Over the last few months, it has been our great joy and privilege to work with the Students of Bauhaus University on the Schlaue Materialien course.
Our objectives were to engage the students in action processes, and open design principles.
We did this by creating space and context for them to discover and explore their interests and help them discover the seeds of inspiration that could lead to further projects, ideas and collaborations. We engaged them in 3 Workshops - the 4th to be created by them, will be a MakerLab at the Rundgang.
These workshops were:
Starch Plastic Lab
The students were encouraged to explore what could be done and created with a simple starch plastic recipe, to experiment, create and learn from one another.
Visiting a recycling center to gather old electronic components, learning how to identify and use sensors, and a crash course in Arduino.
A 48 Hour Hacker Marathon, in which students collaborated in teams to create ideas of their own choosing. Fueled by Club Mate, Coffee Beer and Creative Energy. The outcomes from the hackerthon can be seen below. As this is a part of the process, not the end, we look forward to seeing how the students take these projects forward.
Team Textile Playground
Team textile playground, started out as team tent. Their objectives was to develop a tent that would teach kids about electronics through play and encourage them to engage.
One of the most exciting developments for me was Evelyn's self made headphones building on the work of the MIT . This is a prime example of one of the points we were hoping to make about Open Design, and Open Processes. Taking an idea, playing with it, and producing something radically new. Evelyn I encourage you to make a video (in english) on how to do this also, you will be sure to get some (much deserved) attention.
Details of how to make Karen's luminous beach can be found here, and gives you insights on how to work with sensors, create watertight bags, and use cornstarch to great effect.
I hope to put the other instructions here as they arrive *coughs loudly in a blatant hint to students*. [Note to students -There is no set format, just make your instructions clear].
Team Scarf started with the premise of designing scarfs that would respond to and interact with their external environments.
Team Guerilla Recycling
Team Guerilla Recyling started with the idea to hack some scales to engage the person being weighed in a different way.
Team Lifecycle wanted to explore products which lived and died.
Team Lifecycle's documentation can be found here, there is some provocative stuff here I feel that warrants further exploration.
Team Colour Sensor
Team Colour Sensor wanted to make a Device that would convert colour to sound.
Reflecting on the process
The more defined the objective the more defined the outcome - this is evidenced in the projects themselves.
Storytelling and Energy - Storytelling and reflection should in fact be an additional part of the process. There should be a break in between for reflection, and a workshop on how to tell stories and present. Energy levels were low because students had very little sleep.
There is more reflection to be documented, but if I try and get it all in, this wont ever get out. Release early, release often. Keep watching for updates.
The final part of the process will be a MakerLab run by the students to share what they learned with the public. Completing the loop, and starting other people on the path of exploration.