WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

Sketching city elements

To start creating a bank of potential features to include in your plot of the chain reaction city

ACTIVITY PROMPT

We are going to explore the parts that will make up our Chain Reaction City.

What are the elements that make up a city?

1. Pathways + methods of transportation (subway tunnels, roadways, pedestrian paths)
2. Infrastructural systems (electricity distribution, water systems)
3. Buildings (residential, commercial, landmarks)
4. Natural topographical features (mountains, coastlines)
5. Green spaces (parks, beaches)

Any others?

Step 1: CITY WALK

Let's go out in the city! Take a 20 minute walk through the surround urban landscape. Each person or pair should choose one city element (from the last slide + any you added) to pay close attention to.

Bring a printed out map of the area with a layer of tracing paper on top of it, and as you go, mark on the map things that you notice about your focus element.

Welcome to Central Square!

Graffiti Alley

NuVu

MIT

Harvard

Park with the crazy swing

Elementary school

Charter School

Step 2: MAP COMPILATION

Back in studio, let's compile the information we found. Either on a light board or digitally, use the base map and layer all of the tracing paper markings and notes.

1. What information can you understand about the city with this compiled map that adds to your understanding of its design?

1. What did you find out from the map that wasn't obvious from just walking through the area?

Step 3: SKETCHING IDEAS

For each of the following themes, sketch at least two elements from the list (more points for more elements!):

1. Naturalia/ Plant City
2. Alphabet City
3. Pet Metropolis

Spend 5 minutes on each theme-- these should be quick and generative sketches!

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

CHOOSE THE CITY THEME

؜As a whole group, you are going to construct one invented city, with each group working on a city plot with a series of chain reactions within it. All of these plot will fall under a general theme. Together, discuss possible themes and decide on one to work within.

Example themes might look like the ones we used for sketching prompts in this exercise (Plant City, Alphabet City, Pet Metropolis). They should be general enough that each group has creative freedom, but narrow enough that in the end all of the plots will come together to look like one cohesive cityscape.

؜Different pulley systems

90 degree gear connector

WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

Choosing two moving parts from the mechanism library and combining/ integrating them into one prototype

؜To learn how these mechanisms work and how they can be applied.

؜1

؜Familiarize yourself with the different mechanisms we'll be exploring by looking through the mechanisms deck in the Resources tab

Choose two mechanisms that you find most interesting. Sketch ideas for how you might integrate the two mechanisms or have them work together.

Using the provided cardboard and craft tools, construct the mechanisms and any extra pieces that will be needed to attach /integrate them.

Test your prototypes to see how well they function. Make adjustments as needed to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

Share out! Show the rest of the group what you made!

؜3

؜2

؜4

؜5

OPTIONAL

Use this skill lab as a lasercutting workshop!

Attached to this post you will find .svg files for many of the mechanisms. Use these to laser cut the parts to assemble the mechanisms.

(Still try to find a way to attach or have the two mechanisms work together.)

GEARS

SCISSOR

SLIDER

RAMP

PULLEY

TENTACLE

• Cardboard
• Straw
• String

How to make it

1

4

2

3

Cut the cardboard into a long rectangle

Bend the cardboard into segments (about 1-inch long)

Cut the straw into half-inch pieces and hot glue them into the center of each segment

Thread the string through the straw pieces and secure it by tying or glueing to the top of the cardboard

SPINNER

CLAW

How to make it

1

2

Fold the triangular column on the perforations. Glue the triangle caps onto each end.

Glue two hook pieces together to make a wider/ stronger hook. Repeat three times.

How to make it

3

4

Glue the smaller round piece onto a larger piece. Slide a hook onto the small wood dowel. Glue into the notch. Glue on the larger cap.

Slide each of the three longer cardboard strips through the holes in the claws.

How to make it

5

6

Put the wood dowel through the holes in the triangular column, then the claw piece. Glue the circular cap onto the top of the dowel and claw piece.

Glue the center of the smaller cardboard strip onto the side of the triangle. Sandwich the ends of the long cardboard strip inside this piece. Repeat on each side.

GRABBER

1

4

2

3

5

4

How to make it

Lever

Mechanism 5

Waving

Mechanism 7

How to make it

1

4

2

3

5

6

Curving

Mechanism 8

How to make it

1

4

2

؜3

Grabbing

Mechanism 9

 Coiling / Tentacle Motion

Mechanism 10