Design with Movement

at Aalto University

Lecture 1: Tools

Lecture 1 is for inspiration and for getting familiar with tools. A few different types of tools for designing movement will be introduced, along with various examples and references in the context of movement in art and design.

  1. Tools
  2. Read/Watch/Download
  3. Slides

LINKKI

LINKKI is a simple linkage-based tool for kinetic design. The features of LINKKI are as follows:

  • Flat linkage-based tool 
  • No prior knowledge is needed
  • Affordable and easy to fabricate (open-source)
  • Somewhere between existing mechanical toys and raw material
  • Extendable, adaptable, and modular
  • Compatible with other material and tools
LINKKI tutorial: 1. basic parts explained

Mechanical toys (LEGO Technic, Mindstorms)

Existing mechanical construction toys, for example LEGO Technic bricks, can be used for prototyping movement. The pros and cons of using them are summarized below:

  • Sturdy and finely finished parts
  • Various parts from beams and gears to motors
  • LEGO motors and the Mindstorms controller come in handy for basic automation and interaction.
  • They come with a box set, which doesn’t include all the necessary parts. (You need to order specific parts additionally.)
  • Price barrier (e.g. a LEGO set costs 10-360€!)
  • It takes time to get to know their ‘system’; prior knowledge is needed!
  • Targeted for 3D structures making the construction bulky

Cardboard and hand tools

Last but not least, sometimes paper and paper fasteners along with basic hand tools will suffice.

  • The most affordable way of prototyping
  • The most labor-intensive work
  • Easy to customize design and size for your purpose
Prototyping for Mechanical Cartoon by Eun Young Park

Combined method

As each way has its advantages and disadvantages, the best way is to combine the methods mentioned above for your desired purpose. For example,

  • Using LINKKI as a medium for your work 
  • Fabricating customized parts based on the mechanism figured out with LINKKI
  • Using LEGO motors to drive the motion
  • Using Mindstorms to design basic interactions
  • Using LEGO beams to support and complement mechanisms
LINKKI tutorial: 2. how to use motors

Apps for mechanical design and simulation

In addition to the tools for physical prototyping, there are also tools for virtual simulation of movement such as:

Read/Watch/Download: