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Project “ANYBOTTY”

I decided that for my senior thesis I wanted to blend to interests of mine, toy figures and 3-D printing. For several years now I have collected various toy figures as a hobby of mine. I always love the articulation and detail that certain figures have. Recently though, thanks to a Digital Fabrication class I took last year, I was introduced to 3-D printing and instantly fell in love with it. Now with thesis I have the chance not to only collect toys, but have the chance to design and make my own. I want to show people my creations in a very tactile and fun way. Anyone at one time or another during their childhood has played with toy figures and I bet some of them decided that they wanted to take them apart and make their own, (albeit in a probably destructive and messy way). What I want to do is make a toy figure that takes the key essence of 3-D printing at its core, its relative limitlessness. Say you have shelving holder problem, just print the holder. Missing part of a furniture piece? Take the dimensions of one and print it yourself. Gifted a plant, but don’t have a pot on hand? Well make the pot! I want this idea that a toy isn’t set in 2 arms, 2 legs, and a head. I want it so that you can mix and match arms and legs to your liking, giving it a personal touch that only you can do.

At the baseline for my project, I want to give you a toy figure that has sets of arms and sets of legs with multiple attachment points for various tools. There will be “hard points” on places like shoulders and arms to also add on some customization. Yet I have to mention that the overall inspiration of my toy is not human like at all. I didn’t grow up playing with action figures, but more of robotic mechanoid types of toys, boxy and rigid. Human anatomy can be a tough thing to deal with when you’re an amateur toy designer, but a robot/mecha gives so much freedom to work with. It makes more sense to be able to change out parts on a bionicle than a he-man .

As for materials, it will be a 3-D modeling program, a 3-D printer (or two, or three) a sketch book and my brain. While it may seem simple to have just these things to work with, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

There’s a reason being a toy designer is a fully fledged professional job. Its part design, part engineering, part psychologist. You have to design a toy that is pleasing to the eye based on the trend and minds of a set demographic while also making it structurally sound in the even of rough play. Using a robot as a baseline helps me give a scaffold versus a human like toy, but then again the designing can be hard. It has to make sense to the person enjoying the toy, not me. Also I have to account that my project solely depends upon my ability to use effective the printers in the IMM makerspace. I have to make sure my prints work out successfully while dealing with the fact that failed prints that hours long will happen and I will not be the only one using the space A failed print will be an up and a down. It will show me where I went wrong, but also tell me that 6 hours of printing went up in a plastic mess. There will be times that I design something great only for it to not work out in the product. I am not an engineer so I don’t have the full knowledge of what goes to what in structural things. Though I do love just watching the printer print so in the end, it will still be me doing something I love

Below are some is a very very rough prototype of a robotic head I printed this week. I took 1hour and a half just to print it so keep in mind, its a long process with a promise of iffy results. Nonetheless its fun to do and look at

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Getting Started / Thesis Brainstorm

Explanation of Primary Idea:

I intend on engaging in a thesis project called “More Knowledge”. The final deliverable will be a unique LP-length hip-hop album with fully original lyrics and either sampled or organically produced sounds. It will carry the name “More Knowledge” for three main reasons:

  • I will gain more knowledge and wisdom of the music industry, writing, recording, DAW’s, editing techniques and production skills through hands-on experience
  • “More Knowledge” is a reference to my academic experience – the thought being that there are always new things to learn
  • It will also be me attempting to bestow my lifeview and lessons learned upon others in a creative and expressive way through music

I want to undertake this project so that I can learn more about a subject I’m passionate about, while at the same time conveying a personal message to an audience. I have undergone a great deal of adversity in my life as someone who has struggled with mental health concerns, dysfunctional family situations, and personal and academic challenges. I have learned a lot from experiences in my childhood and young adult life, and I wish to share my stories with others.

Perhaps, some may be able to relate or find value in the messages the songs will contain. Because the tracks will consist of ideas and emotions that are personally significant to me, it will ensure that I am intrinsically motivated to produce content. Assigning this endeavor as my thesis project will also ensure that I am extrinsically motivated. I want to earn a good grade and present my best work to my TCNJ faculty and peers.

Many IMM Seniors seem to have a wide range of skills, and I am no exception to this commonality. I am a practicing WordPress web developer and I also have advanced skills in photo/video editing, video effects, 2D animation, 3D modeling/animation, graphic design, etc. However, I will be starting this thesis project with only beginner/intermediate music production skills. That is why this is a great opportunity to expand my skills in this area, and I would be remiss if I did not take it.

Moreover, I think music and particularly hip-hop, is the ideal medium for expressing messages and storytelling of this nature. Music leverages consciousness to affect the emotions of individuals. It can be interpreted in different ways and listeners often bring their own experiences and personal meanings to mind when listening to someone else’s music. Also, people don’t always have time to read or watch a video, but everyone has time to play a song while going about their daily routines. I imagine that my messages will stand a better chance of reaching a wider audience in the form of music.

Anticipated Challenges:

I know this is going to be a difficult project to undertake, but there will also be moments that are very enjoyable and/or rewarding. It will grant me the ability to learn and critically develop a means of communication for which I have room for improvement. Since I do not have an extensive musical background, much of this initial process will be conducted through research/experimentation and trial/error. I know there will be many opportunities for embarrassment. I have been known to be vulnerable to perfectionism in the past, and I am aware that I will have to quell any negative inner voices before presenting my songs/prototypes in front of the class.

I am also quite worried about delving into beat production. My prior experience and knowledge of music theory is very slim. I have no keyboard skills and have not yet owned and used a midi keyboard or drum pad. I also cannot yet read or interpret musical notation. I have writing skills, creative ability, and some technical knowledge of Logic Pro X, sampling/synthesis, and audio editing interfaces. However, it is apparent that I will be mostly starting with a clean slate when I begin attempting to produce fully original music.

Luckily, I will be able to learn in an inclusive setting that might allow me the space to develop a slight systematic desensitization to public embarrassment. I realize that a lot of what I produce has the potential to not be good, but accepting that fact and receiving real-life experience and feedback will undoubtedly cause me to grow and improve. This project will certainly be a lofty undertaking, and there is a lot of content that I plan on producing. However, I am excited to continue on this path to “More Knowledge”.

Anticipated Materials:

Software

  • Logic Pro X
  • Audacity
  • any necessary plugins or digital instruments
  • YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, other sources for research and development of skills

Hardware

  • powerful personal computer with advanced editing capabilities
  • external ssd
  • pair of studio headphones
  • recording interface
  • decent microphone for prototype recording
  • auxiliary/MIDI cables
  • MIDI keyboard and beat pad
  • sampler/synthesizer
  • necessary batteries and power cables

Explanation of Alternative Idea:

My fallback idea would be to create a website or app that is designed for longboard skateboarders. Its primary function would be to serve as a source for enthusiasts to find and explore all of the great skate locations in NJ. It would be maps connected, and users would be able to navigate to a link for directions so they can skate any spot they see. Moreover, it would be great to add some social features like the ability for users to comment, share, and post community locations of their own.

There are currently some forums and reddit threads on the subject of longboarding, but there exists no one central hub for finding great spots. I see this as a potential opportunity to fill the gap provide a great pool of information for longboarders. It can be challenging to find exciting, safe, inclusive, and semi-private locations to practice the sport. This is especially true if one is engaged in any extreme aspects such as downhill, freeride, or slalom. The site/app will alleviate frustration and serve as an easy go-to source so that longboarders do not have to aimlessly search for the next great spot.