John James Marshall thesis.pdf - OpenAIR @ RGU - Robert Gordon ...

2D CAD which I regard as a different discipline. It’s like drafting, it’s not CAD as
we know it today. 3D CAD I’m self taught.
28. How would you describe how you make use of computer
technologies in your practice (e.g. concept development, design-toorder,
fabrication, pre-visualisation, prototyping, etc?)
As a tool from concept development on, you used to think that I’ll do concept
sketches then translate them, but no; from concept onwards now it’s all
computer-based. So, the concept from a mere doodle, that doodle will go to
geometry to evolve the form.
29. How have computer technologies had an impact on your
practice?
It defines the practice, basically. I define my work now as being focussed on
design for digital manufacture. I don’t do anything that isn’t direct digital
manufacture.
30. What (for you) is the key benefit of using these technologies?
Two days of discussion on the keys benefits of creative forms that I couldn’t
even hold in my head... to create these concepts, let alone produce.
31. What (for you) is the key limitation of using these technologies?
Two things - visualisation and mainly the expense of producing. Access of
technologies in terms of production.
32. What is most important to you the finished object or how it was
made?
The finished object because I feel that the virtual design isn’t worth anything
without seeing the reality, so it has no value without that. Although the bulk of
the work is in the virtual object and that’s where the intellectual property and
the creativity lies, it is the physical embodiment that is the design and without
that it doesn’t exist. Absolutely, yes…but then it wouldn’t be the scripting and
model-making, it would be the appearance of that virtual object on the screen
would be the design.
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