Introduction to Digital Fabrication

Introductory courses for architecture and design students approaching digital manufacturing through CNC milling, laser cutting, 3D printing and physical prototyping.

Courses included

Science, Engineering and Technology Workshop CIEE Global Architecture and Design, IAAC Barcelona / Faculty / 2023-2025 / Bachelor semester course
Introduction to Digital Fabrication Seminar Master in Advanced Architecture, IAAC Barcelona / Co-faculty with Ricardo Mayor, Shyam Zonca, Miguel Guerrero / 2023-2024 / First-term seminar
Skills, Methods and Tools Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen / Co-faculty with Ricardo Mayor / 2023 / One-week intensive

Keywords

Digital fabrication, computational design, 3D printing, CNC milling, laser cutting, prototyping.

Overview

Teaching focuses on how digital models become physical things: components, prototypes, assemblies and construction systems.

Courses introduce fabrication as a design process, where geometry, material behaviour and machine constraints shape the final outcome.

Students attending a digital fabrication course lecture.

From Model to Prototype

Students move from design intent to physical prototypes, learning how to prepare geometry, generate fabrication files and test their ideas through making. The goal is to understand the full passage from a digital model to something that can be produced, assembled and evaluated.

Physical prototype combining 3D printed and laser-cut components.

Material and Machine Logic

Each exercise is shaped by real fabrication limits: material size, tool access, layer logic, tolerances, machine time and assembly conditions. These constraints are treated as part of the design process, not as technical problems to solve at the end.

Diagram showing a fabrication exercise sequence.

Fabricated digital fabrication prototypes on a table.

Computational Design Literacy

Computational tools are introduced as a way to organise geometry, rules and fabrication data. Students learn to use digital models not only as representations, but as working systems that can support production.

Laser-cut prototype detail showing assembled rib components.

Teaching Format

Courses combine short lectures, software tutorials, fabrication sessions, reviews and hands-on prototyping. The FabLab is presented as a shared production environment, where preparation, safety, documentation and collective responsibility are part of the learning process.

Students assembling a circular fabricated prototype.