This week, I spent some time cutting and gathering branches for the wall, then weaving them together out in the yard. I only got enough branches to make a single panel because I underestimated the number of boughs I would need, but I’m thinking I might end up just making one of these pieces instead of…

This week I’ve been spending a lot of time in the BTU lab, both helping setup streaming of some of our lab activities for ATLAS’ Twitch Creative stream, as well as working on some preliminary wiring of the lights. I’ve managed to get ahold of a couple of these small MOSFET controller boards that another…

Early in my design studies, I was a die-hard modernist- bowing to the mighty power of grids and minimalism. I could have practically tattooed a big Helvetica “form follows function” on my forehead at that point. And although this aesthetic still figures heavily into the final project that I’m working on for this class, it’s far…

Up to now, I’ve essentially spent time prototyping IR motion sensors for the interactive features of this exhibit, and I’ve had basic success getting those to react and drive the illumination of a light. Now comes the actual fabrication, where I start building the casing and the exterior of the enclosure. I’m experimenting with a wood…

For this project, I have a lot to get done- I need to create the designs, build an interactive circuit, construct a couple of huge boxes, weave a bunch of branches together and then move it all to campus. Here are what I can see being my top 5 contraints/challenges to overcome. Time. With the…

For this project, I’ll be constructing a woven branch dividing wall that will be featured in the set of “Quantified Self”, a theatre production that some friends of mine are producing here at CU. The play takes place in a dystopian near future, and the aesthetic of the set is largely centered around something we’re…

For my project, I’m developing a dynamic, illuminated divider wall for a theatre piece that I’m a part of. I’ve been fascinated by the fusion of organic materials and technology for a while, and I’ve done some pieces along these lines in the past: lightnest- a reactive sound and light installation   canopy- a big…

I think I mentioned this in my skill sets post, but my background is pretty diverse, and it’s been a long road to the point where I have an idea what I might like to do after school. But here goes. I did my undergrad in Environmental Studies here at CU, and I focused primarily on sustainable…

I’m Danny Rankin- a 1st year masters student in the ATLAS Institute’s Creative Technologies and Design program. Before starting my Masters, I worked as a software instructor for Apple- I have 6 years experience teaching software, specifically video editing with Final Cut Pro, audio engineering with Logic Pro, and design in Adobe Illustrator. I’m also an experienced…

Is it weird if I have a thing for corrugated cardboard? Maybe it’s weird. I don’t know. Anyway, my goal for this project was a laser cut, cardboard light fixture. I’ve seen some interesting concepts that use a laser cutter to cut shapes out for a light assembly, and I felt inspired. That said, I…