"A Day in NuVu" is a short film produced by Spring NuVu Students Liza Cooper and Imogene Edson that looks at the happenings, the thoughts, the idea-making, the invention, the play, the team work, and the fun that fill up a day in the NuVu program.

Envisioning Now, Day 1 by S. Adrian Massey III 10/18/10 The course started by establishing a base of landmark architects and designers. These professionals were defined by their most recognizable creations. The procession of creatives started with Henry Ford, and ended with new media and biotech designers. The underlying message was reviewing the different visions for society through design and how they were disseminated by creating a consumable product. One example given was Verner Panton's S-Chair. The S-Chair was a landmark design both in its form and engineering. It established the psychedelic vision in interior livability while also being the first single part injection-molded chair.

The students were tasked to document 24 hours of their lives in hour by hour bullet points. They then took a singular activity from that day and expanded it into a scenario. For example, expanding the activity of eating lunch into a step by step process. The aim is to be able to find unmet needs within the decision-making process of any activity. This type of expertise is key for being able to envision new ways to reconfigure social and personal practices. Afterwards, the students created mood boards, the softer version of an envisioning board, to use as a reference toward a new context for their activity. Many students chose moods that were emotions. Many also chose emotions that were closely related to the scenario itself. The students who chose more complex feelings to apply to their scenario created more unique solutions. By unique I mean solutions that were unlike any ideas I had seen actualized elsewhere. One notable example was a student who took the scenario of turning on a lava lamp and coupled it with the feeling of disappointment. Her solution avoided the obvious and created a vision that was similar to Dutch design innovators Droog or the German lighting master Ingo Maurer. Another excellent example was a product that snaps an athlete back to reality after a major play by encouraging them to breathe. This idea worked against the traditional notion of gameplay to resuscitate players from stressful situations.

Explaining the lesson and its benefit was a bit of challenge given that it is a combination of expertise. It is the ability to do ethnography and usability, visualization of complex ideas, and synthesis of different kinds of information into a realizable solution.

Here's a thesis by NuVu student Kristopher Bronner on why he wants to take the Nanotechnology studio, an interesting perspective in which he explores the relation between "creation" and "imagination." We'll touch base with Kristopher after the studio finishes in 2 weeks in a follow-up blog that focuses on what he learned in the studio, any new understanding he gained in how creation and imagination connect, and other questions the studio raised for him.

"Nanotechnology" by Kristopher Bronner 9/17/10 Creation the one word everyone in the universe consciously or unconsciously searches for and utilizes every moment of his or her life. Imagination creation of thoughts and possibly palpable manifestations. These two words create infinite possibilities. Throughout my life, my journey to understand the relation of these had led me to explore and research neurology, quantum physics, sacred geometry way too much to list! Of course, we must go inward to understand the external! I know that the opportunity presented to understand nanotechnology will enhance my search for a clearer understanding to the colossal mystery and abilities of these two words. Nanotechnology is defined by the dictionary1 as, the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers, esp. the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules.2 I believe, however, that Dr. Ryans definition would be completely different, or at least in the intentional significance of the topic. Dr. Ryan talked today3 about how we can grow (create) from nanotechnology, and that that creation could be significantly attached to our consciousness (imagination)the seed. I believe that this program will enrich my understanding of the connection of creation and imagination. I find it fascinating to contemplate whether imagination creates, or creation imagines! Maybe it is both and maybe neither! I know that Ryans program will both complement and challenge my views and will be an amazing addition to my experiences! Do we have the ability to use imagination to create, and creation to fuel imagination? Is there something that truly binds us all, and makes us one? (Possibly the Flower of Life) Do shapes really affect how we live and did ancient cultures understand this? I would really look forward to grasping a better understanding of these mysteries in the nanotechnology studio! It would not only be an advancement of my learning but also an advancement of my understanding of even myself! This opportunity would truly give me a New View on who I am and the relation between creation and imagination! Thank You! ______________________ 1 Mac Dictionary 2 Mac Dictionary 3 Friday, September 17, 2010

We are inching closer towards the

Students started working on their final projects today. Here is Nicky in full gear filming the swan at the pond near his house.

Jake, Luke, and Emily wanted to get a time lapse of the play field. The camera is all taped up to make it does not move.

Our Spring student, Emmy Kuperschmid, did a fantastic job creating this poster for our Spring 2011 Exhibit. She used her freshly developed cartooning skills learned from Raghava KK's

The

Photos by Romana Vystova and Naphtali Visser

This past Saturday, NuVu's 2013 Nature-Tech Collection hit the runway during Boston Fashion Week's premier event: Emerging Trends. The Boston Center of the Arts (Cyclorama), was abuzz with over 500 attendees eager to see this year's top emerging designers showcase their collections on the 80-feet raised runway.

All of the "looks" that took center stage in NuVu's collection were created by NuVu's young and budding student fashion-tech designers! Not only did the students cleverly merge technology and fashion design in thought-provoking ways, but they stunned the fashion audience with their creative use of materials, interesting forms, and detailed organic patterns.

Here's more on our collection and one of the 5 looks, Frost Dress:

Within nature there are many beautiful forms, colors and designs: from the tiniest sea caterpillars exploding with striking colors, to the mighty redwood trees standing gracefully with their elegant structure. Nature is full of beauty and fascinating patterns. This year, NuVu Studio’s Nature-Tech Collection takes inspiration from nature and its fascinating and complex patterns and blends this with the fabrication technology. The Nature-Tech Collection is meant to inspire, create awe, and involve some level fantasy, and create a sense of wonder and illusion.

Using the combined power of digital design (computer aided drafting, 3d modeling) and rapid prototyping tools (laser cutters and 3d printers), the NuVu Studio designers have developed new and unique patterns and forms for the garments included in the Nature-Tech Collection that otherwise would not be possible through traditional methods and processes.  The collection uses a breadth of materials including various industrial materials made accessible through the digital fabrication methods such as plywood, polycarbonate, renewable bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA), and High-density polyethylene (HDPE).

The Nature-Tech Collection is composed of five looks: Pyramidic, Frost Dress, Avian Poncho, Body Accordion, and Jellyfish Hat.

The Frost Dress is inspired by icicles and frost found in nature. The Frost Dress is made up of 344 different layers of laser-cut icicle-shaped fabric (frost) that was assembled by hand. The chiffon and mesh layered fabric has a frilly and feminine look that also creates the appearance of ice and frost. To balance the femininity and softness of the fabric, the shoulder and bustle frost pieces are made of lenticular polycarbonate that provide a firm shine. They hope this will add a strong contrast between hard and soft in their dress.

Student Designers:

Olivia Cleary

Will Adam

Lead Coaches/Collection Directors:

Tess Aquarium

Saba Ghole

Here are the infomercials each of the teams produced from the Envisioning Now design studio. SurgAssist by Carli Jaff & Olivia Dynan: