interior design<\/a>, jumped at the opportunity to incorporate the 3D printer into her classes. Senne won an Outstanding Faculty Award in 2016 for embracing technology as a teaching tool and connecting Maryville with other communities. She did just that with her pre-school chairs project.<\/p>\n\u201cLast year my students identified a concept and worked on a form for an ergonomic chair for pre-school children,\u201d says Senne. \u201cTwo of those students came up with a conceptual derivation of an apple core with a slightly rounded bottom, sitting on its end. The benefits of the stool for children are similar to that of a large rubber ball for an adult. It works their core.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura Kreher and Megan Terry, now juniors, twirled the stool around, testing its movement, perfecting their creation. A second printing of the stool is planned and there is even talk of creating a few more for the local pre-school. They agree it needs sand in the bottom to better stabilize it. They talked about the research they conducted to create a small backless stool for wiggly three- and four-year-olds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to ergonomics, chairs and materials, we researched preschoolers, their height, energy levels and behavior before we started creating prototypes,\u201d says Kreher. \u201cWe also had to learn several new software programs including advanced 3D modeling software known as Rhinoceros, or Rhino.\u201d<\/p>\n
Terry considers herself \u201cpretty lucky\u201d to be able to work with the new printer.<\/p>\n
\u201cModel making is important in interior design and being able to print something life-size is definitely an advantage in visualizing information,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Senne, a registered architect and mid-century modern aficionado, offers her students advice worth saving: \u201cYou can design anything you can dream. That\u2019s the ubiquity of technology. It allows us to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the tremendous amount of excitement this machine has created, we anticipate students in other disciplines such as sculpture, ceramics and other arts will be using the printer,\u201d says Fahnestock.<\/p>\n