tallinn

Performance-driven Architectural Design and Planning Workshop

Tallinn University of Technology

20-25 August 2018

Workshop for students about parametric design, building performance analysis, environmental and urban microclimate simulations by Francesco De Luca and Lisa Voigtländer.

Complete info and registration... 

PhD study Performance-driven and Integrated Design Methods for Architecture and Urban Design at Tallinn University of Technology

Tallinn University of Technology opened PhD study admissions for the year 2018/2019. 

The Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture has several topics, including Performance-driven and Integrated Design Methods for Architecture and Urban Design. 

The work will be conducted using parametric design software with a preference for Rhinoceros/Grasshopper integrated with urban comfort, solar, daylight, and energy simulation software.

Complete details and registration... 

Admission form...

For direct info please contact Francesco de Luca...

Ladybug Tools Estonia Workshops - 12-16 June 2018

We are delighted to officially announce the schedule for the week-long workshop series in Tallinn, Estonia on 12-16 June 2018.

Chris Mackey, Cofounder of Ladybug Tools, will teach energy modeling, microclimate mapping, and optimization/parametric workflows from 14 to 16 June. Francesco De Luca, Research Scientist at Tallinn University of Technology, will open the workshop and tutor about Ladybug workflows, solar design, and daylight analysis.

More information...

AR/VR for Rhino User Group Meeting

AR/VR for Rhino User Group Meeting 

June 14, 2018

London

If you are interested in meeting to network, discuss, and explore virtual and augmented reality solutions, join the AR/VR for Rhino User Group in London.

The meetings follow a simple format of at least one presentation from a customer with experience in the field, followed by a group discussion and informal pleasantries.

This third meeting will take place at AKT|| - White Collar Factory, 1B Old Street Yard, Via Mallow Street, EC1Y8AF (see the map).

Entry registration is mandatory. More information...

Digital Design and Fabrication of Timber Plate Structures

Digital Design and Fabrication of Timber Plate Structures

In this one-day continuing professional development course, Joe Gattas, Kim Baber (UQ Brisbane), and Christopher Robeller (DTC Kaiserslautern) will introduce computational design strategies for cutting-edge timber building technologies, including digital fabrication of integral timber joints and end-to-end digital design workflows for timber plate structures. This includes:

• An introduction to engineered wood products (EWPs), mass timber structures, and CNC timber manufacturing
• Parametric design of integral mechanical joints for various types of timber constructions
• The design workflow for a simple structure using 2D parts and joints

An example will use the Rhino/Grasshopper Digital Fabrication Toolbox. We recommend that the participants in the workshop have a basic understanding of Rhino and Grasshopper. 

Date: July 23, 2018

Venue: University of Queensland, Centre for Future Timber Structures, Brisbane

More information...

Registration...

Master in Parametric Design at controlmad Madrid - Sep-Dec 2018

Applications for the IX edition of the Master in Parametric Design (400h) at controlmad Madrid are now open!

This unique study program introduces you to parametric design and digital manufacturing in product design, architecture, landscape, digital fabrication... through the creation of physical and digital parametric models using as main tools Grasshopper for Rhino and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines.

Complete details and registration...

INESCOP footwear plugins

INESCOP is a Centre for Technology and Innovation, founded in 1971 as a private and nonprofit association. With more than 45 years of experience, the Institute provides technology services, transfers knowledge and conducts research on general relevant topics for the footwear sector.

Based on top of Rhino, INESCOP has developed the following solutions for complex insole and outsole design:

ICad3DP is a software for 3D sole design with many tools for the intuitive and simple creation of the different sole elements, from a digitized last through reverse engineering. A complex outsole can be designed to be printed in 3D.

It also includes specific tools to design heels, platforms, top pieces, top piece molds, as well as machining paths.

IcadPAN is a 3D anatomic insoles design software with an intuitive interface, which allows automatization of many tasks that professionals in the podology sector usually do by hand, from the design to the manufacturing of the insole. It enables the personalization of the insole to adapt it to the characteristics and needs of each patient.

AA Athens Visiting School :: Resonance - 12-21 July 2018

AA Athens Visiting School continues to build on its expertise of generative design methodologies and large-scale prototyping techniques, including participatory protocols. The program investigates the inherent associations between form, material, and structure through the rigorous implementation of innovative design and fabrication techniques.

Complete details and registration...

RCA2018 | International Conference on Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration in Architecture

Call for abstracts open until 11 June: The RCA 2018 international conference invites abstract submissions that focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration in architecture. The 600-1000 word submissions can be from both researchers and practitioners. Topics range from construction, material, and practice, to architectural theory and design methods. The event also invites abstract submissions for a special paper session on digital timber construction, chaired by the DTC group. An international scientific committee will review the submitted papers. 

In the keynote lectures, renowned experts will present outstanding work from various fields of architectural research. Confirmed speakers include Caitlin Mueller (MIT), Sigrid Brell-Cockcan (RWTH), Margitta Buchert (LUH), Michael Hensel (AHO/TUM), Eike Roswag-Klinge (TU Berlin) and Christian Derix (Superspace). 

The German research foundation DFG funded RCA 2018. Accepted papers will be published in a scientific publication, together with articles from the keynote speakers.

Dates: September 27-28, 2018

Venue: TU Kaiserslautern, Germany

More information...

AA Summer DLAB - London (UK)

AA Summer DLAB

July 23-August 10, 2018

Now in its 13th year, AA Summer DLAB continues to build on its expertise of complex architectural design and fabrication processes, relying heavily on materiality and performance. 

AA Summer DLAB investigates the correlations between form, material, and structure through the rigorous implementation of computational methods for design, analysis, and robotic fabrication, coupled with analog modes of physical experimentation and prototype making.

Complete details and registration...

Webinar: Complex Surfacing in Rhino 6

Complex Surfacing in Rhino 6

Wednesday, 30 May 2018

11 AM-Noon PDT

Register here.

Authorized Rhino Dealer, Novedge LLC, announced a new Rhino webinar in their series. Complex Surfacing in Rhino 6 will be presented by Maia Merav Holtzman, Authorized Rhino Trainer.

Join Maia as she covers techniques for developing elegant transitions between organic surfaces with the new Rhino 6 for Windows, which includes Grasshopper. Using an actual guitar model as an example, she will start by addressing the frequently neglected importance of curve creation, vis-a-vis concepts of continuity (G2, G3, G4) in the initial 2D design. Maia till then continue into the building out and surfacing of a complex and curvature continuous final, watertight, and machinable model.

This webinar is free, but space is limited. Register today to reserve your spot!


Who should attend: Industrial designers, including those creating instruments, furniture, light fixtures, tech devices, jewelry, shoes, and installations, as well as architects, civil engineers, and sculptors.

Please note, this webinar assumes intermediate familiarity with Rhino.

Details and registration...

Pufferfish V2.0

Pufferfish V2.0 for Grasshopper is now available!

This update adds 16 new components, most notably:

• Components for Tweening Curves Along Curves
• A custom Curve Graph Mapper which accepts any and multiple curves as inputs to graph with
• Unsplit Surface components for making polysurface like surfaces which read as one untrimmed surface
• Twisted Box components like Sweep, Deform, Thicken, and Subdivide
• More features and options added to previous components
• General optimizations and fixes
• Some component rearrangements in the tabs

Some components require at least Rhino 5 SR14.

More information...

Total Chaos 2018 - Sofia, Bulgaria

Last week, Chaos Group held their first global event for uniting art, science and computer graphics at their hometown Sofia.

Total Chaos 2018 brought together artists, designers and developers from all around the world for a two-day training session, conferences, networking, and lots of learning.

Check here the keynote speech featuring Chaos Group co-founders Peter Miter and Vlado Koylazov, Chaos Group CCO Lon Grohs, partners Martin Enthed from IKEA, NVIDIA's Steven Parker, and Google's Benjamin Faes. 

Also, discover the new features in the upcoming Corona Renderer 2 by Render Legion's co-founder Adam Hotovy and finally, get a glimpse of the new features of V-Ray Cloud at the keynote closing with Chaos Group's cloud expert and Integrations Director, Boris Simandoff.

Thanks again to the Chaos Group for such an awesome experience!

Sneak peek at the new features of V-Ray for Rhino...

Grasshopper in Rhino 6 now faster

Rhino 6 now includes an improved version of Grasshopper that is up to 20% faster based on real-world tests. Along with many technical improvements, Grasshopper includes new multi-threaded components to allow faster calculation. 

To benefit from the new multi-threaded components see the guide on multi-threaded components.

To create faster components yourself see the developer guide on multi-threaded task-based components.

Rhino in Architecture training in Seattle

Rhino in Architecture 

Seattle, Washington

Dates: 19-21 June 2018

Hours: 9 AM-4 PM each day (PST)

Price: US$895

Please join Rajaa Issa for the Rhino in Architecture training in Seattle this summer. This intensive 3-day class will focus on architectural workflows using Rhinoceros. It will introduce the best practices to maximize productivity and use the rich set of functionality supported by Rhino. It will cover various scenarios for concept modeling and detailed design and visualization.

Details and registration...

FlexHopper Training - Physics Simulation in Grasshopper - June 6-8 (Barcelona, Spain)

FlexHopper for Grasshopper Training by Benjamin Felbrich

June 6-8, 2018

10.00h - 18.00h

McNeel Europe S.L.

Roger de Flor, 32-34 bajos

08018 Barcelona (Spain)

McNeel Europe welcomes Benjamin Felbrich, author of FlexHopper and research associate at ICD Stuttgart, to tutor a three-day workshop at our Barcelona offices. The training will offer the opportunity to get trained in FlexHopper and to understand how it compares to Kangaroo Physics.

FlexHopper brings particle-based physics simulation in Rhino and Grasshopper to the next level by using massively parallel GPU computation. Based on the patented unified particle engine NVIDIA Flex, it offers the simulation rigid/deformable bodies, particles, fluids, phase transitions, massive spring systems, cloth, inflatables and gases and allows for interaction between those material systems.

FlexHopper is free and open source.

View Course Syllabus...

Course Requirements

Recommended: Confident familiarity with Grasshopper. Knowledge of programming languages such as C#, VB or Python is not required, although automating FlexHopper through scripting is a possible option if requested by the participants.

Required: A dedicated AMD or NVIDIA graphics card on your computer, running one of the following drivers: NVIDIA Geforce Game Ready Driver 372.90 or above AMD Radeon Driver Version 16.9.1 or above.

Course Fee: EUR 795 (+VAT). Full-time students and university teachers (proof of status required) will get a 50% discount. Please note your seat is only confirmed after your payment clears. 

Register before May 25th to get a 25% discount on the course fee. 
Use VOUCHER25/25 to apply for the discount.

Maximum Number of Participants: 10 participants. If there is no quorum, the course will be canceled 15 days before. 

Language: English

Educational seats are limited. Sign up now by contacting McNeel Europe here! 

Parametric Design Master Class in Seattle

Advanced Parametric Design with Grasshopper

Seattle, Washington

Dates: June 26-28, 2018

Hours: 9 AM - 4 PM each day (PST)

Price: US$795

Join Rajaa Issa for the Advanced Parametric Design Master Class in Seattle this summer. This three-day intensive class is for creative designers seeking to develop a critical and comprehensive understanding of parametric design methods using Grasshopper. 

Details and registration...

New RhinoFabStudio in Malta

Dfab.Studio (Malta) has recently joined the European network of RhinoFabStudios.

Dfab.Studio is a design and fabrication studio providing design and laser cutting services for the architectural, artistic, and design fields.

Steve DeMicoli, Manager of Dfab.Studio: 

"Our interest lies at the intersection of architecture, material-based design, computational thinking and digital fabrication. We operate within a well-established, local building industry and consistently strive to find novel methods of working. A major component of Dfab.Studio’s practice is the transfer of skill and tectonic knowledge, acquired through research, to actual building projects in 1:1 scale. 

The intention of Dfab.Studio’s affiliation with RhinoFabStudio is to continue to widen our network and benefit from international exposure in order to be able to offer the highest of standards in workshops and training with hands-on practical experience."

Set design for Avengers: Infinity War

A lot of work went into designing sets for the largest Marvel movie to date, Avengers: Infinity War.

We were quite excited when Andrew Reeder showed us some of the work he did for the movie and how he brought some of the designs to life.

Andrew is a leading concept designer based in Los Angeles. 

He describes Rhino as his go-to tool for most of his modeling challenges at Pinewood Atlanta Studios.

To see his work from Avengers: Infinity War, go to Andrew Reeder's Portfolio.

Searching for the best Rhino user

Jade 3D, in partnership with Voxel C&T, is searching for the best Rhino user through a virtual competition. 

The primary goal of the competition is to provide a 3D virtual experience with digital manufacturing tools interacting with Rhino. Participants can showcase their creativity and test their skills and abilities. Participants will compete for a prize that will consist of a rapid prototyping kit and accessories.

Register here!

For more information visit this link.

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.

Intro to Grasshopper Online (Mornings) at McNeel Online

Intro to Grasshopper Online (Mornings) at McNeel Online

May 21-24, 2018

Hours: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM each day (PST)

Seattle, Washington - Online

US$195

Course Description

This course is for design professionals who are looking to efficiently learn concepts and features of Grasshopper at an accelerated pace in an instructor-led online environment.

Instructor Andres Gonzalez will get you started with generative modeling in Rhino using the Grasshopper add-on. The advantages of using Grasshopper in preliminary design and concept development come to life in numerous real-life examples. Note, Andres will be using Rhino 6 for Windows, which includes Grasshopper.

The class will be in English using the GoToTraining software.

You will need the following software tools:

• Rhino 6 for Windows, which includes Grasshopper, or
• Rhino 5 for Windows and the free Grasshopper plugin, or
• Rhino 5.4 for Mac, which includes Grasshopper.

Get a head start on discovering how to use Rhino's computational design feature.

New RhinoGold Service Release with gem recognition

Announcing the new Service Release for RhinoGold with gem recognition!

With this feature recognition, you can import stones from your models. RhinoGold recognizes, analyzes, then converts them to parametric RhinoGold gems.

Also, RhinoGold fixed some issues on the Gate Desktop App and some minor bugs.

Check out all the update notes.

Download and install the RhinoGold 6.6 upgrade for Rhino 6 from the Gate Desktop App or the RhinoGold web site.

The new technology in V-Ray 3.6 for Rhino

Following V-Ray's release for Rhino 6, Chaos Group has introduced new V-Ray rendering technology:

• GPU and hybrid rendering for faster rendering
• Adaptive lights that can speed up some scenes by 700%
• New texture maps
• A library of over 600 lifelike materials 
• And loads more!

Also, Chaos Group's seamless cloud rendering service debuts in V-Ray 3.6 for Rhino. Be one of the first to try it. 

 Discover what's new in V-Ray 3.6 for Rhino...

Rendering in Rhino 6

The new real-time rendering tools included in Rhino 6 may surprise you. You can learn how to use the new rendering workflow through tutorials from Kyle Houchens.

See Real-Time Rendering in Rhino 6...

Which programming language should I use?

ProArchitect has an 8-minute video with advice on choosing your programming language.

See the video...

SimAUD conference and workshops at TU Delft, June 5-7

We are thrilled to announce the 9th annual Symposium on Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design (SimAUD2018) which will be at TUDelft's Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment in the Netherlands on June 5-7, 2018. 

On Monday, June 4^th, sixteen international preconference workshops will be offered, followed by three parallel campus tours. Registration to the conference grants free attendance to the workshops and tours. You can also register for the workshops only. 

The full program is now available, with over 45 single-track long and short papers, invited poster session, and panel discussions, as well as three keynote speakers: Dean Marilyne Andersen from EPFL, Andrea Love from Payette (Boston), and Dr. David Gerber from Arup and USC.

We hope to see you and your team in Delft!

Tarek Rakha and Michela Turrin

Symposium Chair and Program Chair of SimAUD2018

Veesus Open Day - June 20 - East Sussex (UK)

The Veesus Open Day is a chance to meet the team behind Veesus’ solutions, try the software and listen to real-world laser scanning case studies from leading market firms. There will also be the opportunity to see the latest technology from event sponsors, including Z+F, PointFuse, Dot Product, Mantis, OR3D, Coenradie, Fulcro, McNeel, Theatre Works, CainTech and more.

When?

June 20, 2018

9am - 4pm: Presentations and Demonstrations.

4pm - 11pm: Social Networking

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Space is limited and access is strictly on a first come, first served basis.

More details and registration...

ExpressMarine now Rhino 6 ready

The ExpressMarine plugin for structural modeling is now available for Rhino 6.

With the ExpressMarine plugin for Rhino, designers can rapidly build parametric 3D models of marine structures. 

ExpressMarine 2.0 features new functionality to assign weight group information to the model. 

Weight and center of gravity are essential parameters in ship design and critical to establishing a good design. Determining it can be time-consuming, especially if you are still changing that design. 

Economy, stability, payload, speed, and maneuverability are all related to the weight and center of gravity of a vessel. In ExpressMarine, the weight groups can be defined by volume areas for modules or by assigning a weight group ID to the various object types. In either approach, the weight and center of gravity information are calculated and summarized for the weight groups and can be exported to ShipWeight.

More information...