Plotting the Digital Design Future: Out of Hand / MAD

Out Of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital
Museum of Arts and Design / New York City

By Susan Wacker-Donle
PHOTOS: Susan Wacker-Donle

3D Printing, Rapid Prototyping, CNC Machining
Polyethylene Sculpture: Roxy Paine

3D printing and computer assisted production is state of the art for the 21st century three-dimensional world. New York City’s Museum of Arts and Design’s (MAD) show, “Out Of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital” explores the technologies of computer assisted art, design, fashion, and function. The viewer is presented with an array of visually stimulating objects that cover a range from abstract to everyday. The ability to create, contort and replicate through CNC (computer-numerically-controlled) machining has given industrial designers, sculptors, architects, and artisans a new dimensional platform to explore providing access to detail and fractal geometry like never before. What is produced is fresh and organic, using familiar and new materials with patterns derived from advanced mathematics, putting a spin on conventional and contemporary concepts.
Doudou Necklace, 2009: Marc Newson / Boucheron

“Out Of Hand” covers three museum floors with eye-catching displays from 85 artists, designers and architects from 20 countries exploring six esthetic themes:

  Modeling Nature 
  Rebooting Revivals
  Pattern As Structure 
  Remixing The Figure
  New Geometries 
  Processuality 

Covered by the installation are captivating artworks created from 2005 to present day from such artists as Ron Arad, Barry X Ball, Chuck Close, Marc Newson and Hiroshi Sugimoto, to name a few.
Hyphae Lamps 2013: Nervous System

Highlights from the show include melting cascades of lava like polyethylene sculptures by Roxy Paine; Marc Newson’s stunning sapphire and diamond necklace spinning in a fractal lattice handcrafted by Boucheron; lung like hanging ceiling “Hyphae” lamps by Nervous System that cast a delicate organic pattern of light with their lace-like texture.



Knitwear Fall / Winter 2009-2010: Sandra Backlund

Fashion forward apparel by Sandra Backlund drape minimally featured mannequins creating new silhouettes. Boldly geometric dresses in tube and macramé knit patterns redefine what is possible for knitwear. A barnacle like textured 3D printed dress from the Iris Van Herpen Spring Collection is a showstopper. Intricate digitally knitted in one-piece bodysuits are showcased reflecting light in a spiraling celestial Swarovski crystal design created by Tamae Hirokawa for Samatas and worn by Lady Gaga.

My first experience with 3D printing was in my creative management role at Gillette in Boston. Those ergonomic, fast and furious razor handles are realized through an internal 3D printer growing from a CAD rendering into reality. No longer needed are time consuming out-sourced blueprints, hand fashioned models of clay or high-density foam with expensive reworking back and forth between model shop and designer. Prototypes are seamlessly created from desktop to conference room table. Tweaking and refinements can be implemented immediately.

3D Printed Dresss: Isis Van Herpen Spring 2013 in collaboration with Neri Okman

“Out of Hand” gives you the opportunity to try out and experience 3D printing technology with onsite prototyping from Shapeways; a New York based 3D printing marketplace and service startup company. Users upload design files, and Shapeways prints the objects for them from a variety of materials including food-safe ceramics. You can watch jewelry grow from plastic resins as well as create your own designs on a computer terminal. Nervous System.com can produce these designs for a fee in a variety of plastics and precious metals such as silver.…even gold.





The Museum of Arts and Design's exhibition is open until July 6th, 2014. It is a must see for anyone in the arts that needs a primer for our digitally fabricated future. 

Oh Void 1, 2006: Ron Arad

Through hands on interactivity and technologically inspired human creativity, you are sure to walk out of the exhibit illuminated, creative juices flowing, ready and eager to apply this new technology to your own craft.