The Taubman Visualization Lab (TVLab) serves as a versatile platform for a variety of courses at Taubman College, offering access to visualization technologies and resources. The TVLab enhances existing courses by integrating workshops, tutorials, and demonstrations that leverage its advanced technological capabilities. We collaborate closely with faculty and students to elevate their course materials, tailoring our technological design expertise to match their specific needs and goals. This collaboration allows for the experimentation and display of innovative projects, ensuring that each course utilizing the TVLab fully benefits from the unique opportunities our space provides.
Winter 2024
ARCH 256: Immersion
This studio module introduces students to techniques of design ideation, development, and representation through exercises utilizing virtual reality and augmented reality. The studio will focus on concepts of embodiment, affect, and spatial experience. Though intended primarily for students considering a design-related career, it is open to students from any discipline wishing to improve their visual literacy.
This studio module introduces students to techniques of design ideation, development, and representation through exercises utilizing virtual reality and augmented reality. The studio will focus on concepts of embodiment, affect, and spatial experience. Though intended primarily for students considering a design-related career, it is open to students from any discipline wishing to improve their visual literacy.
Tue 8:30 - 11:30am
Instructor(s):
Thom Moran
Course Link:
ARCH 256
Instructor(s):
Thom Moran
Course Link:
ARCH 256
ARCH 509: Mixed Feelings
Are we done with remote interactions? Now that the tech giants want us to embrace the metaverse, should we reflexively reject it? Is architecture, with all of its messy materiality and embedded power relations, still more desirable than “Zoom School?” Or is there still something exciting about the possibility of mixed-presence, mixed-reality experiences? Hasn’t streaming culture proven that it organizes new audiences? Can architecture advance the radical possibilities of this new mediated world?
Admittedly, we have mixed feelings.
Beginning from this ethical ambivalence, students will build a critical position on architecture’s relationship to mediated interactions. Through an open-ended, hands-on, collective approach, students will design and produce a mixed-presence, mixed-reality event that will serve as the final review for the course. Making extensive use of the new TVLab and other available emerging technologies, this media experiment could suggest new models for college events like final reviews, symposia, and lectures.
Are we done with remote interactions? Now that the tech giants want us to embrace the metaverse, should we reflexively reject it? Is architecture, with all of its messy materiality and embedded power relations, still more desirable than “Zoom School?” Or is there still something exciting about the possibility of mixed-presence, mixed-reality experiences? Hasn’t streaming culture proven that it organizes new audiences? Can architecture advance the radical possibilities of this new mediated world?
Admittedly, we have mixed feelings.
Beginning from this ethical ambivalence, students will build a critical position on architecture’s relationship to mediated interactions. Through an open-ended, hands-on, collective approach, students will design and produce a mixed-presence, mixed-reality event that will serve as the final review for the course. Making extensive use of the new TVLab and other available emerging technologies, this media experiment could suggest new models for college events like final reviews, symposia, and lectures.
ARCH 509: Finishing
In this course, students will be encouraged to explore new formal potentials to propose an expressive architecture of finishes. This course will be structured as a 2-part work shop with both a representational and fabrication component. The first half of the course will be dedicated to deriving a catalog of image-based textures and material surfaces, which students will develop into a constructed detail condition in the second half of the semester.
In this course, students will be encouraged to explore new formal potentials to propose an expressive architecture of finishes. This course will be structured as a 2-part work shop with both a representational and fabrication component. The first half of the course will be dedicated to deriving a catalog of image-based textures and material surfaces, which students will develop into a constructed detail condition in the second half of the semester.
Winter 2023
UARTS 250: Creative Process
Creative Process is a 4-credit course that enables students to explore the creative process through a structured sequence of exercises in four studio modules: sound, motion, visual images/objects, and verbal/symbolic language. Faculty from Art & Design; Music, Theatre & Dance; Architecture; and Engineering introduce a variety of creative strategies for generating problem solving ideas through hands-on projects. Weekly online colloquia, discussions, and light readings supplement projects. Grading is based upon attendance, class participation, a journal, four mini-projects, evidence of intellectual and creative process development, and a final culminating project. This course is appropriate for U-M undergraduate and graduate students at all levels and in all disciplines. It is a fast paced, information-rich educational experience, offering insights that will make creativity and innovation an integral part of life and work.
Creative Process is a 4-credit course that enables students to explore the creative process through a structured sequence of exercises in four studio modules: sound, motion, visual images/objects, and verbal/symbolic language. Faculty from Art & Design; Music, Theatre & Dance; Architecture; and Engineering introduce a variety of creative strategies for generating problem solving ideas through hands-on projects. Weekly online colloquia, discussions, and light readings supplement projects. Grading is based upon attendance, class participation, a journal, four mini-projects, evidence of intellectual and creative process development, and a final culminating project. This course is appropriate for U-M undergraduate and graduate students at all levels and in all disciplines. It is a fast paced, information-rich educational experience, offering insights that will make creativity and innovation an integral part of life and work.
ARCH 256: Immersion
This studio module introduces students to techniques of design ideation, development, and representation through exercises utilizing virtual reality and augmented reality. The studio will focus on concepts of embodiment, affect, and spatial experience. Though intended primarily for students considering a design-related career, it is open to students from any discipline wishing to improve their visual literacy.
This studio module introduces students to techniques of design ideation, development, and representation through exercises utilizing virtual reality and augmented reality. The studio will focus on concepts of embodiment, affect, and spatial experience. Though intended primarily for students considering a design-related career, it is open to students from any discipline wishing to improve their visual literacy.
Mon 8:30 - 11:30am
Instructor(s):
Thom Moran
Course Link:
ARCH 256
Instructor(s):
Thom Moran
Course Link:
ARCH 256
ARCH 259: Orientation
Exploring the simultaneous assembly of people and material in a particular location and time, this studio module introduces students to contextually based design. Though intended primarily for students considering a design-related career, it is open to students from any discipline wishing to improve their design literacy.
Exploring the simultaneous assembly of people and material in a particular location and time, this studio module introduces students to contextually based design. Though intended primarily for students considering a design-related career, it is open to students from any discipline wishing to improve their design literacy.
Thu 2:00 - 5:00pm
Instructor(s):
Thom Moran/
Peter Halquist
Course Link:
ARCH 259
Instructor(s):
Thom Moran/
Peter Halquist
Course Link:
ARCH 259
ARCH 442: Wallenberg
A continuation of ARCH 432, this course addresses problems of moderate complexity in a more thorough and comprehensive manner. The objectives are:
1. To provide experience in urban site analysis and design.
2. To gain further insight into the issues of contextualism in design.
3. To gain experience in multi-level building organization and design.
4. To apply knowledge of building science skills.
5. To reinforce skills in all aspects of design communications.
Most or all of the term is focused on a single design problem.
A continuation of ARCH 432, this course addresses problems of moderate complexity in a more thorough and comprehensive manner. The objectives are:
1. To provide experience in urban site analysis and design.
2. To gain further insight into the issues of contextualism in design.
3. To gain experience in multi-level building organization and design.
4. To apply knowledge of building science skills.
5. To reinforce skills in all aspects of design communications.
Most or all of the term is focused on a single design problem.
Wed 12:00 - 5:00pm
Instructor(s):
Leah Wulfman
Course Link:
ARCH 442
Instructor(s):
Leah Wulfman
Course Link:
ARCH 442
ARCH 509: Mixed Feelings
Are we done with remote interactions? Now that the tech giants want us to embrace the metaverse, should we reflexively reject it? Is architecture, with all of its messy materiality and embedded power relations, still more desirable than “Zoom School?” Or is there still something exciting about the possibility of mixed-presence, mixed-reality experiences? Hasn’t streaming culture proven that it organizes new audiences? Can architecture advance the radical possibilities of this new mediated world?
Admittedly, we have mixed feelings.
Beginning from this ethical ambivalence, students will build a critical position on architecture’s relationship to mediated interactions. Through an open-ended, hands-on, collective approach, students will design and produce a mixed-presence, mixed-reality event that will serve as the final review for the course. Making extensive use of the new TVLab and other available emerging technologies, this media experiment could suggest new models for college events like final reviews, symposia, and lectures.
Are we done with remote interactions? Now that the tech giants want us to embrace the metaverse, should we reflexively reject it? Is architecture, with all of its messy materiality and embedded power relations, still more desirable than “Zoom School?” Or is there still something exciting about the possibility of mixed-presence, mixed-reality experiences? Hasn’t streaming culture proven that it organizes new audiences? Can architecture advance the radical possibilities of this new mediated world?
Admittedly, we have mixed feelings.
Beginning from this ethical ambivalence, students will build a critical position on architecture’s relationship to mediated interactions. Through an open-ended, hands-on, collective approach, students will design and produce a mixed-presence, mixed-reality event that will serve as the final review for the course. Making extensive use of the new TVLab and other available emerging technologies, this media experiment could suggest new models for college events like final reviews, symposia, and lectures.
Tue 12:00 - 5:00pm
Instructor(s):
Thom Moran
Course Link:
ARCH 509
Instructor(s):
Thom Moran
Course Link:
ARCH 509
ARCH 509: MMORPG
This seminar focuses on video games and game assets as a means to view our environment – a historical and contemporary timeline of ecological collapse charted by rendering and simulation technologies. In the course, we will study virtual open-world games and the real life and simulated ecologies they are set within. Using Unity game engine, we will develop our own immersive Mixed Reality video games from trash and repurposed materials and goods pulled from our own IRL/URL environments. In addition to watching and playing open-world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Death Stranding, we will make use of the Computer and Video Game Archive (CVGA).
When a broken mug, half-rotten banana peel, all the way up to an existing ecology can be downloaded from TurboSquid as an obj file and then trashed in your desktop Recycle Bin, what can it mean to sift through and revalue trashed objects and materials? Every day, we throw things away. Nonetheless, the line between unwanted debris and valuable products can be rather unclear and sometimes perverse. By recycling and mining the IRL/URL worlds of objects, files and spaces, we may revalue, recontextualize, transgress and reattach the meaning and function of trash. In sifting through and curating trash—already existing material that has been deemed done, downloaded, archived, no longer usable or worthless—we will use these IRL/URL personal and collective waste bins to describe our relationship to the environment, using methods from architecture, games, aesthetics as well as mechanized and hands-on techniques of making.
This seminar focuses on video games and game assets as a means to view our environment – a historical and contemporary timeline of ecological collapse charted by rendering and simulation technologies. In the course, we will study virtual open-world games and the real life and simulated ecologies they are set within. Using Unity game engine, we will develop our own immersive Mixed Reality video games from trash and repurposed materials and goods pulled from our own IRL/URL environments. In addition to watching and playing open-world games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Death Stranding, we will make use of the Computer and Video Game Archive (CVGA).
When a broken mug, half-rotten banana peel, all the way up to an existing ecology can be downloaded from TurboSquid as an obj file and then trashed in your desktop Recycle Bin, what can it mean to sift through and revalue trashed objects and materials? Every day, we throw things away. Nonetheless, the line between unwanted debris and valuable products can be rather unclear and sometimes perverse. By recycling and mining the IRL/URL worlds of objects, files and spaces, we may revalue, recontextualize, transgress and reattach the meaning and function of trash. In sifting through and curating trash—already existing material that has been deemed done, downloaded, archived, no longer usable or worthless—we will use these IRL/URL personal and collective waste bins to describe our relationship to the environment, using methods from architecture, games, aesthetics as well as mechanized and hands-on techniques of making.
ARCH 509: Augmented Tectonics
Augmented Tectonics introduces students to methods of analysis in the built environment using extended realities (XR). Leveraging VR and AR development tools, this course will engage and evaluate the design of healthcare spaces. Students will develop research as the spatial liaisons bringing a specific and critical body of knowledge based on design thinking for the envisioning and shaping of three spaces: wellness/break area for the staff, hospital patient care room and an outpatient exam room. Funded by the Arts+ the Curriculum program, the course will be completed in tandem with a course from the School of Nursing which will focus on quality improvement theories and practices, predictive analytics and quality improvement data that inform care delivery in healthcare systems. The objective is to allow architecture students and nursing students to share knowledge and experience specific to their respective disciplines as a way to question known methods and foster non-traditional outcomes for working in and designing co-creatively. The results of the work will be further tested through simulation studies at the University of Michigan Clinical Simulation Center (CSC).
Augmented Tectonics introduces students to methods of analysis in the built environment using extended realities (XR). Leveraging VR and AR development tools, this course will engage and evaluate the design of healthcare spaces. Students will develop research as the spatial liaisons bringing a specific and critical body of knowledge based on design thinking for the envisioning and shaping of three spaces: wellness/break area for the staff, hospital patient care room and an outpatient exam room. Funded by the Arts+ the Curriculum program, the course will be completed in tandem with a course from the School of Nursing which will focus on quality improvement theories and practices, predictive analytics and quality improvement data that inform care delivery in healthcare systems. The objective is to allow architecture students and nursing students to share knowledge and experience specific to their respective disciplines as a way to question known methods and foster non-traditional outcomes for working in and designing co-creatively. The results of the work will be further tested through simulation studies at the University of Michigan Clinical Simulation Center (CSC).
Fall 2022
ARCH 672: Architectural Design VII (2G3/3G6)
Taught in conjunction with ARCH 527, these graduate-level design studios examine special topics in architecture of advanced scale and complexity. Approximately twelve studio sections are offered in each Fall term, each with a unique focus. Examples include: aesthetic concerns, comprehensive building design, housing, community design, urban design, historic preservation and conservation, sustainability, digital technology, and other advanced experimental design methods. Detailed course descriptions for each section are posted during registration. Depending on the goals of the studio section, Arch 672 may involve experience working closely with a client or organization.
Taught in conjunction with ARCH 527, these graduate-level design studios examine special topics in architecture of advanced scale and complexity. Approximately twelve studio sections are offered in each Fall term, each with a unique focus. Examples include: aesthetic concerns, comprehensive building design, housing, community design, urban design, historic preservation and conservation, sustainability, digital technology, and other advanced experimental design methods. Detailed course descriptions for each section are posted during registration. Depending on the goals of the studio section, Arch 672 may involve experience working closely with a client or organization.
Architecture and Urban Planning
Tel. 734.881.4062
TVLabTaubmanCollege@umich.edu
TVLabTaubmanCollege@umich.edu
Room #2106
2000 Bonisteel Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
2000 Bonisteel Blvd
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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