Master in Design Studies (MDesS)
Digital Design & Manufacturing
This thematic area focuses on computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in architecture and in product design. CAD/CAM techniques have literally revolutionized design and production techniques in many fields, and the GSD has long been an academic leader in this field. Studies in computer-based design and production techniques as well as in robotic fabrication explore innovative ways architects and designers can move beyond conventional design methods and paradigms. Students are introduced to the principles of advanced parametric digital modeling (e.g., digital environments such as CATIA, Digital Project, or SolidWorks) and fabrication-specific computation (scripting and programming techniques), the operation and use of numerically-controlled machines (CNC technologies), and the programming and deployment of industrial robots. Strategies for prototyping of industrial products and architectural components are explored as well, using in-house resources as well as collaborating with local fabricators and prototyping shops..
This thematic area of study makes extensive use of the GSD’s state-of the art digital fabrication facilities that include numerous CNC machines, rapid prototyping devices and flexible robotic workcells. The GSD is one of the first design schools to explore the use of flexible robotic fabrication in architecture. A highly interdisciplinary domain, robotics exemplify the use of highly flexible technologies in the context of fabrication. This area is also closely related to the MDesS design computation focus.
Courses
Typical Electives:
4337 Digital Culture, Space, and Society
6210 Advanced Materials and Technologies
6211 Structural Surfaces
6317 CAD/CAM
6409 Innovative Materials in Design
6410 Kinetic Architecture
6415 Construction Automation