Projects in Authorship

Projects in Authorship are a series of once-a-week creative workshops at the intersection of art, design, and narrative. Workshops aim to center developmental and multidisciplinary approaches to creative exploration as social praxis. Emphasis will be placed on safety etiquette, documentation, and fabrication methods. Divided into three workshops, this workshop series aims to provide an intro to archiving one's work, printmaking (bookbinding included), and 3D digital fabrication. Projects are introduced at the start of workshop to encourage ideation based on lecture, demonstrations, and previous expertise.

Orchid Sylvester | edu@orchidesyl.com | Spring 2025; Time TBD | Location TBD

Syllabus

Sessions in workshops are divided by topic and do not follow a strict schedule. Pacing of lectures and demos respond to the dynamics of the class.
Introduction to Contemporary Archive
TBD Day in January

A day-intensive on output resolution, file management, compression, and software compatibility. This is useful for optimizing software workflows and requires computer literacy. This brief session lays the foundation on documentation and archive as a form of portfolio preparation as it relates to the remaining workshops.

Importance of Archive
Storage and space management. Ease of accessibility and distribution.
  • File Management in File Explorer
  • Context Menu
  • Transferring Files
  • Storage Drives
Common File Types
Sorted by documents, images, and graphics. Focus on file types relevant to workshop.
  • Software Compatibility
  • Use Cosniderations
  • Editable Files
  • Raw Files
What is resolution?
Graphics type, quality, and output
  • Raster vs Vector
  • DPI, PPI, Polygon Count
  • Aspect Ratio
Compression
Duplication, Archiving, and Protection
  • File Management in 7-Zip
  • Password Protection
  • Ethics of Metadata

Alternative Process
mid-January to mid-March

An introduction to book and printmaking through short edition production and color separation over the course of 7 sessions. Using lo-fi methods of reproduction, participants appropriate light, legibility, and longevity as grounds for autonomy in publisher/press dynamics.

Choice of Project - Club Zine; Mail Order Catalog; Editorial Review
What is a Book?
Brief History of Printmaking
  • Paper, Stone, Clay
  • Scribes and Language
  • Evolutions in Publication, Press, Post
  • Letters, Pamphlets, and Zines
    • DEMO: Book Exploration
    • Binding Styles
    • Basic Typography
    • Layout Considerations
Imagemaking
Photography and Illustration
  • Camera Obscura
  • Projection and Imagination
  • Inversion of Vision
    • DEMO: Processing Image
    • Flatbed Scanning
    • Staging
    • Raw Files
    • Photo Editing
Light Printing
Informal Light-Based Printmaking
  • ¡Viva Xerox y Riso!
    • DEMO: Laser Print Zine
    • Copier vs Print Function
    • Lo-Fi Techniques
  • Color
    • DEMO: Plate Separation
    • Image Transfer
    • Photosensitivity
Checkpoint; Group Critique, Open Studio
Group check-in on sketches, drafts, and ideas.
Digital Publishing
Raster and Vector Image Optimization for Books
    DEMO: Raster Graphics in Photoshop
    • Selection
    • Patterns and Textures
    • Sourcing Images
    DEMO: Vector Graphics in Illustrator
    • Pen Tool
    • Pathfinder
    • Sourcing Fonts
    DEMO: Composing in inDesign
    • Book Layout
    • Managing Assets
    • Text
    • Export
Checkpoint; Open Studio, Individual Check-Ins
Hands-On Assistance with Projects.
Checkpoint; Final Presentation
Library Fair.

3D Fabrication Studio
mid-March to mid-June

Introduction 3D design, printing, and scanning. Emphasis is placed on drafting and assembly as it relates to rapid prototyping, user needs, and research.

Choice of Project - Lantern, Flash Drive Keychain, Trinket Box
Design Trends and Aesthetics
Understanding Inspiration for Design
  • Art and Design
  • Effects of Climate
  • Defining Need
  • Impact of Material
Basic Modeling
Survey of Popular Software
  • Blender
  • Autodesk for Education
    • DEMO: 3D Printing
    • Sourcing 3D Model
    • Preparing File for Print
  • Initiatives in 3D Printing
Checkpoint; Open Studio, Individual Check-Ins
Hands-On Assistance with Projects.
Optimization for Print
Material, Tolerance, Resolution
    DEMO: Modifiers in Blender
    • Generative Shapemaking
    • Modeling as Carving
    • Sculpting as Putty
  • Filament Showcase
  • Printing in Parts
    • DEMO: Strategies in Fusion 360
    • Translation from 2D Projection
    • Less is More
Checkpoint; Group Critique, Open Studio
Anonymous Evaluation, Stress Testing
Appeal and Relatability
DEMO: Worldbuilding
  • 3D Scanning / Photogammetry
  • Rigging in Mixamo
  • Basic Rendering
Checkpoint; Group Critique, Open Studio
Troubleshooting, Stress Testing
Checkpoint; Open Studio, Individual Check-Ins
Hands-On Assistance with Projects.
Checkpoint; Final Presentation
Window Shop Style Evaluation

Policies and Expectations

Projects in Authorship is an intensive series involving processes students may not be familiar with. This course is also designed with schedules and equipment in mind; designed as a supplemental enrinchment to individual strengths, PiA aims to mitigate the lack of technological and instrumental availability, which includes (but is not limited to) software, hardware, supplies, and time for recreation.

Experimentation, exploration, and curiosity are at the core of learning. In technical courses such as this, results are a helpful measure of potential, comprehension, and eagerness. However, one's patience for themselves and craft is often influenced by the results of people and things they admire, regardless of experience. Just as it's important to have the courage to create projects that reflect a capability to evolve, it's important ot cultivate an environment that is equitable. There will be no tolerance for harassment based on race, heritage, gender presentation, sexual orientation, religion, financial background, speech, health status, and disability. Please contact edu@orchidesyl.com for accomodation requests and grievances.

Documentation, Process, and Completion

By the end of this course, students should have a demonstrative and referencial understanding of fabrication process. Sketching, drafting, and developing ideas are essential to this series. This doesn't just mean drawing, but can also mean figuring out aesthetics, identity, and intention. While it's great to have a plethora of projects students are proud of, learning is the goal, not production. Documentation of work at multiple stages is helpful for reflecting on your own practice. This allows makers in the long term to have a reference point for their own growth and insight to troubleshoot roadblocks in their routine. Practially, having ephemera of educational experiences enables capacities for change in real time. Establishing an archive of autonymous projects, student attribution, and feedback enriches the ever-evolving practice of art and design education.

Source Material, References, and Plagarism

Plagarism (using someone else's work without prior permission or respect to defined terms), generative AI, and claiming someone else's work as your own is discouraged. Not only does plagarism and intellectual theft is a gesture of disrespect towards your peers, but it underminds your credibility and stunts your capability as a maker. Workshops will explore mindful resourcing with libraries, archives, and seeking permission.

Generative AI is controversial for this course because of the unattributed, devaluating of creative labor by artists, whose work is sampled into the models this technology sources from. This is a major reason why creatives online are distancing themselves from entities who unconsentually use their work and obscures options to withdrawl from being included in model training. This ranges from smaller start-ups to Adobe and Meta. AI itself is a feature of virtual systems. It can be a tool, as in the case for SEO, game design, and robotics. As with anything, intention and impact are factors people consider for the welfare of their environments.

Amenities, Responsibility, and Safety

Based on demontrated need, students will be able to use tools taught for the course. This includes reservable, shared equipment usable during workshop sessions. There will be time during the course for working on projects. Although specific processes will be focused, participants are free to use their own tools as participation will equip them with fundamental skills and concepts which can be utilized in different contexts. Regardless, to ensure students in current and future workshops have unabridged use of equipment, participants are expected to handle shared tools with respect, whcih includes cleaning, safe handling, and permitted use only.

Accidents happen. Creating can be messy. Software crashing and ink spills are simple and common. Students will be guided on preventative measures that avoid the damage of personal property and loss of time. Additionally, there are demonstrations which require tools with exposed heating (material extrusion and platform preparation for 3D printing, casting), compression (operation of rotating gears in 3D printing), and necessitate the use of solvents (detergents) or physical strain (sitting or standing for long periods, bright, non-strobing light, manual dexterity). During guided demonstration, students are closely monitored in the careful operation of sensitive devices while wearing PPE (which is provided) to build safety discipline and build confidence in unfamiliar methods. Providing opportunity for making in sophisticated workflows is a huge responsibility. Anyone who exhibits reckless behavior, which includes rough housing, not taking equipment seriously, or exhibiting behavior with the awareness of harming themselves or others will not be allowed to handle specialized tools.

Understanding of craft and technique requires discipline, mindfulness and care for one another. Participants will be notified of timestamped updates throughout the progression of the workshop series to accomodate unanticipated developments relating to set benchmarks. Enrolling in and endorsing this workshop series is an agreement to all that is outlined above.

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