My Digital Making Journey- Original Tutorials and Reflection: Introduction to BEIL0014

To be completely honest, the reason i enrolled in 'Digital Making' was because it fit perfectly into my timetable. I knew nothing about the subject other than what i had quickly read in the course handbook before enrolling, which wasn't much to go by. None the less i am extremely happy that i took the leap of faith. This course has taught myself quite a bit in very a short period of time, things that i didn't ever expect to be doing at university, tasks that have opened my eyes to a completely different way of learning and approaching problems.

2016 UNSW Course Handbook Description:

 "Through new methods in designing objects and spaces, new challenges in making and creating the objects and spaces arise. Digital design and fabrication promises new ways of designing, different, cheaper and faster but are these predictions real promises or are they are misleading the future designer and builder? The studio sees only one way to get an answer to the questions raised above – through digital making! Consequently the studio engages in designing an installation using digital and parametric design tools, and building the outcome as a 1:1 mock-up and answering the question by exploring what is possible and what are only promises. A project with this complexity requires experts from different disciplines. It is not only about the design but also about managing the project, understanding the constraints of construction methods and materials, structural and building regulation and their demands and understanding details from an aesthetic to fabrication point. This is digital making of the 21st century." 

http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/courses/2016/BEIL0014.html

Reading this description now i have better understanding of what is trying to be said, but before  having anything to do with the subject it can come across as quite a vague statement with no real definitive direction or instruction as to what the course might entail. Perhaps this was what was intended, who knows? All i can say is that from the perspective of a student who would jump at the chance to do any sort of hands on work, this statement only gives a small indication as to the amount of practical (hands on) work that it involves. In terms of attracting more people within the built environment faculty with a like mindedness to that of my own, a description with a more accurate indication of the type of work would be beneficial, i think. i.e. 3D modelling, Workshop inductions Laser cutting, Model making, Metal shaping, blogging etc...