Research Through Making 2015

2015 Research Through Making

Historically, research and creative practice have been constructed as "opposites." This is not an unusual struggle in architecture schools, particularly in the context of a research university. This perceived tension between design and research is indicative of age-old anxieties within the architecture field to understand its nature as an "applied art." Design can be a purely creative activity not unlike creative practices in music and art. In other cases, design can be a purely problem solving activity, not unlike research in engineering and industrial production.

In its sixth year, University of Michigan Taubman College's Research Through Making (RTM) Program provides seed funding for faculty research, worked on by faculty, students and interdisciplinary experts. The exhibition presents tangible results of their collaborative work.

Research Through Making 2015: TEASER 1 from Taubman College on Vimeo.

Research Through Making Installations:

• Drop Kick Push Pull
  Sean Vance - Assistant Professor, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
  Siyang Ziui Chen - Artist/Designer
  Rebecca Hasson - Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology

• Electrofrost
  Meredith Miller - Assistant Professor, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
  Anya Sirota - Assistant Professor, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
  Patrick Beaucé - Associate Professor, École nationale supérieure d'art de Nancy
  Jean Louis Farges - Principal, Akoaki

• RoboPinch
  Karl Daubmann - Associate Professor, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

• Social Sensory Surfaces
  Sean Ahlquist - Assistant Professor, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
  Dr. David Chesney - Lecturer IV, College of Engineering
  Sile O'Modhrain - Associate Professor, School of Music, Theatre & Dance , School of Information

• Texture Tectonics
  Ellie Abrons - Assistant Professor, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
  Adam Fure - Assistant Professor, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

Grant submissions were anonymously evaluated by a distinguished jury from outside the college:

Sigrid Brell-Cokcan, Principal, II Architects int; Lecturer, University of Applied Arts Vienna and TU Vienna
Kendra Byrne (M.Arch 2010), Product Lead, Bot & Dolly
Amanda Reeser Lawrence, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University; Founding co-editor, PRAXIS

Presentation of projects will start at 6:00pm with welcome remarks made by Dean Monica Ponce de Leon, with a reception to follow. 

​This exhibition runs from March 12 - April 12.