This week, in honor of the Back to School season, we are highlighting one of many professor/designer talents, Robert Krawczyk. Robert lives in Chicago and is deeply immersed in the digital art world, as a professor in the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, as well as founding Gallary Director for art at ITT. His shop began as an exploration of a mobius ribbon which translated beautifully as bangles, and has a few other fun designs to check out!
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? Where are you located?
I am a lifelong resident of Chicago. My family immigrated for Poland shortly after World War II, my father worked as a metal spinner, an incredible craftsman. I was the first college graduate in my family, graduating from the University of Illinois Chicago, College of Architecture. In the 1970’s I pioneered digital graphic applications in the architectural office of Murphy/Jahn in Chicago for eight years under design partners Gene Summers and Helmut Jahn. After leaving Murphy/Jahn I started a computer consulting firm and began teaching digital design applications.
My research into digital methods in the disciplines of science, mathematics, architecture, art, and technology is published and presented internationally in the form of prints, web pieces, sculptural, and architectural studies presented in a body of work spanning over 100 exhibitions and 37 conference papers. This work also resulted in being selected as one of the founding Associate Editors of the Journal of Mathematics and Art.
Highlights of my digital artwork include SIGGRAPH 2001 Art Gallery and its International Traveling Art Show, the SIGGRAPH 2003 Art Gallery, the 2004 Rockford Midwestern Exhibition, the Chicago ArtFutura Exhibition of American Art 2005 and 2006, and the Chicago Sculpture International’s 2006, 2008,and 2010 Biennials; the Chicago Art Lopp Open 2010. The Rockford and ArtFutura exhibits were curated by James Rondeau of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Currently, I am a Professor in the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago focusing on digital craftsmanship. During my 31 years at IIT, I have developed and taught a series of computer-aided design and digital design courses covering 2D and 3D CAD, image composition, animation, and form generation methods. In addition to teaching I am the Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Student Affairs and an advisor in the PhD and Master’s programs on form generation and other related digital design methods.
I am also the founding Gallery Director for art at IIT, a campus gallery with a focus on the art of technology. Over a period a three years, I have curated and installed 22 exhibits. In January 2008, his textbook titled: The Codewriting Workbook, Creating Computational Architecture in AutoLISP, was published by Princeton Architectural Press, New York. My artwork can be found here, and student work, papers, and other projects here.
What’s the story behind your designs? What inspires you?
This series began as an exploration of a Mobius ribbon on a circular and elliptical path; a half turn, 180 degrees, and full turn 360 degrees evolving to four full turns and then replacing the ribbon with two rods, the edges of the ribbon itself. Since the two rods never touch, the twists end up floating free, requiring another rod to hold them together to make a bangle. First four in the series: Pink bangle is constructed by two twisting rods covering four revolutions of 360 degrees each, they are only held together by a single circular rod on the inside of the bangle; Orange, yellow and purple are variations of this design, held together by one or two circular rods. My website shows more examples and other related projects.
What brought you to 3D printing with Shapeways?
Quality, turnaround time and cost.
How do you promote your work?
Facebook, local retail outlets, and exhibits.
How did you learn how to design in 3D?
Have been writing 3D software for over 30 years. Found here
and here.
Who are your favorite designers or artists? Who in the Shapeways community has served as an inspiration to you?
Many architects, art/math community, and Sol LeWitt.
If you weren’t limited by current technologies, what would you want to make using 3D printing?
More of my work but at a larger scale.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS SHOP:
- Nice photography, full of all different colors of each bracelet
- Sections for easy shopping
- Fun selection of products that you can tell are from the same shop
- Good shop description highlighting personal website with other work
- Affordable prices
Thank you, Robert! Your work and dedication to the digital art world is truly inspiring. Keep up the amazing work. Don’t forget to check out Robert’s shop, as well as his website.