Design Apprenticeship Program (DAP)

DAP Fall 2020 Coursework Assignments 

Birdhouse Sketches (DAP I)

Sketching and drawing were the first opportunities for apprentices to begin visualizing their design thoughts and ideas in real form. Apprentices developed skills in visualizing space through orthographic projections which gave them a better sense of how their designs would be rendered in 3D. The orthographic drawings also served as the basis for their construction plans after being marked with measurements for production. 

 Cardboard Models (DAP I)

Using cardboard and wood glue, apprentices modeled their birdhouse drawings to scale. Modeling provided the most direct representation of the end product, allowing apprentices to reflect on their design choices and make further adjustments before committing to their final birdhouse construction.

In Progress: Birdhouses (DAP I)

Apprentices were asked to document their birdhouse construction process as seen in these photos.

 Photography (DAP I)

Using photography as a tool for research, apprentices were given small photo assignments around topics related to the program’s design and personal development objectives. For instance, documenting birds in their community, and documenting the differences between a house and a home. Each apprentice was given a disposable black and white film camera for the program, which allowed emphasis to be placed on the content of their images as opposed to how the image itself appears. Photography was also used as a way to document their design work and allowed them to reflect on their progress.  

 Furniture Sketches (DAP II)

The fall term had advanced apprentices learning about design and scale modeling through the process of designing a chair or other type of seating. This process began with sketches of furniture and designs for "Impossible Pieces" wherein they might not have the materials, skill, or tools to build at this point. 

Imaging

Students continued with ideation and exploring designing on spec, through working off of various prompts such as the words "Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall", which they could interpret in numerous ways, and design furniture, objects and/or spaces accordingly. 

FINAL PROJECTS

DAP I: Birdhouse

The final birdhouses are the culmination of the research and skills developed over the entirety of the program. Apprentices revisited their original designs and models, made any necessary revisions, constructed their base structure of their birdhouse with cardboard, paneled their structure with wooden sticks, and painted the exterior with watercolor and acrylic paints. Apprentices placed their birdhouses outdoors in their community to photograph their work and consider the best location for installation.

 DAP II: Seating Models

Using basic tools and simple materials such as paper, pencils, cardboard and hot glue, students created scale furniture parts, which included laminations, angled and curved parts. They made designs for pieces of furniture that they might be able to build upon returning to our physical DAP workshop.