Workshops //

Learn, Make, Share & Play !!I have been facilitating a series of workshops for children and adults – focusing on art, media technology, rapid prototyping and learning, since 2012. !SOME TOPIC EXAMPLES: !• Self-built analog synthesizers

• Conductive dough and electronics, children's workshop

• Storytelling with electronic drawings, children's workshop

• 3D paper electronics

• Interactive audiovisual games with the Makey Makey microcontroller, children's workshop Some examples of electronic textile workshops that I have been facilitating:

• Introduction to DIY e-textile sensors and the Arduino programming platform

• DIY textile musical controllers• Soft circuitry and interactive sound games, children's workshop edition

Children’s workshop in DIY crafting with electronic textiles for interactive sound games, Aalborg, 2013 [Photo: Peter Søholm]

Below you will find a short description for these, which only are some suggestions. I am very open to design new type of workshops implementing technology, crafting and storytelling – according to age, previous knowledge of electronics, programming, fabricating skills etc. I often use the programming platform MaxMSP for working with sensor technology, so I can design various behaviours and apply a series of media in interactive projects. Also I am exploring other microcontrollers than the commonly used Arduino – such as the Bare Conductive or the Makey Makey, which also offer great possibilities of implementing self-made sensing constructions. !The length of the workshops vary, but

• typically last about 2-4 hours.

• In-depth workshops last about 1-3 days (4-6 hours a day). !!Other workshops in the making…!

!I have also designed other workshops that involve hands-on activities. !Are you interested in doing a pilot workshop, please feel free to contact me for details. !Themes:

• Shaping the future, children’s workshop

• Design fiction & futurescaping, adults' workshop 

• “Electronic dreams”: storytelling with simple electronics !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Self-built analog synthesizers

IT University of Copenhagen, 2014

In this workshop every participant will be designing a unique analog synthetizer from scratch. During the process we will explore principles of sound and experiment with simple, yet powerful battery powered circuits. We will be designing our synthesizers on prototyping boards, but a list of components and guide will be provided for a more permanent future design. If time and the circumstances allow, we will solder the parts and encase them, so that the participants can walk away with a ready-to-play custom-made instrument. We might also do some experiments by adding paper-based sensors to control our synths with. No previous knowledge of sounds is necessary, however curiosity and openness is recommended. The workshop is suited for adults and youngsters over the age of approx. 14. !Video documentation from a workshop at IT University of Copenhagen (2014): https://vimeo.com/177257173 !‘Kvadrat’, self-made analog synth with textile controllers: http://editvizer.net/?section=other&tag=kvadrat-synth !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Conductive dough and electronics, children's workshop

!Playing with conductive dough, small LED lights and motors

Figures created with e-dough

Mini sculptures and storytelling with conductive play dough, small LED lights and motors running on battery power. We are going to cook our own conductive play dough in various colors, and then we are going to shape our own creatures and objects that light and move. With these unordinary materials we are going to embody memories and other stories. Best suited for children of the age 7-12. !!Thematic building with e-dough and sound collage

E-dough workshop where the created figures are used to activate sounds in a pre-programmed app. When touching the figures and each other the sounds start a sound collage. !

!!!!!!!!

photo: Ágnes Bogdán, Danish Embassy Budapest

Storytelling with electronic drawings, children's workshop

In this workshop we are going to work with paper materials, small lamps (LEDs) and batteries, and use these materials to create our own book of a chosen story. We will experiment with simple interactions, and implement electronic switches into the paper creatures. Working in 2D – imagine an interactive postcard that tells about the greatest summer experience, for instance. The sun literally shines due to the LED light. Best suited for children of the age 7-12.

!3D paper electronics

Similar to the above described workshop – now working in 3D. Adding light, small kinetic movements and even sound are some of the possibilities for creating the custom-made paper creatures telling one’s story. !!!!!!!!!!!!

Small example of a drawing with paper electronics

Interactive audiovisual games with the Makey Makey microcontroller, children's workshop

Interactive audiovisual game concept, where the participants are able to collaborate and manipulate audiovisual material (videos and sounds). By touching each other and playing with a range of chosen conductive materials (water, fruits, vegetables, sculptures made of tin foil, conductive dough etc.) they can create videos and soundscapes in real-time. So they become live VJs and DJs while having fun together. !It is also possible to start the workshop with gathering and recording the source material (videos and sounds) together – and building this around a certain theme. One of the previous examples were ‘under the water’, where I have been recording together with children in outdoor circumstances – on beaches, in the water and in a sea museum as well. !!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!

Outdoor workshops, Gathering sound and video material for interactive games and stop-motion video

!!!!!!

!!!!!!

Interactive games using sound and visuals // using DIY controllers of conductive play dough, water and tin foil

Introduction to DIY e-textile sensors

In this workshop we are going to make small DIY sensors of various kinds (for pressure, tilt, touch, etc) and then apply them for various media (sound, visuals, servo motors). Primarily target group is youngsters, young adults. The workshop is suited for all ages from 13 and upwards.

This introductory workshop covers the basics of electricity, circuitry building and the techniques and materials used to make soft circuits – all this is carried out in a simple and playful way, and we avoid the usage of soldering irons and other hazardous/technical equipment if the target group is children and youngsters. The workshop participants will be given a short overview of wearables in the context of fashion, art, and technology, as well as a short introduction to the history and aesthetics of sound – illustrated by related works in the field. Participants will then be given a project-based instruction on basic circuitry and will construct soft circuits using conductive thread and fabric. No prior experience with electronics or sewing is required. The partakers will walk away with circuits and hand-made sensors made in the workshop, as well as a list of sources for materials and online resources to further their education outside of the workshop. !!!!!!!

Examples of self-made textile sensors

DIY textile sensors with Arduino

In this workshop the participants are going to fabricate 1-2 small DIY textile sensors of their own choice (for pressure, stretching, tilting, bending), and then apply them for interacting with light and sound via the Arduino platform and simple ready-made code.

The partakers will walk away with their hand-made sensors made in the workshop, as well as a list of sources for materials and online resources to further their education outside of the workshop, if interested. No prior experience with electronics or sewing is required for this workshop. !!!!

!!

Children’s workshop, playing with self-made textile controllers for sound

Felt your own (musical) controller

In this workshop the participants are going to fabricate their unique textile interface, hand-made with the technique of dry (needle) felting. The textile platform can then be connected to a great amount of circuits and softwares. It will be able to sense your skin, and only by touching and playing one can control various media (sound, light, kinetics). The partakers will walk away with their hand-made textile controller made in the workshop, as well as a list of sources for materials and online resources to further their education outside of the workshop, if interested. The finished controllers could be applied in other workshop(s) as controllers, in musical workshop for instance. No prior experience with electronics, felting or sewing is required for this workshop.

!!!!!!!!!!

Workshop and showcase at MADE maker festival, Roskilde, 2014

Further documentation

A small, action-packed video illustrating some of the previous sound and e-textile workshop results (Platform4, Aalborg, 2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FAvq9obNtc&feature=youtu.be !Soft circuitry and sound project and workshop series: about: http://editvizer.net/?section=research&tag=farm video: https://vimeo.com/52185650 !Video excerpt from the e-textile and sound games children’s workshop (main library in Aalborg, 2013). Sound experiments of children with their self-built e-textile musical interfaces: https://vimeo.com/67055995 !You will also find information about previous workshops here: http://storiesonwhite.net/workshops/?section=workshops [Site is under construction, but please feel free to explore and ask any questions.] !!

Workshop and showcase at MADE maker festival, Roskilde, 2014