Syllabus: Kinetic Fabrics¶
16-376 IDeATe: Kinetic FabricsTR 12:00PM-1:50PMHunt Library A10 (IDeATe Physical Computing Lab)IDeATe Collaborative CourseIDeATe Programs: Soft Technologies, Physical ComputingPrerequisites: none
Course Description¶
Note: this course has been revised for Spring 2025.
Kinetic Fabrics brings together the fields of textiles and machines to explore their unified creative potential. In this course we will explore the expressive motion of fabric actuated using motors, air, and light by building and choreographing dynamic performative systems. The course emphasizes playful experimentation with soft materials to discover new potentials for meaningful gesture.
Students will learn basic textile skills such as hand and machine sewing to support construction of simple soft structures, using fabrics chosen for their kinetic effect. Students will learn elementary techniques for exploring choreography in actuated systems using a mix of custom and commercial hardware and software.
The semester begins with a series of skill-building exercises, quick samples and experiments, and a review of historical and contemporary precedent work. This develops into group projects which culminate in a public kinetic performance.
Each iteration of the course adopts different performance goals and technical means. Past iterations have included live stage performance, automated winch systems, wearables, hand-cranked mechanisms, programmable air blowers, and long-term public installations.
For Spring 2025, our objective will be a final outdoor performance. The technical means will emphasize manually operated mechanisms in conjunction with air blowers, motors, and lights as passive power sources.
This IDeATe “collaborative” course has no formal prerequisites, but students are expected to have taken one of the IDeATe portal classes. Informally, students will be expected to have some knowledge of either physical computing technology or textile fabrication. The enrollment is limited to 18.
Learning Objectives¶
Upon completion of this course the students will be able to:
identify and critique makers, works, and genres within the field of kinetic fabric
formulate and discuss artistic questions and goals related to the field
use elementary textile craft to fabricate soft moving structures
create samples and prototypes of kinetic works through playful experimentation
apply an existing actuation system to a fabric structure
compose choreography for a fabric sculpture
collaborate in teams to generate, create, evaluate, and document ideas and projects
document and reflect upon processes and finished assignments
Prerequisite Knowledge¶
The course has no formal prerequisites because the diverse nature of the student background and breadth of related skills makes it difficult to formulate precise rules.
However, the work expects each student to have junior-level technical skills within their own discipline. In general, this could mean experience with any one of textile craft, mechanical design, animation, or composition. It is not expected that any individual possesses all related skills, and project teams are crafted with skill balance in mind.
Course Topics and Schedule¶
The daily agenda and assignment details will be posted to the course site using the individual agenda page for each class meeting. The general plan for the semester is to spend the initial portion on several structured projects focusing on different technical skills, then transition to a longer final project. We begin with a few individual assignments, then each project is developed in pairs.
Weekly Calendar¶
The day-by-day progress is charted on the Daily Agenda Logbook pages. Following is the general plan.
Weeks |
Topics and Project Activities |
|---|---|
1-2 |
contextual exploration, introduction to textiles |
3-4 |
actuation systems |
5-7 |
kinetic sample development, project ideation |
8 |
Spring Break |
9 |
installation storyboarding, proof-of-concept testing |
10-11 |
prototype project design, iteration, fabrication, and assembly |
12 |
prototype performance |
13-14 |
full system iteration, integration and testing |
15 |
public show, documentation, analysis, review and critique |
Assessment and Grading¶
Revised for Spring 2025.
This is a hands-on course based on lab exercises and projects. There are no quizzes or exams. Most assignments involve constructing some kind of physical demo, documenting it, and writing a brief reflection.
Everybody is assumed to start with an A in the course. If you do the work you will keep it, but failing to fulfill the expectations will cause you to drift downward. The total grade in the course will be weighted approximately 60% for projects, 30% for exercises, and 10% for classroom participation and discussion. In general, groups will share credit, but individual scores for a project may vary based on peer reports and instructor observations.
The principal forms of assessment will be verbal critique, peer commentary, and self-reflection. Each student in this course begins with different experiences, disposition, and goals. There are many possible objectives in each assignment, e.g. developing a new skill, exploring a narrative concept, or testing a kinetic effect. Different students may choose different emphasis, e.g., one may focus on carefully refining a craft skill or another on testing an novel mechanical idea. The critique will center on the self-chosen goals. Sometimes we all learn more from an ambitious failure than a routine success.
Grading in the course is principally based on the documented evidence of fully engaging with the problems.
Most assignments will be graded either complete or no credit based on fulfilling all the defined objectives for prototyping, documentation, and reflection. Especially good results may earn limited bonus credit.
In general, individual prototypes should meet the physical performance goals. But please note that a well-executed but ultimately unsuccessful idea will still get credit if the failures can be reasonably documented and explained.
Please note if work isn’t documented in photos and video, it didn’t happen; credit is given based on submitted documentation, not hazy memories of an in-person demonstration.
Formal grading is only reviewed and posted at mid-term and the end. Students are expected to submit assignment documentation on an ongoing basis to be available for review, but the hard submission deadlines are actually the last day before Spring Break and the last day of classes.
For team projects, individual scores for a project may vary from the group score based on peer reports and instructor observations.
Please note that unexecused absences may lower your overall grade as per the Attendance policy.
Course Policies¶
Attendance¶
Coming to class on time is mandatory. Attendance is recorded for each class and three unexcused absences will cost you 10% of your final grade, with an additional 10% for each successive missed class. If you must be absent, you must request approval in advance. Late requests will be considered on a case by case basis. Unexcused absences during review days will also reduce your individual project grade. We understand that your other courses have big deadlines, but the designated class hours are the most effective time for discussion and communication.
Lateness¶
Revised for Spring 2025.
Please finish your assignments on time; it is enormously disruptive to in-class reviews when work is incomplete or missing. In general, work which misses the in-class review deadline will not be given a rescheduled review, so you will not receive verbal critique or peer assessment. Late work will be credited for grading purposes based solely on submitted documentation.
Late work which misses the documentation review deadline will not receive credit, unless prior authorization is obtained from an instructor and documented in email; verbal authorization is not sufficient.
Please remember that something is always better than nothing. If the review is imminent, please bring whatever prototype you have and submit whatever text, images, and drawings you can rather than do nothing.
Academic Integrity¶
We will be learning new skills in designing and constructing using textile media. As makers, it is fully acceptable to use found materials (patterns, video, images, etc) and to use these materials in creating new works of art/design. When using found materials (patterns, images, video, etc) in your own work there are two requirements:
Attribution. You must clearly identify where the found material came from or who made it.
Transformation. You must significantly transform the materials you are using. You should extend the material, modify it into something new, offer new insight into the concepts underlying the material, etc.
More information on CMU’s Academic Integrity policy can be found at http://www.cmu.edu/academic-integrity
Canvas¶
The course Canvas site is used only for reporting grades. Details of all assignments can be found under Daily Agenda Logbook and submissions are either in-person or posted as Google docs to the designated location.
Pandemic and Wellness¶
Updated for Spring 2025.
One persistent lesson of the Covid-19 pandemic is that community health is dependent on individual health.
No one should physically come to class if they are feeling unwell for any reason, whether Covid-19 or something else. Part of the responsibility of each student is respecting the welfare of others and minimizing risk of infection.
Please contact your instructor by email prior to class if you are sick. Please consider remote participation (if feasible); the Zoom meeting and password can be found on the office hours doc (login required). Generous allowances will be made after illnesses for renegotiating due dates and expectations.
Electronic Devices¶
The use of devices for non-class activities is strictly prohibited during class time. This especially applies to phones and social media: leave it at home or leave it your pocket.
The instructor reserves the right to confiscate devices without notice. If a persistent problem develops, phones will be banned completely from class.
Class participation is essential for learning and collaboration. An individual engaging with outside distractions has an effect larger than their own attention: it distracts others and diffuses the group focus.
If you feel bored and in need of distraction, then I challenge you to spend that energy instead formulating a question about the material at hand.
Computing Needs¶
Updated for Spring 2025.
Each student is expected to provide computing resources for individual work. If this requirement constitutes an individual hardship, please contact the instructor.
Our principal use of computing will be using software tools in support of digital fabrication, e.g. designing parts for laser-cutting. The optional course-supported CAD system will be SolidWorks. You will also need support for basic video editing.
Physical Computing Lab¶
The designated classroom for the course is the IDeATe Physical Computing Lab in Hunt A10. Students will have access to the lab any time outside of scheduled class times via the ID card reader at the door. Please be courteous and refrain from entering during other classes.
Part of taking this course is joining the IDeATe interdisciplinary community. Students with lab access are expected to be a good community member and take responsibility for sharing resources wisely.
All lab users are expected to abide by the Physical Computing Lab Policies. The lab inventory of components and materials is available online at Physical Computing Lab Inventory. The lab usage schedule is online at IDeATe PhysComp Lab Calendar.
IDeATe Facilities¶
The course makes use of the IDeATe fabrication facilities and labs in the lower level of Hunt Library, subject to availability and the current IDeATe policies.
IDeATe laser cutters will be available for trained students. Please see the IDeATe Laser Cutters page for current details on qualification. Qualified students will gain long-term access.
The Mosaic 3D printing system will be operating via an online queue for course-related projects. Resin 3D printing will be available on request.
Currently, the normal library study spaces are operating on a reservation-only system.
The IDeATe facilities are shared student resources and spaces. As such, all members of the IDeATe community are expected to be respectful of the equipment, the spaces, and fellow students and their projects. Always clean up after completing your work, put things back in their correct place, and leave the lab in better condition than you found it.
Individual Support¶
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities¶
If you have a disability and have an accommodations letter from the Disability Resources office, I encourage you to discuss your accommodations and needs with me as early in the semester as possible. I will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate. If you suspect that you may have a disability and would benefit from accommodations but are not yet registered with the Office of Disability Resources, I encourage you to contact them at access@andrew.cmu.edu.
Respect for Diversity¶
It is my intent that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit. It is my intent to present materials and activities that are respectful of diversity: gender, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, and culture. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways you see to improve equitable treatment of yourself or other students in the course so we can address these questions with clarity.
Student Health and Well-being¶
Please take care of yourself. Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.
If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) is here to help: call 412-268-2922 and visit https://www.cmu.edu/counseling. Consider reaching out to a friend, faculty or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that can help.
If you are having difficulty with your coursework, please be aware of the many resources available via the Student Academic Success Center, including coaching, tutoring, communication support, language and cross-cultural support, and supplemental instruction.
Last updated 2025-01-08.