Final Project: Sampling and Swatch Exchange #

Your final project is to extend what you learned throughout the course by conducting an iterative exploration into a technique or topic of your choice. We take inspiration in this assignment from the e-textiles swatch exchange, where practitioners develop small samples of a material outcome of a technique they developed and instructions for replication that are shared into a physical book with other practitioners. This is a chance for you to explore one technique or material more deeply, and to present it to the class.

We expect students to complete at least four complete and high-quality swatches as part of the final assignment. Each student, then, will pick one of those swatches, make a duplicate, document it, and turn the swatches and document it in for inclusion in the course swatch book. Alongside the swatches, the student will produce a weekly-style recollection of their sampling process as well as a short presentation of their swatch to the class.

The Assignment Description:
Your swatches should emerge from a challenge that you define. Specifically, you will set yourself up with a question and a heuristic that you’ll use to evaluate your responses to the question. The aim can change, but try to stick somewhat the the original question and heuristic. For your final documentation page, you must title your swatch and write a description of its behavior. You must include a list of the materials and tools used to create it as well as the draft or a link to an AdaCAD workflow you used to create it. Depending on the function of your swatch, you can either include a technical circuit diagram or instructions for replicating your swatch. The draft should label all the parts of the swatch, how they function, and how it can be connected to.

Maximum swatch dimensions: 5.5" x 7.75" x 0.25"
Quantity: 2 copies of the same swatch

You will keep one copy and give the other two to the instructor for grading. We will also compile them into course books that will live on in our institutional library (and possibility digital archives).

Please review the deadlines and phases of the project in the table below for details on each phase:

Below, you will

Deliverable 1: Final Project Proposal #

Answer the following questions and turn them in via canvas.

1. What question will you explore?
2. What heuristic will you use to evaluate each sample and decide what you will try next?

warning try not to come up an idea for a final “thing” you are going to make. Be open to following where the process and experimentation lead you. Consider the material, technique, or patterning that you’d like to explore rather than a vision for a very specific kind of thing or application.

grading: I’ll grade as turned in or not. A mark of “complete” means that I have approved your idea. If I have not marked it complete, please make sure to talk with me and refine the idea.

Deliverable 2: First 2 Samples + Weekly #

Create your first two samples that explore your question. Document your process using the weekly template. Plan to spend about two hours documenting and weaving each swatch. Your weekly should demonstrate and account for four hours of work planning, testing, and reflecting. Be clear about your rationale for changing your approach between swatches. How did your first swatch measure up to your heuristic and what changes are you going to make to the second to achieve that heuristic.

grading: I’ll grade this based on the rationale you provide for your approach and iteration; the amount of time and effort that went into your sampling, and the quality of the documentation (both writing and photos)

Deliverable 3: First 2 Samples + Weekly #

Create two more samples explore your question and iterate upon the ideas and techniques explored in the first two samples. Document your process using the weekly template. Plan to spend about two hours documenting and weaving each swatch. Your weekly should demonstrate and account for four hours of work planning, testing, and reflecting. Be clear about your rationale for changing your approach between swatches.

grading: I’ll grade this based on the rationale you provide for your approach and iteration; the amount of time and effort that went into your sampling, and the quality of the documentation (both writing and photos)

Deliverable 4: A Bag of All Physical Samples Created As you Worked Towards the Final #

Bring all the samples (not including your final two swatches) you have produced as during your sampling process for the final to class in a single bag (preferably zip lock) with your name on it on 12/9.

grading: I’ll grade this based on the quality of the swatch (are the ends finished, etc) and number of swatches turned in. I expect at least 4, though more are welcome.

Deliverable 5: Presentation #

A max 3 minute presentation about your process and outcomes. We will present our projects on 12/9 and 12/11. Please submit this presentation via Canvas as a Google Slides Presentation so professor Devendorf can load them all, and present them all. Turn in a link to your presentation on Canvas by 9am on 12/9

grading: I’ll grade your presentation based on the quality of your presentation: if it was under 3 minutes, if it effectively captured your final swatch and its function, and if it was clearly organized

Deliverable 6: Swatches #

Turn in 2 structurally identical swatches of your best or favorite sample for inclusion in the course swatch book.

Maximum swatch dimensions: 5.5" x 7.75" x 0.25".

Turn in in person, in class on 12/11 or before.

grading: I’ll grade this deliverable based on the quality and likeness of the two swatches provided.

Deliverable 7: Documentation of the Final Swatch #

Also Submit a PDF of a page with details about your swatch and its design for the course swatch book. Use the template provided in Canvas.

You must include a list of the materials and tools used to create your swatch with enough detail that a different student in the class could implement what you did. Include details about the loom you used, the materials on the warp and the warp density. Depending on the function of your swatch, you can either include a technical circuit diagram or instructions for replicating your swatch. You must also include an illustrated diagram. The illustrated diagram should label all the parts of the swatch, how they function, and how it can be connected to.

grading: I’ll grade this based on the question: is there enough information for me to understand what this swatch does and how; and is there enough information included for me to replicate this design.