DESIGN, DIGITAL FABRICATION & 3D PRINTING: A CRASH COURSE FOR DESIGN STUDENTS

This article reports on an investigation into the experimental "Design, digital fabrication and 3D printing" crash course held at Polifactory, fablab and makerspace of Politecnico di Milano, that aimed to provide education in digital fabrication and 3D printing to Design School students. The research shows potentialities of the project based learning (PBL) teaching approach in motivate and integrate students learning. The Design, digital fabrication and 3D printing classes were informed by both classical lecture-application based models as well as problem-based learning. Thus, aim of the experience was firstly analyzing and understanding peculiarities and critical issues relating Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology. Secondly, figuring out functional demonstrators with aesthetical added value by putting into practice teachings over an experimental work. Students satisfaction in learning was enhanced by the physical development of demonstrators together with concrete and visible results.