News/Research

Spring 2013: Eric Paulos Teaches "Critical Making: Materials, Protocols, and Culture"

01 Oct, 2012

Spring 2013: Eric Paulos Teaches "Critical Making: Materials, Protocols, and Culture"

NWMEDIA 290 Critical Making: Materials, Protocols, and Culture
Instructor: Eric Paulos (BCNM/CS)
Spring 2013
Monday & Wednesday: 2:30-4:00 pm
3 units


BCNM Commons, 340 Moffitt Undergraduate Libraray (Lecture)
CITRIS Invention Lab / 141 Sutardja Dai Hall (Studio)

Critical Making will operationalize and critique the practice of “making” through both foundational literature and hands on studio culture. As hybrid practitioners, students will develop fluency in readily collaging and incorporating a variety of physical materials and protocols into their practice. With design research as a lens, students will envision and create future computational experiences that critically explore social and culturally relevant technological themes such as community, privacy, environment, education, economics, energy, food, biology, democracy, activism, healthcare, social justice, etc.

While no previous technical knowledge is required to take this course, class projects will involve basic programing, electronic circuity, and digital fabrication design. While tutorials and instruction will be provided, students will be expected to develop basic skills in each of these areas in order to complete the course projects.

The class will alternate between lectures (BCNM Commons) and hands on studio (CITRIS Invention Lab) time. The course will result in a final public show of student work.

The course goals are:

  • Develop a critical understanding of emerging making technologies and their role within the current social and cultural context
  • Establish proficiency with the fundamental concepts, methods, and practices of physical modeling, sketching, form giving, electronic prototyping, and hands on making across a range of materials
  • Improve students ability to make expressive, physical, interactive objects that critique and advance computing culture through the production of making and artifact creation
  • Advance the communication and presentation skill of students through the process of the studio critique

Due to the hands-on nature of this course, we have a strict capacity limit. Please join the waitlist and come to the first class meeting.