I’m a post-doctoral researcher working in the field of Human-Computer Interaction,
with a focus on exploring the potential of digital fabrication and traditional craft practices
I am fascinated by digital fabrication technologies, including 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC milling. My research focuses on developing ways to make the design and fabrication process more accessible and user-friendly for non-expert users. I am particularly interested in exploring the potential of traditional craft practices to complement digital technologies. I believe that combining digital technologies’ precision and efficiency with the richness and tactility of craft can create more engaging and meaningful making experiences. My ultimate goal is to contribute to democratizing digital fabrication technologies, making them more accessible to a broader range of individuals and enabling more people to engage with this exciting field.
Through my research, I aim to explore the potential of digital fabrication, leading to new opportunities and innovations. By developing more accessible and user-friendly design and fabrication processes, I hope to make digital fabrication technologies more approachable to a wider range of individuals, regardless of their background or expertise. I believe that by making these technologies more accessible, we can unlock their full potential, leading to new applications and advancements in the field. I’m excited to contribute to this effort and to work towards a future where digital fabrication is more accessible, inclusive, and impactful.
Recent HCI research has shown significant interest in investigating digital working instructions for guiding novices to perform manual tasks. While performance enhancement has been a
The majority of errors in making processes can be tracked back to errors in dimensional specifications. While technical aspects of measurement, such as precision and
Adopting digital tools and platforms has become increasingly common in many creative industries. Still, creative practitioners often require self-directed and informal learning when adopting new
Makers often build on the work of others by customizing and combining shared designs. These designs, however, need to be specified in a way that
LamiFold: Fabricating Objects with Integrated Mechanisms Using a Laser cutter Lamination Workflow We present LamiFold, a novel design and fabrication workflow for making functional mechanical
We present StackMold, a DIY molding technique to prototype multi-material and multi-colored objects with embedded electronics. The key concept of our approach is a novel
We present JigFab, an integrated end-to-end system that supports casual makers in designing and fabricating constructions with power tools. Starting from a digital version of
StrutModeling: A Low-Fidelity Construction Kit to Iteratively Model, Test, and Adapt 3D Objects We present StrutModeling, a computationally enhanced construction kit that enables users without
When discussing maker culture, much attention is dedicated to how making can be beneficial for specific fields (e.g. healthcare, education) or various communities of makers
This article explores self-fabrication by novice participants in a FabLab for a Participatory Design (PD) research project ‘Bespoke Design’. We developed bespoke tools for self-managing
Recent HCI research has shown significant interest in investigating digital working instructions for guiding novices to perform manual tasks. While performance enhancement has been a
The majority of errors in making processes can be tracked back to errors in dimensional specifications. While technical aspects of measurement, such as precision and
Adopting digital tools and platforms has become increasingly common in many creative industries. Still, creative practitioners often require self-directed and informal learning when adopting new
Makers often build on the work of others by customizing and combining shared designs. These designs, however, need to be specified in a way that
LamiFold: Fabricating Objects with Integrated Mechanisms Using a Laser cutter Lamination Workflow We present LamiFold, a novel design and fabrication workflow for making functional mechanical
We present StackMold, a DIY molding technique to prototype multi-material and multi-colored objects with embedded electronics. The key concept of our approach is a novel
We present JigFab, an integrated end-to-end system that supports casual makers in designing and fabricating constructions with power tools. Starting from a digital version of
For the course Tech Lab & Prototyping, we designed and built a giant led wall, and we developed new ways to interact with it.
Tech Lab is an interaction design course Lieven Menschaert and myself teach. It’s become a tradition to build socially awkward robots. https://youtu.be/Nykymr2mIyk
Tech Lab is an Interaction design course Lieven Menschaert and myself teach. Our first venture into animatronics. https://youtu.be/QSzNd3qWTm0
StrutModeling: A Low-Fidelity Construction Kit to Iteratively Model, Test, and Adapt 3D Objects We present StrutModeling, a computationally enhanced construction kit that enables users without
Key Sampler is an audio-video instrument that allows the player to trigger part of a video and audio sample, transpose the sound and run through
Overview I’ve been thinking about starting a new project to make digital fabrication more accessible and customizable. The Make-Machines Initiative is still in its early
In the current manufacturing industry, many tasks are still handled by human operators due to the craftsmanship skill required for the job. There is a huge shortage of such skilled workers
With support of Flanders Make, FabLab Genk will organise free STEM (international abbreviation for “Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics”) workshops for elementary and junior high school; and more specifically
OPAK’s ‘Design op Maat’ (Bespoke Design) (2012-2015) investigates the possibilities of a ‘FabLab and open design for the development of self-management tools for and with persons
The project Z-out is an art project from Z33 that will place artworks in the scenery of the region the first city is Borgloon where
FabLabs in the border region (Interreg IV) (2011-2015) encouraged cooperation between students and researchers from universities and university colleges, as well as industry and the
The early nineteenth-century industrial revolution brought with it the necessity for measurement and precision, as pieces had to fit together and be mass-produced to tolerances. This pursuit of precision in industry gave rise to new professions such as metrology, as well as a wealth of modern machinery and devices. Several of these technologies, including digital fabrication machines, have become widely available and accessible to makers, DIY enthusiasts, researchers, and educators in a variety of fields over the last decade. While the widespread availability of digital fabrication tools allows many people outside of the engineering field to experiment with new ideas and prototype physical artifacts, these novel technologies also expose users to the very precise specifications used in industry, for which digital fabrication machines and supporting software tools were originally developed. Measurements and exact specifications, on the other hand, are a major cause of errors in fabrication operations. This research assessed fabrication, prototyping, and craft from a measurement approach, with a focus on their user aspects, and describes many unique fabrication methodologies that demonstrate how to fabricate without the use of explicit measurements.
Digital fabrication allows users to fabricate objects without the need of measuring. However, designing digital 3D objects is generally done using calipers, rulers, protractors and other physical measurement tools. In my research I develop novel interfaces that allow users to design and fabricate objects without measuring.
I graduated, Cum laude, at Luca School of Arts in Genk (Association KU Leuven). With a thesis titled Haptic Music Creation that explored novel techniques for generating haptic feedback when creating digital music.
Katholieke Hogeschool Limburg
Send me an email “hello (a) dannyleen.be”
