Unravel the code v

Unravel the Code V

Radio is one of the major technological infrastructures of our contemporary life. One of the fundamental building blocks that a lot of the technologies we use depend on. When you read the word 'radio' however, you might think of commercial FM stations, pop music, talk shows and wonder what's so relevant and fundamental about that. We've got the internet right? Radio however is much bigger than just commercial broadcast radio. At any given moment the air is filled signals ranging from cell phone packets, the walkie-talkie chatter of bus drivers, , airplane tracking signals, bluetooth mouse movements, satellites broadcasting down to earth, the hum of electrical devices, bleeping wireless car keys, television, pagers, navigational beacons and much much more. And aside from that list there are all those technologies which are part of 'the internet', such as Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, microwave towers etc which are also radio based. In short, any electrical device which doesn't work via wires (hence: wireless) works via radio. However, radio itself is a natural phenomenon, deeply physical and older than man kind. The strongest broadcasters are the stars.

For Unravel The Code 2k16 we will take this expanded understanding of radio as our topic and approach it as Digital Craftsmen.We will get an insight of how various radio based systems work, what they do, what they send, who they send to and why. With that knowledge we will design objects that relate to this electromagnetic spectrum. We will dream up devices that make these radio systems more present or visible, opening them up to critical inquire, poetical intervention, aesthetic experience etc.

During Q9 students will unravel the mysteries of radio on a week by week basis. Q9 is centered around a series of workshops. During these workshops we will approach a radio system technically, culturally and poetically to understand and learn to work practically with them. For Q10 students will put this experience to use in order to design poetic interventions, recount obscure histories or meticulously craft objects in the grey zone between crafts and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Unravel the Code Q9

Quarter 9 consists of 3 projects:

Project 1 : Unravel the Meme (2 wks)

Project 2 : Objects for the Lonely (3 wks)

Project 3 : Crafting Memory (4 wks)

Learning goals

The objective is that through research, experiment, critical reflection, creation, design and manufacturing, connected to the workshops in Quarter 9, you will gain new knowledge, insights and a critical stance towards radio systems. Following from this you will learn to translate your point of view, your discoveries, into a concrete project.

Assessment criteria

- Depth of research and reflection upon the given theme (demonstrated through wiki and active participation in class meetings and group critiques)

- Quality of concept (demonstrated through wiki and final prototype/design object/other)

- Exhibiting thorough use of technical workshops, including experiments and tests (demonstrated through process documentation in wiki)

- Convincing and precise translation of concepts into required deliverables (demonstrated through prototype/design object/other)

- Paying careful attention to the aesthetics and technical execution of the required deliverables (demonstrated through prototype/design object/other)

- Communicating the concept and process of your design clearly and effectively. (through public presentation and documentation of your project)

- Consistent attendance