Critical Conversations: bridging pathways forward to greater understanding and creative solutions.

Che-Wei Wang

Research

A collage of images from CES Projects 2016-2017, showcasing innovative designs and fabrication processes. The images depict various 3D-printed, molded, and inflated structures. 1. The top left features a white, futuristic-looking 3D-printed object with curved surfaces and geometric cutouts, resembling a hollow, abstract sculpture. 2. The top middle shows a hand holding a translucent, circular object that appears soft and flexible, suggesting experimental material use. 3. The top right displays a large, inflated ring-shaped structure in a fabrication setting, with machinery involved in the production. 4. The bottom left and center highlight two more views of the same 3D-printed object shown in the top left, with slightly different perspectives. 5. The bottom middle presents a CAD rendering of a robotic arm creating a 3D-printed design, illustrating the digital fabrication process. 6. The bottom right captures an inflated, soft structure with illuminated internal lights, presented in a studio setting with delicate wireframe structures hanging in the background. The combination of 3D printing, robotics, and inflatable materials demonstrates advanced prototyping and design exploration at CES.

CES Projects 2016-17

Haresh Lalvani, John Gulliford

Work

This banner illustrates a range of CES Projects completed between 2017-2018, showcasing different forms of structural exploration and material manipulation. 1. On the left side, a sequence of images demonstrates a flexible, ribbed structure. The top-left and bottom-left images show hands manipulating the material, suggesting a focus on the study of movement, flexibility, and how mechanical joints behave under stress or deformation. The middle image appears to be the same structure but is shown in a more stable configuration, perhaps emphasizing its potential for both mobility and rigidity. 2. In the center, a wooden and white modular structure shows intricate joint construction, appearing as a study in assembly or modularity in design. The smooth, organic curvature contrasts with the mechanical, segmented look of the other components, reflecting a merging of natural and fabricated aesthetics. 3. The right side displays a geodesic-like structure with metal rods connected by tension cables, alongside close-ups of its joints. The focus is likely on the tension systems, a hallmark of tensegrity design principles, and exploring how dynamic movement or forces distribute through interconnected structures. In sum, these projects reflect an emphasis on exploring material flexibility, modular architecture, and structural integrity in a computationally-driven design process.

CES Projects 2017-18

Haresh Lalvani, Robinson Strong, Ahmad Tabbakh

Work

This banner presents CES Projects from 2018-2019, highlighting two different design explorations. 1. On the left is a geometric, metallic framework that looks like a complex polyhedral structure, possibly representing architectural or structural experimentation with modular components or robotic assemblies. The lines and connections suggest a strong focus on computational design and parametric geometry. 2. On the right, there are six iterations of a red and yellow organic shape that resembles fluid surfaces or folded material. These forms appear digitally generated, with each one featuring slight variations in curvature, tension, and connection points. The designs suggest a focus on fabric-like deformation, computational fluid dynamics, or soft robotics. The banner showcases two contrasting approaches: one focusing on rigid, mechanical systems and the other on soft, organic form generation. Together, these projects emphasize CES’s commitment to exploring advanced digital fabrication techniques and computational design processes.

CES Projects 2018-19

Haresh Lalvani, John Gulliford, Robinson Strong

Work

Morphology Studios