WHAT WE ARE MAKING

WHY WE ARE MAKING IT

a electrical circuit that powers a DC motor

a motor can activate our projects with movement

DESIGN YOUR PROJECT MOVEMENT!

To Create a Motor Circuit

Power Supply

(Batteries)

Motor

(Takes electricity and uses it to spin)

Connector

(Conductive Wire)

CREATING THE CIRCUIT

Design the object you want your motor to spin. 

How does it attach to the motor shaft?

9v Battery

Geared Motor

Either use crocodile clips

or

if you have a battery pack use the wires to connect the battery to the DC motor

Connect the motor to the battery with wires

What happens when you reverse the wires?

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-

3

Volts

A battery is a device that stores chemical energy and converts it to electrical energy. The chemical reactions in a battery involve the flow of electrons from one material (electrode) to another, through an external circuit. The flow of electrons provides an electric current that can be used to do work.

THE BATTERY

1.8 - 3.3

Volts

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current flows through it. LEDs have positive (+) and negative (-) sides to them. For an LED to work it needs to be connected to a voltage source with the correct side.

THE LED

An LED circuit requires three basic elements. The light, the wires that create a loop, and a battery. 

A switch can also be added to allow you to open and close the circuit, turning on and off the light. 

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-

a switch is an electrical drawbridge when the bridge is up the electrons can't go anywhere

the Light Emitting Diode [LED] will provide our light

the battery holds the electrons

LED CIRCUIT BASICS

A switch is an electrical component that can disconnect or connect the conducting path in an electrical circuit. Interrupting the electric current turns the LED off, connecting the current turns it on. 

THE SWITCH

Securing the wires to the switch

Attach the metal ends of wires through holes of switch prongs

Secure each side with tape - make sure the wires aren't touching each other!

LEDs

switch

wires

batteries

LED

switch

battery

BUILDING A SIMPLE CIRCUIT

WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

Making a simple 3D model helps you try out many ideas quickly and see what works best.

Now that you’ve finished brainstorming and chosen your great idea, it’s time to start building a simple model of it.

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

Cardboard

Colored Acetate

Bristol Papers

Zip-ties

Straws

Metal Ruler

Pencil 

Markers 

Cutting Blade

Masking Tape

Hot Glue Gun

String

Brads

Popsicles and wooden skewers

Step 1

Step 2

Select your final idea from your sketches, don't worry about selecting your final design, while building you will keep on iterating and changing!

You will undertake a safety orientation, where you will learn to use the basic tools of prototyping such as gluing techniques and cutting tools

**Refer to the "Safety prototyping" tab

Step 3

Go over the presentation found in the "resources" tab and start making! You will make a low-fidelity prototype of your chosen design. This prototype will allow you to test your idea on your site, and actually get user feedback, and see if it creates delight.

Safety Orientation

Prototyping Presentation

CARDBOARD TECHNIQUES: SHAPING

Bending

Scoring

Curving

Faceting

Layering

Hinging

CARDBOARD TECHNIQUES: JOINERY

Brads

Flanges

Brace

Skewer

Bend

Hinge

Slots

Butt Joint

CARDBOARD TECHNIQUES: Mechanism

Gears

Scissor lift

Grabbing

Waving

Tentacle

Curving

Lever

Fanning

CARDBOARD TECHNIQUES: Mechanism

Slider

Wheel and Axel

Pulley

؜Spiral

Students Work

Create a post under the Response tab that includes the following:

1. Your last sketches for your idea
2. Photographs of your models from two different angles.

ACTIVITY DELIVERABLES

WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

You are improving your prototype by finding ways to make it look better (form) and work better (function).

؜To make your project look better and work better so it’s ready for the final presentation.

Iterations of Dyson vacuum prototypes - from earliest to latest (left to right)

Iterations of chair prototypes - from earliest to latest (left to right)

1st

Reflect on the First Prototype

Take a moment to think about the first version of your project. Use these questions to help you improve it:

1. Materials & Building: What materials worked well? What would you change or use next time?
2. Strengths & Weaknesses: What parts of your prototype are strong? What parts break easily? How can you make them stronger?
3. Feedback: Ask your classmates or teacher what they think. What ideas do they have to help you improve?
4. Neatness & Appearance: Does your project look clean? Can you hide the glue or tape to make it look nicer?
5. Fit & Finish: Do all the pieces fit together well? How can you make the edges smoother or cleaner?

2nd

3rd

Think about adding cool new features like electronics, lights, or moving parts.

1. How could these features make your project work better?
2. How could they make your project look more interesting?
3. Could adding these features help your idea feel more complete or exciting?

؜Make Your Final Prototype

1. Use the best materials you’ve chosen.
2. Build your final version of your project carefully.
3. Cut and assemble neatly — make your pieces fit well together.
4. Make sure your prototype looks clean and finished for presentation.

Each time we improve our design, our prototype should look better and show our idea more clearly, just like real designers who make many tries before the final one.

Prototype One

Prototype Two

Prototype Three

ITERATION

Prototype One

Prototype Two

Prototype Twelve

Here you can see the designer iterated many times using cardboard in order to figure out how to make a human-scale foldable building (seen in the last image on the right). With each iteration, the designer looked for ways to improve the form and function of their design.

ITERATION: Form + Function

Each time a designer makes an interation of their prototype, they're looking to improve its form, function, or both!

FORM: HOW IT LOOKS

FUNCTION: HOW IT WORKS

You can make your hot-glued cardboard prototype look nicer by:

1. Trimming rough edges so the pieces fit cleanly.
2. Using less glue or hiding glue with tape or paper.
3. Smoothing surfaces by sanding or covering with paper.
4. Use cool mechanism for joineries

How could you improve the functionality of your device?

1. Adding motors or gears to make parts move on their own.
2. Using switches or buttons to control how it works.
3. Adding lights
4. Combining moving parts with mechanisms

؜Be Precise- how you cut, clean (hot glue strings), and decorate your project can go a long way towards visual improvement!

Precise Cuts

Clean Project

ITERATION: FORM - Improving how the prototype looks

Using new mechanisms can better demonstrate and test the movement and function of a project.

ITERATION: FUNCTION - Improving how the prototype works

؜Getting feedback from the end-users (or your teacher/classmates, if necessary) is the best way to improve how your prototype works.

ITERATION: FUNCTION - Improving how the prototype works

ITERATION

STUDENT EXAMPLES

Segmented

Vehicle

1st Prototype

2nd Prototype

Final Prototype

This student progressed from testing shapes with cardboard to 3D modeling the design in Rhino, and finally integrating electronics

Scanning Diagrams

It all starts by document all your drawings throughout the studio

Scanning Diagrams

Below are some resources you can use to document your work, both for scanning drawings as well as photo/gif editing tools.

1) Scanner app (Genius Scan)

2) Gif maker (GIF Maker by Momento)

https://ezgif.com/maker https://gifmaker.me/

3) Photo editor / Camera app (VSCO or Adobe PS Express) VSCO Link Adobe PS Express Link https://www.photopea.com/

Below are some resources you can use to document your work, both for scanning drawings as well as photo/gif editing tools.

1) Scanner app (Genius Scan)

2) Gif maker (GIF Maker by Momento)

https://ezgif.com/maker https://gifmaker.me/

3) Photo editor / Camera app (VSCO or Adobe PS Express) VSCO Link Adobe PS Express Link https://www.photopea.com/

For photographing prototypes, we recommend everyone using a consistent white or black backdrop. Paper, sheets, walls/desks all work well for this.

CREATE A STATION

Ensure the entire background is white and that natural light is available. For photographing prototypes, we recommend using a consistent white or black backdrop—paper, sheets, walls, or desks all work well.

Different Angles

Try different angles, top, left, right, close ups... but also try different lighting setups, Camera Settings, and Composition

Clean Images

Make sure all background is white, no edges or other objects in the background

YES

NO

Clean Images

Make sure all background is white, no edges or other objects in the background

WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

In your project group, sketch your design, write your concept statement, and create a storyboard

To start making decisions about the form and function of your future transit design

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

Paper

Metal Ruler

Pencil 

Markers 

Colors

1st

2nd

3rd



4th

In your group, finalize your concept idea.

Next, begin to develop sketches to your final concept idea.

Once each sketch is complete, share your sketches with your instructor.

Work with your group to look at your sketches, choose your main idea, decide what your project will look like, and come up with a name and one sentence that explains it.

5st

Next, you will create a storyboard

؜Plan Your Story – Describe your future transportation system, who uses it, and show how people get on, travel, and get off.

؜Sketch Key Scenes – Draw 6–8 boxes that show how your transportation system works, with people, vehicles, places, and arrows or labels to show movement.

؜Refine & Present – Add short captions, show the important technologies, and explain how your idea helps people move better before you share your storyboard.

When writing an essay, a thesis statement is a sentence that states the topic and purpose of your writing. A good thesis statement will direct the structure of your essay and will allow your reader to understand the ideas you will discuss within your paper.

A thesis statement for a creative project serves a similar purpose. This statement will guide your research and prototyping throughout the creative process.

؜THESIS STATEMENT

TRANSITOPIA THESIS QUESTIONS

What is it?

How does it work?

What inspired the design?

Why is it needed?

Answer the most important of these questions for your specific project. 

Speak in the "third person". Do not use the words "I" or "you" in your thesis statement. 

As the first time working with your new partner, you will need to compromise and negotiate. 

PROJECT NAME GENERATOR

It is easier to write a thesis statement for your project once you have chosen a project name. 

Here is one technique for coming up with many name options to choose from. 

Project Theme 1

Project Theme 2

Possible Project Names

Metro

Tunnels

Spaceship

Bus

Car

Mountain

Rocky

Sea

Wind

Ground

؜Rocky Spaceship

Sea Tunnels

Sea Bus

Ground Metro

Wind Tunnels

SKETCHES

SKETCHES

EXAMPLE THESIS STATEMENT

The Segmented Mountain Climber is a wooden vehicle that climbs mountains easily using spider-like legs for strong grip. It can turn and move smoothly with help from small motors and an Arduino controller.

‘Segmented Mountain Climber’

STORYBOARD

GROUP DISCUSSION

What is the future of transportation? 

Give some examples

GROUP DISCUSSION

Transportation

Sustainable Systems

Future Cities

Final Project Expectations

Your design will take ideas from the future and imagine new, cool ways to travel that use clean, green energy.

Bring your ideas to life using storyboarding tools to create a story that shows how your futuristic system works, who it helps, and how it makes travel better.

Your model should fit inside a 50x50 box and include something that moves or works, like simple electronics or a mechanical part.

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Studio Skills

Mechanisms

Project Development

Sustainable Design

Sketching

Storytelling

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+

+

+

+

+

؜Prototyping

Aptera Solar Car

AI in Public Transportation

Zip Line Pods

Speculative Transportation Projects

Mock up Prototype

Final Prototype

Sketch

Student Project Sample

Student Project Samples

Student Project Samples

؜PROTOTYPING

Cardboard 101

CARDBOARD

• Readily available
• Easy to manipulate
• Strong

Corrugation

CARDBOARD



Structural in one direction and bendable in the other

Bendable one direction

TOOLS

CUTTING TECHNIQUES

Cutting

Straight

Cutting

Curves

SHAPING TECHNIQUES

Shaping:

Bending

Shaping:

Faceting

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Straight

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Curve

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Shaping:

Layering

JOINERY

Joining:

Hinge

Joining:

Hinge

Joining:

Braces

Joining:

Tabs

Joining:

Tabs

Joining:

Slotting

Joining:

Slotting

Joining:

Tabs/

Notching

Joining:

Tabs/

Notching

Joining:

Butt Joint

Joining:

Brads

Joining:

Skewer

Joining:

Skewer

Joining:

Flange

Joining:

Strap

COOL CARDBOARD PROTOTYPES

Deep Sea Bots Studio

COOL CARDBOARD PROTOTYPES

Responsive Architecture Studio

INSPIRATION: Manual Movement

MATERIALS

؜These mechanism and movement principles apply to all materials, but for today we will focus on the incredible things you can do with humble cardboard!

Considerations:

1. How can the cardboard's corrugation orientation make it more structural, or allow for the pieces to bend in the correct orientations?
2. Can the cardboard be layered, rolled or scaled to make it perform better?
3. Cardboard has a thickness- take this into account when designing connecting parts and mechanisms

CONNECTIONS

؜Tape it, Glue it, Pin it, Screw it...

Considerations:

1. Does the connection need to be static or mobile?
2. Is the connection permanent, or do you want the pieces to be able to be disassembled?
3. How much surface area is in the connection and can I add extra pieces (braces, brackets, etc.) to strengthen the joint?

HIGH-FIDELITY

LOW-FIDELITY

. . .

We usually think of cardboard as a material for low-fi prototypes. It is cheap and easy to try ideas out with.

HIGH-FIDELITY

LOW-FIDELITY

. . .

In some cases, though, cardboard can be a high-fi material, where more advanced building methods and mechanisms can be used

Structure

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Mechanism

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Electronics/

Motors

(optional!)

؜Some Cool Mechanisms

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؜Project Examples

How can we make moving parts out of cardboard?

The following slides show simple machines and a few mechanisms, including templates for their parts and gifs of their completed assemblies

SCISSOR

GEARS

SLIDER

RAMP/ SCREW

PULLEY

TENTACLE

• Cardboard
• Straw
• String

SPINNER/ WHEEL AND AXLE

CLAW

Grabbing

How to make it

1

4

2

3

5

6

Expanding/ Fanning

How to make it

1

4

2

5

3

6

How to make it

Waving

How to make it

1

4

2

3

5

6

Oscillating

How to make it

1

4

2

3

Resources