This lab takes students on a digital round trip through the design thinking process, linking hands-on prototyping with paper, textiles, clay, and other materials to digital manufacturing methods such as 3D printing, laser cutting, and vinyl cutting. The lab offers a holistic view of design, from concept to production. Its layout ensures that even in an office environment, advanced machinery, including a high-powered laser cutter and a kiln for clay-printed models, can be used safely and efficiently by students.
Lab Persona
If DESY were a persona, they would be a creative, solution-oriented maker with a strong eye for detail and a curiosity for exploring unfamiliar fabrication processes. Whether experimenting with 3D printing on textiles or laser-cutting foldable structures, DESY is driven to address real-world challenges. The lab encourages hands-on exploration while sparking conversations and raising awareness around global and social topics through design.
Create with Technology
The lab is equipped with a range of tools that support both physical and digital fabrication, including 3D and resin printers for rapid prototyping, a laser cutter and vinyl cutter for precision cutting, and a sewing machine for working with textiles. Airbrushing equipment and post-processing tools allow students to refine finishes and details, supporting projects from early prototypes to presentation-ready models.
Project-based Learning
For example, a master’s student project could involve designing a concept for a shelter structure that addresses displacement challenges around the world. Students work in groups to create an initial shelter solution tailored to a specific country of their choice.
