This project was more constrained than some of our other projects. You had a template to work with that determined the overall structure, you had to show 4 different sides of something/ using line art/illustrator and you had to incorporate programmed leds. How did these constraints help or hurt your creative process?
These all were definitely constraining for a number of reasons. For one thing, finding a design that was aesthetically pleasing but also could be cut out of the laser printer was kind of difficult. I had to really thing about how to draw out what I wanted on my lantern, or else my design could easily fail and just cause a sad, detail-less hole 🙁 The size of the project was also kind of restraining because then you have to take into account how much detail/imagery you can actually put onto the pieces. It was also super difficult using Illustrator because I had never done that before — I am not a technology person at all! I just followed along the PowerPoint and didn’t actually know what I was doing the whole time. I wish we had more time to learn how to use Illustrator/Photoshop, because after seeing that etching was an option (a more difficult one, with more knowledge of the programs, I would assume) I would’ve definitely incorporated that into my project! But because I have literally zero knowledge, I was unable. Programming LEDs through arduino was the only portion that I didn’t find too restricting. Learning how to make a circuit in 3D form was definitely super difficult, but after observing the sample and reading through the PowerPoint, I do think I got the general gist of it.
How did your process reflect (or not) design thinking?
This process definitely had a lot of design thinking involved. We had to think about how to make a successful design that all correlated to each other that wouldn’t get lost during the laser printing process, as well as decorate it using materials such as cellophane or tissue paper, place the LEDs in specific places so that the lantern is aesthetically pleasing, etc. The whole process was honestly one big design thinking process.
What did you learn? Describe your learning process.
I definitely learned how to make things for the laser cut printer, which was super cool!
I’d also say I learned how to make a circuit in 3D forms! I was honestly so confused throughout the entirety of trying to figure out how to connect the wires, but after looking hard, it had finally sunk in on what to do!
What was most challenging? What was most fun?
The most challenging was wiring everything together. As I mentioned, I was super confused at first but I ended up getting it and being super pleased with myself!
The most fun, I would say, it watching the laser printer do it’s magic and cut my drawings through a wood surface!! It was super cool because I had never seen something like that before. Before I knew it, my little drawings really came to life 🙂
How did this activity connect (or not) to your prior knowledge of art and art education?
This completely did not connect to any of my prior knowledge of art education. Not only did we never do something like laser cut (because we would never have been able to afford it at my home school district) but also because I never did circuits of any sort anyway. Having it modified to be 3D really was something different for sure!
How might you use and/or adapt this activity in an art classroom?
I think this would have to be a end of the year kind of project for middle/high schoolers. I think I’d have to teach them more about circuits, LEDs, arduino, making circuits in 3D forms, how to make shapes that can survive laser cuts, and how to use Illustrator. Since I didn’t really have extensive knowledge of either of those (minus very limited knowledge of circuits and arduino), the project was rather difficult for me. I really want my students to be able to understand the individual elements first before throwing it altogether because not only would it be less confusing for them, but it would be a super rewarding to piece everything together and make a cool project!