The idea was to generate a couch in collaboration with a generative AI system. Using Midjourney with the prompt "A [surreal, parametric] couch, design award", I was able to generate some interesting concepts.

Choosing a couch design, I starting trying to model the design in Blender. For this to be printed, I needed to slice the design. To do this, I placed a plane object in the scene and used an "Array" modifier to duplicate it multiple times. I then used a boolean and solidify modifier to slice my model with the planes.

Next, I had to export each part as a vector for cutting. And that was when it hit me... I would not have enough material to actually follow through on this design.. Instead, I started working on a lounge chair design that I also had generated earlier with Midjourney. Here I followed the same procedure: Modeling the shape, adding a plane object, applying array, boolean and simplifier modifiers. When I had the final model, I then needed to export it as a vector for printing. For this, I tried numerous add-ons to Blender, including "Outline to SVG". Unfortunately, none of them worked on Mac.. This meant that I was forced to work from a screenshot of my layout. I did a screenshot and imported it to Adobe Illustrator where I used their built in Vectorize function. The results weren't very good, but I thought they would be good enough. This was another mistake..

When I had the final model, I then needed to export it as a vector for printing. For this, I tried numerous add-ons to Blender, including "Outline to SVG". Unfortunately, none of them worked on Mac.. This meant that I was forced to work from a screenshot of my layout. I did a screenshot and imported it to Adobe Illustrator where I used their built in Vectorize function. The results weren't very good, but I thought they would be good enough. This was another mistake.. Talking to John and Tom in the CBA shop, we quickly discovered that the vectors were of super bad quality and that they would not fit within the shape of the OSB sheet. This meant I had to remodel the connector pieces for the design using fusion while John helped me resize and rework the bad vector exports. I would not have been able to complete this weeks assignment without them.

After getting the final vector graphics working in VCarve, we were able to calculate a machine path. We then setup the sheet (screwing it in place) and turning the machine on and adjust it to the proper zero point. After that the entire software stopped working and we had to spend 30 minutes debunking it and restarting everything. Finally, we were able to cut the parts and assemble everything (without any glue!!). Hurray!

Studio shots!