Robots Re-imagined

Prompt

Keenan Gray

This assignment will lead us off as we seek to re-imagine and expand our concept of what a robot is or can be.  We will begin by looking at robot precedents and gathering construction materials within our homes. The final goal of this project (due next week) seeks to answer the question "How can we relate to robots".  There are many examples from human-like voices and names (Siri + Alexa).  But there are also many examples of robots that take on other traits - does the robot look like a human or animal? Is it cute/scary? What are the ways that these features help us communicate and understand robots. 


Part 1: Sketching + Materials

  • Gather junk from around the house - recycled cardboard boxes, craft supplies, old toys, fabric scraps, and anything else that might useful.
  • Use sketches to convey different ways in which the material might be used to create a robot. For each material draw a few ways it can transformed as a building supply (for example you might cut a paper towel tube in half, or fold cardboard to create a box, you can cut paper cups to make eyes, or a mouth, etc).