DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
TT : The idea of this Frisbee class came across my mind 8 years ago, when I saw about 20 kids hanging out at the park, all quietly, looking down at their games. They may have been chatting through the network, but no communication was being made among them in the real world. I get the impression that the scene was "being played by the digital". I came up with the idea of creating a session for the children, where they could utilize the digital technology and physically play at the same time.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
TT : I developed an educational program that enables users to learn the fusion of physicality and digital through recreation. At the same time, I negotiated and organized the field to implement such an educational program. I had the public elementary school in the depopulated town that I live in incorporate a digital fabrication class into their general school program. To be more specific, this is an educational program that focuses on 3D modeling and 3D printer studies using Frisbees.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
TT : frisbee+3D+design=Fri3Design
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
TT : In the class that I developed, students can train their ability of space perception, imagination, and physical senses, through making their own Frisbees using 3d printing technology, and experiencing, instead of thinking, the designed flight of the Frisbee.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
TT : In the class that I developed, students can train their ability of space perception, imagination, and physical senses, through making their own Frisbees using 3d printing technology, and experiencing, instead of thinking, the designed flight of the Frisbee. Designing the form of a Frisbee also leads to designing its float or the flight. By utilizing the digital technology and analyzing through 3D modeling and digital fabrication, students will find out how this sense of floating is created.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
TT : I negotiated with the principal of the elementary school in the depopulated town that I live in, and began giving this special class to the students. Instead of making it a one-time workshop, I asked them to incorporate this class into their general school program, so it could be held every year. With the support from the Board of Education, the class became an annual event. Students at the elementary school are definitely becoming more familiarized with 3D modeling and digital fabrication.
