Core77

Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting award-winning projects and ideas from this year's Core77 Design Awards 2012! For full details on the project, jury commenting and more information about the awards program, go to Core77DesignAwards.com

• Haptic Intelligentsia
• Designer: Joong Han Lee
• Location: Design Academy Eindhoven
• Category: Interaction
• Award: Student Runner up

HAPTIC INTELLIGENTSIA is a human 3D printer that allows the user to tactually perceive the virtual object and to directly transform it into the physical. The user can freely move the extruding gun, which is attached to a haptic interface.

How did you learn that you had been recognized by the jury?
Ironically I was flying out of London, while the jury was announcing the results live in London. So, I had to wait to check if I made it until the plane landed. It was the longest one-hour flight...

What's the latest news or development with your project?
My project initially focused heavily on a systematic aspect, rather than the physical outcomes. So, I tried to avoid having the general public from getting too distracted by the product outcomes, and that's why I decided to keep the shape (a cylindrical vessel) as basic as possible. As I now have the system to experiment with, I am currently experimenting with different applications and I am working on a series of products that will be one-of-a-kind. At the moment, my machine is being exhibited at the Z33 exhibition 'The Machine - Design a new industrial revolution', in the city of Genk, Belgium.

What is one quick anecdote about your project?
I integrated the force feedback haptic device, which I tried out briefly during the 3D modeling workshop at my old uni back in the States 4-5 years ago. I immediately recalled the experience I had with the device and thought it would be great to experiment with it to realize my idea.

What was an "a-ha" moment from this project?
Rather than telling about my own, I would like to share many other "a-ha" moments from users who interacted with the machine for the first time. Since my project requires a tactile interaction, without the visual aid, people still wondered what exactly the project was about. But as soon as I let them "feel" the machine, I immediately saw a big smile on their faces.