SoundSculpt: A Design Framework for 3D Modelling and Digitally Fabricating Sound Patterns

This paper presents a design framework for the design and production of a sculptural installation which combines sound experimentation with 3D modelling and digital fabrication. This paper's aim is to make a two-fold contribution. On one hand, it describes the design framework as a support tool for practitioners in their exploration of sound-informed geometries through 3D modelling and digital fabrication. On the other hand, it informs educators on key aspects for combining sound, 3D modelling, and digital fabrication within educational curricula and in their students' design processes. The framework was tested during a workshop where participants produced and fabricated 3D objects informed by sound patterns they created. After describing the design process, the final installation and its shape grammars, as well as participant experiences during the design process, the paper concludes with a discussion on how the design framework can be useful for practitioners and educators.