{"id":36026,"date":"2020-05-01T10:00:41","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T17:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/?p=36026"},"modified":"2020-04-30T11:05:05","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T18:05:05","slug":"carla-diana-4d-designer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/carla-diana-4d-designer\/","title":{"rendered":"Carla Diana, 4D Designer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Our guest this week is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.carladiana.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Carla Diana<\/a>. Carla is a designer, author and educator who explores the impact of future technologies through tinkering. Carla has been granted the honor of creating the 4D Design program at the <a href=\"https:\/\/cranbrookart.edu\/departments\/4d-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cranbrook Academy of Art<\/a>, a 2-year masters in creative technology. She also serves as Head of Design for <a href=\"https:\/\/diligentrobots.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Diligent Robotics<\/a> and is the cohost of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.robopsych.com\/robopsychpodcast\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Robopsych Podcast<\/a>, a biweekly discussion around design and the psychological impact of human-robot interaction. You can find her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/carladiana_\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@carladiana_<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/810693601%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-u4rMwM0zhFN&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc; line-break: anywhere; word-break: normal; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif; font-weight: 100;\"><a style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" title=\"Cool Tools\" href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/cool-tools\" target=\"_blank\">Cool Tools<\/a> \u00b7 <a style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" title=\"224: Carla Diana\" href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/cool-tools\/224-carla-diana\/s-u4rMwM0zhFN\" target=\"_blank\">224: Carla Diana<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/cool-tools-show-and-tell\/id605920446?mt=2\">Subscribe to the Cool Tools Show on iTunes<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/feedpress.me\/cooltoolsshow\">RSS<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/19bgCsipu8OylThOWMruqOwVake5fReYL\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Transcript<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/tag\/cool-tools-show\/\">See all the Cool Tools Show posts on a single page<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Show notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/05\/quadhands.jpg\" alt=\"quadhands\" width=\"500\" height=\"475\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36036\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/05\/quadhands.jpg 500w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/05\/quadhands-300x285.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/exec\/obidos\/ASIN\/B01MTWLF2Q\/cooltoolsshow-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">QuadHands Workbench Helping Hands Soldering Third Hand Vise<\/a> ($45)<br \/>\nThis is a \u201cthird hand\u201d tool used by electronics tinkerers and serves to hold a component or piece of wire suspended above a work surface in order to solder or otherwise manipulate it. A barebones third hand is basically an alligator clip on a series of rods bolted together with wing nuts. This one is super deluxe in that it features arms of different lengths with the alligator clips at the end of flexible goose neck cables. There are 4 arms and each affixed to a bright orange super heavy metal base with a rare earth magnet so the arms can be moved around as well as bent into position. I also love going rogue with this and taking the magnetic arms and attaching them to other metal surfaces around my studio when needed. For example, I have a desk with metal legs, so I can have a part that\u2019s held for me off to the side of where I\u2019m working that I can easily access.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36030\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/nanoleafpanels.jpg\" alt=\"nanoleafpanels\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/nanoleafpanels.jpg 500w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/nanoleafpanels-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/nanoleaf.me\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nanoleaf Light Panels<\/a> ($200-$400)<br \/>\nI\u2019ve been playing with these for some time, since they were first introduced. The original set I have are triangles that feature LED lighting that points inward so that the whole panel has a soft glow. Multiple panels can be attached to one another like tiles with simple circuit board \u201ccards\u201d so it\u2019s easy to customize the configuration. I use these as an \u201calarm clock\u201d of sorts, where I have bright light programmed to go on in the morning (I used this when sleep training my child when he was an infant and the crib was in a room that didn\u2019t get great natural light). I also have a set of these installed on the door to my studio, which is in a space that I share with my students. I have them programmed to change colors to indicate when I\u2019m busy, and I have them turn off when I leave. I\u2019m currently playing with the hexagonal version of these that have capacitive sensing so that they can be programmed to change color when touched. I\u2019m in the midst of experimenting with the API in order to set up a music sequencer of sorts. Before the COVID-19 crisis I was working on a wall-mounted room-sized music sequencer that was scheduled to be part of an exhibition for my 4D Design program at Cranbrook. The plan is for the show to be rescheduled for October, so I hope to still have a chance to work this out. I\u2019m collaborating with a composer friend named Skooby Laposky on the interactive sound experience.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36029\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/tictactoetrivet.jpg\" alt=\"tictactoetrivet\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/tictactoetrivet.jpg 500w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/tictactoetrivet-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/tictactoetrivet-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/store.moma.org\/for-the-home\/kitchen-dining\/serving-flatware\/tic-tac-trivet\/123808.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MoMA Tic Tac Toe Trivet by Alexa Forney<\/a> ($40)<br \/>\nThese are silicone covered trivet pieces that are in the shape of a TIC TAC TOE board. I leave them out of my dining table so that there is something playful on the table that has what we at Smart Design used to call \u201cfidget factor\u201d, and then they are always there for me when I bring a hot plate or pot to the table to act as a trivet. As there is the large piece (the square\u201dlines\u201d if you will) as well as the smaller \u201cx\u201d and \u201co\u201d pieces I can bring out a large dish or a small one or combine the smaller pieces to hold something that\u2019s more irregular shaped. They are super colorful, so I just love seeing them even when they are not being used for anything practical. And they were designed by a former student and studio apprentice\/intern of mine, so I love getting the chance to celebrate her work. I\u2019m so proud of her!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36028\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/timermod.jpg\" alt=\"timermod\" width=\"500\" height=\"499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/timermod.jpg 500w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/timermod-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/timermod-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/exec\/obidos\/ASIN\/B06XK8D226\/cooltoolsshow-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Time Timer MOD Visual Countdown 60 Minute Timer<\/a> ($25)<br \/>\nThis is a timer with a clock face that goes from 0 to 59. There\u2019s a dial in the center for indicating how long the timer should last. When it\u2019s set, it reveals an inner ring that fills the face of it with a red arc or wedge that shows the time remaining, so that the red part slowly gets smaller as the timer goes down. I like this for tasks for myself because it\u2019s just simple and no-nonsense (you don\u2019t have to press any buttons) plus with the bright red ring you can see it in your peripheral vision and get a sense of how much time has elapsed without really stopping what you\u2019re doing. And in this time of quarantining I\u2019m spending a lot of time working alongside my 4 year old boy and I have learned to become more sophisticated with parent-child negotiations (\u201cokay, you can watch Octonauts for a while longer, but after 15 minutes it\u2019s time to get ready for bed!\u201d) It\u2019s so visual that we can both understand it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>About <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.leothemakerprince.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LEO the Maker Prince: Journeys in 3D Printing<\/a><\/em>:<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-36031\" src=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/leothemakerprince.png\" alt=\"leothemakerprince\" width=\"500\" height=\"406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/leothemakerprince.png 500w, https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2020\/04\/leothemakerprince-300x244.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><br \/>\n<em>LEO the Maker Prince: Journeys in 3D Printing<\/em> teaches kids the basics of how 3D printing works through s friendly story about a girl and her robot. The story features a series of objects that can be downloaded and printed by the reader to connect back to the book through the physical world. The core premise of the book is that a lot of the illustrations are objects that are woven into the narrative. There&#8217;s a little boy who lives on the beach in Coney Island and he&#8217;s got a slipper, and the slipper is actually a 3D printed object that is photographed and featured in the book. And at the end of the story, there is a URL to Thingiverse, and anyone can download and 3D print any of the objects of the book. So, the characters are part of those objects. There&#8217;s a character that&#8217;s a jewelry designer, so there&#8217;s jewelry that can be printed. There&#8217;s the shoe. There are these toy musical instruments, et cetera. It&#8217;s been a really, really satisfying project, probably my most satisfying project, because I really got to see how it traveled around the world and touched people. My favorite story was an email I got from a library in Scotland that said, &#8220;We&#8217;re the first library in the UK to have a 3D printer, and we&#8217;ve been doing a regular program with visually impaired kids for years. And this book was an extra special experience for them because they were actually able to hold in their hands part of the story while we were telling the story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cool Tools Show 224: Carla Diana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13684,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[1559],"tags":[1555,1472],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36026"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13684"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36026"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36026\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36037,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36026\/revisions\/36037"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}