week 1: introduction, computer-aided design

introduction

In the first week of the How to Make Almost Anything class, we were introduced to the course structure and expectations. Neil and the TAs emphasized the importance of documenting our work throughout the semester, as this would be a key component of sharing every week's knowledge with the world.We were also given an overview of the previous works and this provided us with a sense of the type of projects that had been undertaken in the past.

As part of the coursework, we were tasked with creating our own personal websites to document our progress and share our work. This involved learning how to use GitLab for pushing our materials to the platform. Since I came to the class later than the rest of the students, Gert was more than willing to help me along with Adin to set up my GitLab page and gave me advice on how should I proceed with working on my website.

ideas

For the first week I had to start thinking about my final project. I had two ideas. My first one was the system that mit has for opening doors with our cards. This idea came to me because I find it really interesting how we can use our cards to open doors and access different areas of the campus.I was thinking of creating a similar system that would allow users to open doors or access certain areas using a card or a similar device.This could be useful to me to open doors in my apartment, like my bathroom or my bedroom. The system could be designed to be secure and easy to use,and could potentially be integrated with other smart home technologies.I found an interested reference here.

My other idea was about making a machine that can paint. I aspired of a structure that spins around and paints different colors or images while it rotates. While I was trying to find references I thought about the carousel or the zoetrope. What is pretty similar to both these references is that every object or depiction are different from the next one or the previous one at some point. I am still exploring the possibilities of how to create this machine and what materials to use. I was thinking the baby dolls faces because they have bold facial expressions that could create interesting patterns when painted on a surface.I was thinking if I can use masks or dolls heads as a stamp to create different patterns on a canvas as the machine spins around.

sketches

So based on that I started doing some research on the 3d models that are available online and potential ways that I could combine these pieces together.

At this stage, I began developing my own 3D model. Once again, my inspiration came from the zoetrope and the circular motion of the carousel. A zoetrope is an early form of animation, popular in the early 20th century, in which sequential images or figures rotate to create the illusion of movement. I sought to reinterpret this mechanism by designing multiple arms arranged in a circular formation, each moving in continuous rotation. These arms hold baby doll faces that move rhythmically around the circle, periodically stopping to act as stamps on a large white surface. Each face is coated in a different color, and together they produce a layered, dynamic composition. This is an experimental painting generated through the repetitive, mechanical motion of a “zoetrope-like” system.

Another source of inspiration is the Japanese artist Akinori Goto, known for his kinetic sculptures that merge motion, light, and time. His works often explore the relationship between movement and temporality, translating invisible rhythms into tangible, mechanical forms. I was particularly drawn to his piece Arms Move, in which delicate mechanical arms rotate in continuous circular motion, creating a mesmerizing, almost meditative visual effect. Through this repetitive movement, Goto captures the passage of time and the fragility of memory. I wanted to integrate a similar concept into my own 3D model by designing rotating arms that echo the motion of a zoetrope—transforming mechanical repetition into a visual expression of rhythm and continuity on a canvas.