The computer creates a distance between the designer and the material, whereas methods of making put the designer in a haptic relationship with material.
Architect, Neri Oxman explores this type of digital craft, materiality and spatial design which operates at the intersection between biology, fashion and architecture. Her group researches “how digital design and fabrication technologies mediate between matter and environment to radically transform the design and construction of objects, buildings, and systems.”7
Digital fabrication processes have re-introduced an inquiry of workmanship to the discourse of design. In The Nature and Art of Workmanship, David Pye defines craftsmanship as “simply workmanship using any kind of technique or ap- As an introduction to material research in Imparatus, in which the quality of the result is not material/Ultramaterial, Toshiko Mori stresses pre-determined, the need to but depends on challenge the “...no discussion of architecture the judgment, passive mode dexterity and of material use. as a trans-disciplinary profession care which the maker exercises would be complete without including Two distinct but as he works. The related talents essential idea is of architects – a consideration of the technology that the quality of the power of increasingly present in the design the result is conobservation, tinually at risk and the creative process – enlarging the territory of during the prouse of imaginacess of making.” the discipline with new methods of tion – enable us 5 Pye defines to identify techmaking and of the representation of workmanship nological as the physical innovations and previously diffi cult geometries and manipulation apply them to of the material design activity. forms.” and defines deBy understandsign as the idea ing materials’ linked to the material. He argues that design and basic properties, pushing their limits for greater workmanship have been separated and there has performance and at the same time being aware 6 been a decrease in interest in workmanship. of their aesthetic values and psychological The discussion, built on the subtleties between effects,an essential design role can be regained design, craftsmanship, workmanship, quality, and expanded.8 and production, is interesting and still relevant One should assume that an architectural idea to a discussion of architecture craft today. Howshould not be an abstract thought but a mateever, Pye is not anticipating digital fabrication rial consequence – a material effect. The protechniques that are increasingly prevalent in duction of that material effect is the essence of contemporary academia and praxis. One can architecture. Therefore, design is understood argue that the digital processes that are a consenot a representation of ideas but the physical quence of these technologies could establish a consequence of them.9 new role for the designer that intersects design The application of digital technologies and fabwith workmanship. rication methods continuously impacts architec140