AUTODESK GALLERY - 1 Market S.F.
【CLIENT】
Autodesk Gallery @ 1 Market
【PLACE + TIME】
San Francisco, CA / 2024
【PROJECT TEAM】
Because We Can ✦ Layout / flow design & iteration design: element placements, visualization of flow, custom elements design & creation.
【MADE IN OUR SHOP】
Large 3D print of rocket engine assembly, lighting, internal structure and supporting elements for the large 3D print, small 3D print, stands & plinths.
We were hired by The gallery space within Autodesk at 1 Market to create a new exhibit around an innovative rocket engine. We worked closely with the gallery team to create the layout, flow and visualization for the exhibit. Then at our in house fabricaiton shop, we created the physcial elements for this display. Our design team worked on the layout and element design as well as the interactive flow for gallery vistors. While our fabrication team worked on creating the physical pieces based on these designs.
The final engine piece on display is one unit, suspended in place by a stout stainless steel arm.
To create this true to scale, uniform engine piece, many hours were spent by our artisan fabrication team to form, sand, polish and detail finish the 3D print.
Because full color, 3D prints can only be printed so large, we received the 3D printed engine in four parts that needed to be molded, sanded, formed polished and detail finished over many hours of fine craftsman labor.
The 3D prints arrived with a rough finish and are not an exact match to one another. Hours of manipulation, sanding and finishing to match up the seems was spent before we added the internal components and LEDs.
We applied a mat finish around the entire piece and then went back in with a polish to give a gloss sheen to the full color wire areas. This tequnique created a pop of color and shine in those areas with a positive highlighting affect.
Accompanying the full scale engine print on the gallery table are two additional smaller prints. One is a small scale representation of the engine that we 3D printed in house. The other is a material sample of the 3D printed metal that is used for the real engine.
We expertly matched the small scale 3D print created at our fabrication shop to match the 3D printed metal sample provided by the client. We then created a soft handleable frame that captures the 3D printed metal sample so viewers at the gallery can safely handle the part without encountering the sharp edges of the metal print.
Once all the key elements were created, the assembly and LED programing began. The stout stainless arm was welded together and assembled. Plinths for each component to go on the gallery table finished and powder coated.
After completing the assembly and fine finish work on the full scale 3D print, we started to work on the LED lighting aspect of the piece.
First we formed a stainless steel cone to attach to the inside of the engine. This acts to hide the LEDs within and project all the light outwards through the translucent 3D print.
We fabricated two stainless steel rings for either side of the 3D print. These connected the frosted diffusers we made for the LEDs and the stainless cone we made for the inside. A view from inside the 3D print (below) shows a clean, brushed stainless with hints of the lights peeking through. This clean simple interior keeps the focus on the exterior details that tell the exhibit story.
Our design team programed the internal LEDs to create the visual effects supporting the text of the display. Then wrapped the pieces all up for delivery.
The final installation at the Autodesk 1 Market Gallery. From design concepts, fabrication, LED programing & final installation.
