Danny Leen

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

About Me

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.

Publications

Selection of My Work

Teaching

LED-Wall

For the course Tech Lab & Prototyping, we designed and built a giant led wall, and we developed new ways to interact with it.

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Teaching

Tech Lab 2019

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

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Teaching

Tech Lab 2018

Tech Lab is an Interaction design course Lieven Menschaert and myself teach. Our first venture into animatronics. https://youtu.be/QSzNd3qWTm0

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Teaching

Key Sampler

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

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Projects

Projects

Tangible CNC

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

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Projects

Wa Make

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

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Projects

Design op Maat

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

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Projects

Z-OUT Multitouch

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

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Projects

FabLab Genk

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

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Education

September - 2021

Ph.D. - KU Leuven

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.

Sept 2015 - Sept 2021

Ph.D candidate - KU Leuven

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.

2009 - 2010

Master's Degree - Interaction Design

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.

2006 - 2009

Bachelor's Degree - Interaction Design

Katholieke Hogeschool Limburg

Let's talk about everything!

👋 Send me an email “hello (a) dannyleen.be”