This unit will help you use AI in a full design, build and tracking process for making your own maker space designs come to life. The same general techniques can be used whether you’re making objects to be 3D printed, laser cut, cnc’d or sewn as a textile.

​

Lesson 1: Ideas

​

An in-depth design process will help you generate many good ideas, select the best ones and iterate on these designs until you are happy with them and they are a good fit for gifting, selling or your own use.

Coming up with ideas for making things can feel anything from effortless to impossible! As you’ve experienced in previous courses, working with others can help ideas flow. Working with AI as your assistant can also help your ideas flow.

​

INTERACTIVE

You will come up with an idea for an object or group of objects to make. It can be something that you will keep for your own use, give to someone else or sell to someone.

Try to use a whiteboard for this idea session, either a physical one or a virtual one, like https://Miro.com 

 

This exercise will help you think of an object to make.

​

Choose a place where the object will be used, for example:

• In the kitchen

• On a dining table

• Outside

• In a car

• At a desk

• Attached to clothing

• When on holiday

• In the living/TV room

 

Now think of how you would use the object, for example:

• While working at a computer

• When socialising with friends

• When alone

• When exercising

• During study sessions

• When cooking

• While eating

 

And then think of a theme, for example:

• Cartoon jungle animals

• Sleek post modern

• Haute couture

• UAE architecture

• Oil paintings

• Modern art

• Steampunk

• Sea and sky

• Abu Dhabi wildlife

 

When you have chosen from each category, write down as many ideas as you can using notes on your whiteboard.

For example: