Link up with Distance Lab, Scotland
June 11, 2008
A small delegation (read one!) from Autonomatic was some of the visitors to Distance Lab’s third open day in the somewhat remote Forres in Northern Scotland.
Distance Lab bills itself as an “independent research institution” with the focus of: “melding technology, design and the arts to transform communication, creativity and connectedness over a distance…”
The outfit is a very recent creation (from Jan 2007) but with a very formidable team with a broad range of skills.
This open day was successful in attracting an impressive gathering of researches from Microsoft, BT, and MIT as well as a good range of UK academic institutions.
The formal programme of the open day themed as: “Machined Craft and Haute Tech” featured talks by Peter Schmitt, PhD candidate from the MIT Media Lab and the fashion artist Di Mainstone. Introduction and summery was delivered by Distance Lab’s director Stefan Agamanolis, also ex MIT.
The event also featured tours of the studios and workshops and an opportunity to test Distance Lab’s own invention the ‘Remote Impact’ which is an ‘interactive-beat-each-other-up-over-a-distance-exercising-apparatus’ – great fun but also really very exhausting. Check out the image below where Stefan is in the process of beating up some of his open day visitors.
The day following the official programme, the work of Autonomatic was presented by Tavs to an informal audience consisting of the Distances Lab’s staff and other visitors. We really hope that the link up will lead to further interaction between Distance Lab and Autonomatic.
Perimeter, Borders and Boundaries Book
June 10, 2008
The book/catalogue from ‘Perimeters, Boundaries and Borders” exhibition at City Lab in Lancaster in 2006 is now (at last) available from the Lulu website: http://stores.lulu.com/fastuk
The publication is $18.95 but is also available to download for free at:
http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_63/2498000/2498538/5/print/Fastuk_PBB_isbn.pdf
Both Justin Marshall and Tavs Jorgensen from Autonomatic were selected to exhibit at the PBB show and also invited to present in the associated symposium at University of Lancaster in September 2006.
The exhibition was a collaborative event involving Fast UK and Folly - part of the f.city festival of digital culture. An online archive of the exhibition is available on: http://perimeters.weebly.com/index.html
The exhibition was largely the result of the efforts of John Marshall who is now Assistant Professor at University of Michigan - check out his blog on: http://designedobjects.blogspot.com/
Autonomatic in ‘Object Factory’ show in Toronto
May 21, 2008
Tavs Jorgensen is showing work at the newly opened ‘Object Factory - the Art of industrial Ceramics’ exhibition at the Gardener Museum in Toronto Canada. The exhibition is curated by the ever-present dynamo of ceramic design Marek Cecula, and it is featuring work by over fifty artist and designers including Ettore Sottsass and Masahiro Mori, Hella Jongerius,
If you are in Toronto pop in and have a look at this very sleek looking show – the exhibition runs until September 7
More info on Marek Cecula’s website: www.modusdesign.com and the Gardener Museum: www.gardinermuseum.on.ca
Bombay Sapphire Glass Award at Superstudio Piu
May 21, 2008
Glass pieces created by Autonomatic research fellow Tavs Jorgensen was on show in SuperStudio Piu at the recent Milan Furniture Fair.
A series of three ‘One Liner’ glass bowls was short listed for the Bombay Sapphire Glass Award which was on show in ‘MyOwnGallery’ in the Via Tortona Area in Central Milan. The show of 30 sort listed entries is now planned to tour for the next year. The complete list of venues is yet to be announce but ‘Miami art Bassel’ in the USA has been confirmed as one of the locations. Learn more about the competition at http://Glass pieces created by Autonomatic research fellow Tavs Jorgensen was on show in SuperStudio Piu at the recent Milan Furniture Fair.
A series of three ‘One Liner’ glass bowls was short listed for the Bombay Sapphire Glass Award which was on show in ‘MyOwnGallery’ in the Via Tortona Area in Central Milan. The show of 30 sort listed entries is now planned to tour for the next year. The complete list of venues is yet to be announce but ‘Miami art Bassel’ in the USA has been confirmed as one of the locations. Learn more about the competition at http://www.bombaysapphireprize.com
Autonomatic presents at Material KTN AGM
May 21, 2008
Tavs Jorgensen from Autonomatic was invited to present at the recent Material Knowledge Transfer Network’s Annual General Meeting at the Church House Conference Centre in Westminster. The theme of the meeting was advanced materials for use in space and the use of space age materials in consumer product. The event featured interesting keynote talks from the leading figures in the European Space agency.
Material KTN is umbrella organisation as an “overarching network of networks in Materials, set up to bring together the views of all in business, design, research and technology organizations, trade associations, the financial market, academia and others in the value network across the materials community”. MADE, the Material and Design Exchange is one of the subsidiaries under KTN. It was MADE along with the Crafts Council that organised the opening event of the London Design week last year with a discussion forum at the Festival Hall in London. At this event Autonomatic’s research fellow Tavs Jorgensen was again one of the invited speakers, more on the discussion on the craft councils website http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/whats-on/view/craft-creativity-and-the-computer-controlled/detail
To get more information on Materials KTN go to: www.materialsktn.net or check out the MADE web site at: http://www.iom3.org/MADE/index.htm
New technology feature in Mix Magazine
May 20, 2008
The current issue of the interior design magazine ‘MIX’ contains a feature about latest approach of using new technology in innovative design processes.
We were very pleased to be included in this feature. Go to http://www.globalcolor.co.uk/ to obtain your own copy of this inspiring read.
Visit from Danish Glass and Ceramic Centre
May 20, 2008
GKS Bornholm - the leading glass and ceramic School in Scandinavia, was last week on a research tour to Autonomatic. The tour also included other UK institutions such at the RCA and the Craft Study Centre in Farnham. The purpose of the trip was to gather information before the school on the island of Bornholm (Denmark) formally merges with the Danish Design School in Copenhagen.
More info on the school at: www.glasogkeramikskolen.dk/Default.asp?m=128
Article in Crafts magazine
May 14, 2008
Take a look at the May/June 2008 edition of Crafts magazine for an article on Automake and FutureFactories exhibition at the Hub.
Automake & FutureFactories at the Hub
February 4, 2008
Automake & Futurefactories
Digital design futures with Justin Marshall and Lionel Theodore Dean3 May – 8 June 2008
Automake and FutureFactories is a collaborative exhibition of innovative digital design to be held from 3 May – 8 June at the Hub: National Centre for Craft & Design.
Automake and FutureFactories brings together the work of two renowned practitioners – Justin Marshall (craftsperson/maker) and Lionel Theodore Dean (industrial designer) - who both work at the cutting edge of digital design in the UK. Automake and FutureFactories will explore the role of digital design in the creation of contemporary craft and design.
Automake and FutureFactories will showcase the processes explored by Marshall and Dean, as well as the results in a wide variety of forms from small-scale jewellery through to architectural scale pieces. The work exhibited is made from materials including metalwork, ceramic, plastics and milled wood.
Automake presents the work of Justin Marshall, a craftsperson/maker whose research has involved investigating the integration of a range of digital technologies into ‘traditional’ art and craft practices to facilitate the creation of innovative new work.
FutureFactories presents the work of Lionel Theodore Dean, an industrial designer who has acted as a consultant to the transport and interior products industry for twenty years. His research is based around the adoption of rapid prototyping for the mass individualisation of products.
Automake and FutureFactories represent different responses to the new regimes of production and consumption enabled by the emerging technologies of generative software and direct digital manufacture. Marshall and Dean question the traditional roles of producer and consumer, when the established system of mass-production is coming to an end. A significant section of the exhibition will allow visitors to interact with digital design software and create their own unique designs on screen, many of which will then be manufactured and exhibited in the gallery.
The works in Automake and FutureFactories highlight a number of crucial questions: What is the future role of the designer or craftsperson? What new skills will they require? Are new designations of practice required? Where exactly are the boundaries between art, craft and design?
The exhibition is part-sponsored by 3D Systems.
For more information contact Justin Marshall, justin.marshall@falmouth.ac.uk or
The Hub: National Centre for Craft & DesignNavigation Wharf, Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW Tel: +44 (0)1529 308710 Fax: +44 (0)1529 308711
