What software is used in The Illusion of Form architectural workshop?

The workshop is built around Autodesk Maya, covering the full Maya workflow from interface and polygonal modeling through subdivision techniques, materials, rendering, dynamics, particles, deformers, animations, and camera controls. Scripting and animation are also introduced as tools for generating complex geometry. No prior Maya experience is required, as the workshop includes a software introduction sequence before design work begins.

What design methodology does The Illusion of Form workshop follow?

The workshop is structured as an ongoing desk critique symposium. Participants begin by developing an individual research-based argument around the concept of image illusion, then establish two parallel design systems: Integration (addressing structural mass) and Application (addressing surface skin and ornament). These systems form the basis for a series of topological assemblies. Formal digital variations are then developed through distortion, contortion, and pressure-based transformations using animation and modeling techniques to arrive at an architectural figure.

Is The Illusion of Form workshop suitable for beginners in digital design?

No prior experience with Autodesk Maya is required, as the workshop includes a dedicated software introduction. However, the workshop is conceptually demanding: participants are expected to conduct individual research and develop a critical design argument independently. The format is a desk critique symposium rather than a step-by-step tutorial, making it most suitable for architecture students or designers who are comfortable with theoretical and conceptual design work and want to develop advanced digital form-making skills.

What will I produce by the end of The Illusion of Form workshop?

Participants will complete a series of topological architectural assemblies developed through both integration and application design strategies, along with a set of digital formal variations generated through animation and modeling techniques in Maya. The outcome is an architectural figure grounded in a personal research argument, supported by rendered visualizations and animations demonstrating the transformation logic of the design.

Illusion of Form: Architectural Design Course

Name: The Illusion Of Form - PAACADEMY
Price: 200.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Jan. 27 & 31, 202018:00 - 22:00 (GMT)
20 Hours 20 Minutes in TotalDuration
Unlimited access foreverRewatch after the live days
BeginnerLevel
50 seatsClass size
EnglishLanguage
EnglishSubtitles
5 LessonsLessons
Shareable CertificateIncluded with enrollment
2 instructorsErick Carcamo · Bailey Shugart

The main aspiration of this workshop is to precisely develop a critical argument based on individual research, which will translate into pure geometrical-formal exploration; the format will be an ongoing desk crit symposium with the participants, meeting them and discussing their architectural projects, along with daily tutorials to progress their knowledge of the software techniques.

Development of a critical argument through individual research and geometric exploration.
Techniques for establishing integration and application systems in design.
Creation of topological assemblies using formal and aesthetic approaches.
Skills in digital modeling and animation to transform architectural forms. Exploration of the concept of 'Image Illusion' as a design feature.
Exploration of the concept of 'Image Illusion' as a design feature.

Autodesk Maya

The Workshop will begin with each participant individually focusing on an aesthetic and formal language through the concept of ‘Image Illusion.’ We will then use this to establish two types of systems: Integration (Structure, Mass) and Application (Skin, Ornament); this will be the mechanism for developing a series of topological assemblies. Using a formal and aesthetic approach, ILLUSION becomes an instrument of design and a Design Feature.

We will then work on a series of formal digital variations, which will be transformed through distortion, contortion, and internal and external pressures, using animation and modeling techniques in order to arrive at an Architectural figure.

What you should already know or have ready before you start, experience, tools, and any baseline skills the instructors expect. Scan the list below so nothing catches you off guard.

The Workshop will run primarily using AutoDesk MAYA and will also cover other fundamental digital design tools. Software Introduction (NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY): Maya Interface Modeling Techniques: Polygons, Subdivisions Rendering Techniques: Materials, Special Effects Advanced Techniques: Dynamics, Particles, Deformers, Animations, Camera controls; it will also incorporate scripting and animation as an engine for the purpose of generating higher complex geometry, and for visual representation.

5 Lessons20h 20m

Day 1
Intro lectures
Tutorial – MAYA Introduction
Tutorial – Software navigation/Polygon modeling
Day 2
Tutorial: Polygon modeling, deformers, iterative design (using animation tools)
Tutorial: Mesh-modeling operations
Day 3
Open session tutorials with instructors
One-on-one critique to discuss developing work
Day 4
Tutorial: Refining techniques
One-on-one critique to discuss developing work
Day 5
Review/Discussion of final work

Erick Carcamo

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3 Courses5.0

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Principal and co-founder – As an educator and designer, Erick has been in pursuit of innovation and technology in the field of architectural thinking and teaching processes; his expertise, expanding his graduate thesis at GSAPP, is based on researching digital experimental techniques and strategic thinking for the manipulation of Form in design, which he uses these design abilities in the services of thoroughly generating spatial and organizational issues central to architecture. Born in El Salvador, Erick holds a master’s degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University, GSAPP, and a bachelor’s degree from The Southern California Institute of Architecture, SCI_Arc.

Bailey Shugart

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1 Course5.0

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The Illusion of Form is an advanced architectural design workshop using Autodesk Maya to explore geometric and topological form-making through the concept of image illusion. Participants develop a per…

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The Illusion Of Form - PAACADEMY

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Session 5

What software is used in The Illusion of Form architectural workshop?

What design methodology does The Illusion of Form workshop follow?

Is The Illusion of Form workshop suitable for beginners in digital design?

What will I produce by the end of The Illusion of Form workshop?