ArcIntTex Conference 2018
Creative Digital Anarky
Ann Marie Shillito,
Designer maker / jeweller
Founder and CEO of Anarkik3D Ltd
Honorary Research Fellow, Edinburgh College of Art

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My background: 1990 to 1998
Laser cutting and 3D printing

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To quote Peter Dormer:
“It is not craft as ‘handicraft’ that defines
contemporary craftsmanship:
it is craft as knowledge that empowers a
maker to take charge of technology.”

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To participate in using industrial
technologies you need digital data.

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Barriers:
• CAD Interfaces: complicated, overcrowded
• non-intuitive interactions, constraining
• Mouse: 2 DoF (up/down, left/right)
• Non coherent for 3D
Research Fellowship: practice based (Design/Applied Arts) at eca,
1999 – 2006: How best to access industrial technologies:
• Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• laser cutting, rapid prototyping

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Research Fellowship focus:
Are advantages of digital outweighed by
cumbersome conventional CAD/ WIMP
interfaces?
CAD: computer aided design
WIMP: windows, icon, mouse, pointer
1st year fellowship work:
Learn Rhino for design for
coffee table

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Early outcomes:
1. test pipeline:
concept/CAD /3D printed
prototypes
2. AHRC funding for
research
Concept of 3D printing

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‘Tacitus’ Research Project 2000 - 2004
Ann Marie Shillito: Principle Investigator, ECA Research Fellow
Dr. Mark Wright: Co-Investigator
University of Edinburgh. Research Fellow (EdVEC/Informatics).
investigating haptic technology as a more intuitive way of
working on computer for Designers and Applied Artists

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Aims of Tacitus Project :
• To explore the potential advantages of being able to work, think
and respond to physical and visual stimuli, in a virtual, fully three-
dimensional, non-gravity context, with particular reference to the
education of designers and artists and the development of 3
dimensional work.
• To discover the degrees of haptic (touch) and other multi-sensory
feed back required within digital systems to assist designers and
artists to work more intuitively.
• To develop viable software applications and virtual ‘handtools’ to
enhance the creative practice of applied artists
www2.eca.ac.uk/tacitus

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Skills
Constraints
Affordances
Tacit knowledge
co-location
stereovision
2 handedness
CAD
digital drawing
Precision
Rigid Geometry
Sensory Feedback
Touch, sight
sound
smell
Creative Process
Germinal phase - divergent
Exploring, Playing, Experimenting,
Thinking, Searching
Practical phase –convergent
Sketching & Modelling
Haptic devices: gloves,
force feedback
Rapid prototyping
Layer manufacture
Laser cutting
3D printing
CAM
Intuitive digital applications
with transmodal and spatial
interaction
Technology
(quantifiable)
Design
(qualitative)
Transformations
Tools
Texture, compliance,
size & shape, mass
Physical Properties
of materials:
Working
Practice
shutter glasses, Motion capture, VR
Selecting, visualising
rendering
2/3D dimensions
Coherence
6DOF
computer, mouse, keyboard
Scope of Tacitus
Research

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• Skills, Constraints, tacit knowledge
• Manual activity for reasoning on forms
• Touch - natural interface to real world
Working
Practice
www2.eca.ac.uk/tacitus

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Reachin Interface:
Haptic (force-feedback) device
6 degrees of freedom (6DoF)
stereovision
co-located environment
Design
(qualitative)
WIMP system
(windows/icon/mouse/p
ointer)

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Haptic Devices:
• 6 degrees of freedom - 6 DoF:
up/down left/right forward/back)
Usability: best but EXPENSIVE!
Technology
(quantifiable)

WIMP system:
Methodologies: Quantitative: time, mouse clicks. Qualitative: Nasa Taskload, SUS.
Study: simple positioning
task compared on conventional
computer UI & on haptic
system.
Test candidates: 10 3D
StudioMax users (2 – 10 yrs
experience)
Reachin system
Quantitative: mouse clicks

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Quantitative: time
Qualitative:
Top right: Task load
(lower the better)
Left: System usability
(higher the better).

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Haptic 3D sketching
demonstrator:
system usability and task load

Outcomes: CD & Website - www2.eca.ac.uk/tacitus
DrawnReality - sketch/modelling demonstrator
DrawnReality Project - create models/export for 3D printing
www2.eca.ac.uk/tacitus

HandsOn Proof of Concept Project:
 2004 - 2006
 Business Plan / business models to spin-out / IP
 Market research: 3 demonstrators
 Designer evaluated application for conceptualising
 DrawnReality Project
Top: demonstrator for
animation
Centre: 3D digital model
of chain for RP
Below: digital forming
with haptics
James Glencross : concept for bench
(& rendered in commercial package)

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DrawnReality sketch/modelling demonstrator:
test system, software, export format for 3D printing.

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DrawnReality
Project

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Objects by 4 of the 7 designers involved: Hazel White, David Poston, Anne Finlay
and Suzanne Esser
Tangible outcomes: DrawnReality Project
Fusing two technologies – digital haptic 3D sketching and 3D printing

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Claude Heath:
‘Acrobats’ 3D printed
marquette from 3D digital
sketch, and detail from 3D
digital sketch
DrawnReality Project:

Commercialisation of Research:
Spin out: Anarkik3D Ltd, founded 2006/2007:
• 2007-2009: SMART Award, SE Business Support
• 2008-2011: from bespoke to developing own brand
• Anarkik 3D Design: affordable haptic sketch modelling package
• Markets: Creative sector (Education, Companies, professionals,
amateurs)
• Sales, via distributors with joint marketing
• Shortlisted for educational Bett Award 2011
Designs and models by: Wytze, Caspar & friend, Birgit, Helen, Farah Bandookwala, Ann Marie Shillito,

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Future Products/Services:
 Own brand Product:
 software for concept generation for Design Products
 Plug-in Applications and Demonstrators:
 haptic enhancement for conventional software packages
Initial Products/Services:
 Bespoke Software Applications
 Concept Demonstrators: disruptive
 Software for OEMs:
 bundled with their systems, stand
alone
Haptic ‘dashboard’ for BMW, in
collaboration with Reachin

Illustration taken from Sketchup Presentation for i.materialise
conference. Can be seen here http://vimeo.com/11322333
To participate in using industrial technologies you need digital data.
Key for own brand: affordability, usability
SketchUp?
DrawnReality

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Illustration taken from Sketchup Presentation for i.materialise conference. Can be seen here http://vimeo.com/11322333
Price range for 2D/3D CAD packages: : $10K to free
‘Pro’ users/costly CAD to general users/free products:

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• ground breaking software
• virtual touch: familiar
• easy & fun to learn/use
• serendipity built in
• antidote to CAD
• great for non-CAD users
• CrowdFunding for development
• Early adopter support
• crowd sourcing / feedback
Anarkik 3D Design bundle:
Cloud9 haptic 3D modelling s/ware
& Falcon Haptic device

Falcon haptic device
• force feedback
• 3DoF
• affordable
• robust
Cloud9:
haptic 3D modelling s/ware
• Non complex interface
• Easy to move & rotate objects & world
• Easy to manipulate, deform, scale, construct, subtract
• Export file formats: direct to 3D printing and some CAD (e.g. Rhino)

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Sketchup
Differentiation: usability, free form
modelling.
Freebies: CAD-like
• steep learning curve
• complex interfaces
• Troublesome export formats
• Not designed for 3D printing
Professional packages:
• steep learning curves
• complex interfaces
• expensive
Illustration adapted from Sketchup Presentation for i.materialise
conference. Can be seen here http://vimeo.com/11322333
‘Exciting’:
essential for
motivation to
persevere with
‘hard’

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Cloud9 interface: range of tools, plus 3 degrees of
freedom & haptics – enables delicate manipulation

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Cloud9 interface: non complex, fun, good for freeform.
Falcon device robust, easy navigation in 3D space

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Cloud9 interface: balance between organic form creation/
serendipity and controlled/constrained actions

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3D digital data + industrial technologies =
exciting business opportunities:
• for design, applied arts, 3D arts sectors
Anarkik 3D Design package + 3D printing =
• ‘quick & dirty’ idea generation & prototyping:
• Fast iterations: explore multiple options
• Testing: ‘fast and early’ failure best
• low costs for bundle and 3D printing
• easy access to 3D modelling for non CAD users
Farah
Bandookwalla
Birgit Laken
Elizabeth Armour Sandra WIlson

Farah Bandookwala: Masters
Degree , ECA, 2010:
Cloud9/Rhino/3D printing

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Farah Bandookwala:
Jerwood Makers Award 2011.
(Touring exhibition of work by the 4
awardees)

Dr Sandra Wilson, Jewellery
Dept at Dundee University.
Collaborative Research
Project: Science and Art.
Left: 3D printed ‘red blood
corpuscle’.
Below, Brooch.

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3D printing
(1) Digital model ‘bacon-sliced.
(2) Digital slices sent to printer
) Layers physically built into 3D object.
Different systems & range of materials.
(3a) Extrusions: plastics, edibles,
composites
(3b) Sintered: plastics, starches, metals
Other materials/systems: resin, sheet,
paper

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Shapeways, i.materialise:
• democratising 3D printing
• Set up account
• upload designs.
• Fast feedback:
re. size, materials.
• Cost: good value
• click to order.
• Own page.
• Gallery.
• Shop.
• ‘Co-designing’.
• Competitions.
• Offers.

For laser cutting &
3D printing:
design your own,
construct it
yourself
Ponoko (New Zealand)
started democratisation with
easy to use,
low cost service

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Sculpteo in France.
• 3D printing, DYO,
• low cost service
• easy to use
• Customisation
software

Affordable bundle:
Anarkik 3D Design
plus Personal 3D
printers!
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Thank you.
Hands-on demo of Anarkik 3D Design
in Inspace after symposium.
PS.
My book
‘Digital Crafts: Industrial Technologies for
Applied Artists and Designer Makers’
to be published Sept. 2013