Design and build an Omni-Animal. In this assignment, you will get comfortable with working in the TLTL, and with using the laser cutter to prototype two- and three-dimensional objects. Alternative: Propose creating another object, useful or beautiful, of similar complexity as an Omni-Animal. Your project should still meet the same technical requirements.

• 2D design: Use Corel Draw or another 2D design tool to create vector-based and raster-based designs. Your omni-animal should have both cuts and etched details.
• Computational design: Write a program to generate a raster or vector image in Scratch, Python, or another interface. Some part of your omni-animal should be generated by code.
• Cutting out shapes: Cut out shapes defined by vector images using the lasercutter.
• Etching: Etch raster-based images using the lasercutter.
• Connecting pieces: Create three-dimensional objects from two-dimensional components.

Deliverables

Be ready to show off your Omni-Animal at the beginning of class on Week 2. On Canvas, please submit a document containing the following:

• Some evidence of your planning process. This might include photos, sketches, early prototypes.
• The code you used to create part of your project. If you used Scratch, please share the project and include a link. If you used another platform (for example, Python's turtle library), please submit the code, a link to the repo, etc.
• Images of your final cut files.
• Don't forget to update your lab journal. Because our paper journals have not yet arrived, you have two options for this week. If you are planning to use a digital journal anyway (as described on the lab journal page), go ahead and do that. If you are planning to use a paper journal, please submit your journal with your Omni-Animal assignment for this week only.

Assessment

• ✓ + Meets all requirements described above and develops a substantially new technique. Provide a write-up for the website explaining the technique and how to use it.
• ✓ Meets all requirements described above.
• ✓ - Does not meet the requirements described above.

Steps

• Using paper, cardboard, and 2D design tools, develop an idea for your omni-animal. Use algorithmic design to generate some shapes to be cut or etched. The notes on lasercutter & 2D design will also be helpful.
• As cardboard is cheap, robust, and easy to work with, it makes an excellent prototyping material. Always cut your initial iterations with cardboard. Consider cutting a prototype before you have finalized your design--many people find physical prototypes help their design work.
• Once you have a final prototype, cut your final pieces out of MDF and assemble them. Save time for tweaks!