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Unit outline_

DECO2018: 3D Modelling and Fabrication

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit teaches students an understanding of the basic concepts of modelling and prototyping 3D artefacts. Students will develop skills in creating and using 3D models for real-world and virtual environments. The unit further introduces students to rapid prototyping fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing and laser cutting with the aim to understand how to prepare a digital representation of artefacts (such as digital products or packaging) for physical fabrication. Students will learn how physical artefacts are represented in 3D digital models by modelling various 3D geometric entities, and how to create photorealistic representations that accurately and efficiently describe intent, structure, and geometric and surface variations of 3D models. Key concepts covered in this unit include: boundary representations, solid and parametric modelling, texture mapping, light sources, camera locations and projections.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
DECO1008
Assumed knowledge
? 

Human-centred design processes and methods

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Rohann Dorabjee, rohann.dorabjee@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Rohann Dorabjee, rohann.dorabjee@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small test In-tutorial tasks
Design
20% Multiple weeks Maximum 2 hours per exercise
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Design visualisation
Design
35% STUVAC
Due date: 15 Nov 2021 at 23:59
A4 poster, >1 rendering
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4
Assignment Sketches and 3D Blockout
Design
15% Week 05
Due date: 06 Sep 2021 at 23:59
3 – 6 x A4 pages of documentation
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Digital 3D Model
Design
30% Week 09
Due date: 12 Oct 2021 at 23:59
Blender scene, Optional: 3D print
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5

Assessment summary

Assessment 1

In-tutorial tasks: This assessment will be divided into four parts. Each part will provide you the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the following:

  • 1A: Basic primitive modelling
  • 1B: Complex modelling techniques
  • 1C: Rigging and skinning with suitable animation
  • 1D: Texturing and materials and rendering

 

Assessment 2

Sketches and 3D Blockout: You will prepare a document that describes and visualises their concept for the virtual simulation/environment. The document should be professionally presented and include the following:

  • Title page with a description and 2 - 4 sketches
  • Mood board with images of inspirational elements
  • Screenshots of your Blender scene showing the block out of the environment

 

Assessment 3

Digital 3D Model: Students will submit a 3D model that they have designed as a .Blend file. Due to restrictions and limitations, students have the option to also 3D print a certain element/aspect within their 3D environment. For additional details on the submission requirements and assessment criteria please refer to the Assessment Brief.

 

Assessment 4

Design Visualisation: Students will prepare an A4 poster that displays their 3D virtual environment and showcases its highlight features. The poster should incorporate at least 1 photo-realistic rendering of the dwelling, that demonstrates an understanding of lighting, camera positions, textures, materials, and other aspects of the rendering process. For additional details on the submission requirements and assessment criteria please refer to the Assessment Brief.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 History of 3D design and 3D modelling Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Introduction to A1 - Mood board – Concept sketch Introduction to Blender - UI and Viewport navigation - Primitive Shapes - Points, curves and 2D operations Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Digital 3D Modelling - Geometric theory of shapes - Principles of 3D representations - The Blender environment Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Basic 3D operations - Primitive shapes – Extrude – Inset - Commence Poke ball structure. - Complex surfaces Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Digital Prototyping Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Workshop for A1A. - Commencing Environment modelling Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 3D Environments - Inspirational creations - Applications Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
3D Block out - Continuation on environment block out. - 3D Scene organisation Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Digital Fabrication - What is digital fabrication? - Digital disruption Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Workshop: A2 - Feedback session. - 3D modelling Modifiers Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Complex geometry in 3D space. - Boolean based objects - Geometric topology Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
3D operations - Boolean operations on Pokeball A1B - Import/export and file formats. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 The Good, The Bad, The Ugly in 3D - Good and bad practises in 3D Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
3D Debugging - Cleaning up non manifolds - Fixing modelling issues. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 3D Animation, Rigging and Skinning properties. - Modelling topology to suit animations. - Vertex properties for each bone. Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Basic 3D animation - Advanced modelling techniques. - Introducing Timeline and graph editor. - Basic animation on Pokeball A1C Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Rendering Techniques 1 - Techniques of texture and material use - From 3D objects to flat UV maps Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Assessment Workshop. - Workshop: on final pointers for Assignment 3 – Feedback session Part 1. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Rendering Techniques 2 - Lights and reflections in realtime space Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Rendering Techniques 1 - UV Map recap - Lighting, camera angles etc. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Rendering engines - Introduction to industry standard rendering engines in Blender Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Rendering Techniques 2 - Materials and textures - Workshop on A1D. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Visualisation techniques - Within Blender and industry standard - Towards post-production methods, using photoshop and supporting tools Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Post-production techniques: part 1 - Postproduction Techniques Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Fundamentals of VR environments - Principles of spatial design - intro to game engines - Walk-through simulations Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Post-production techniques: part 2 - Postproduction techniques. - Preparation for final submission. Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate effective strategies for 3D modelling and fabrication of objects
  • LO2. Apply 3D modelling and fabrication techniques to achieve a creative outcome
  • LO3. Assess the aesthetic qualities of tangible devices and apply to a new design
  • LO4. Compose and render images for presentational impact and visual accuracy
  • LO5. Understand and communicate design decisions and the technical constraints of 3D modelling technologies.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit has been changed in delivery due to the Pandemic. We also have made some changes to the weekly subject content as a result of the feedback received. In addition to this, this unit used to be a core subject (DECO1008) and now has adapted for the new unit.

Additional costs

This unit of study has many additional costs, as students must pay for their own 3D-Printing, laser-cutting.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.