Creating Animations from Google Sketch Up

So you've finished your fabulous 3D model. Now, you want to show off your hard work in a presentation. How can you do that effectively? How can you show your model to someone who doesn't have Google Sketch Up?

Not to fear!! There are many options to presenting your work from Google Sketch Up. Ever seen those incredibly professional looking animations of a 3D model? (like this one)


Well we can do that!

You can:
- Export Screenshots of your model into image files. You can place those image files into a Power Point presentation, Word document or any other software which allows Image files.
- Export a movie animation of your model. This is a great way to show a professional, interactive walk through of your model. You do this using the Scene and Animation options (which I will show you in class today).

To train yourself or review, please watch the following video on Scenes or click here.


For more videos or if you need help understanding how to use a specific tool search the SketchUp YouTube channel to see if one of their 96 video tutorials cover it, or turn on your "Instructor" (Window>Instructor) to get help while you work in Google SketchUp.

To see some great examples of how animating a 3D model enhances your impression and understanding of it and makes it easier for a client to see, check out the following videos of architectural animation:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fZsoH3idh4
2.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBkaLQ27qLk
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn0tvNdc1gM&feature=related
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iZ5ydpuCg0&feature=related
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CixUCsbxVw&feature=related
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdmhN7YbjIw&feature=related
   

Photojournalism...far and wide, by Nathan Fried Lipski

One of my friends, Nathan Fried Lipski, is a talented photographer who has documented people and places far and wide. Recently he took a trip to the community slum of Dharavi in Mumbai, India. I thought these photos were poignant and striking. Especially interesting for my MYP 4 students who are designing innovative urban solutions for informal cities. Thank you Nathan for sharing your view with us and the world!

All photos and text below by Nathan Fried Lipski (Copyright). See more on his blog.

A girl walks along a water pipeline in Dharavi.

One of the largest issues facing the people of India is the lack of clean water.
In many areas running water is not available to the people on a regular basis and water delivery trucks provide clean water once each week.
I witnessed people illegally selling small bags of water to those who missed the delivery.

Water delivery in Baigan Wadi.

We photographed for a short while at a place called Dhobi Ghats near Mahalaxmi train station.  A dhobi is traditionally a laundryman and the ghats are the places where laundry is washed.

If you know the brands Ecko Unlimited and French Connection,
you might be surprised to find that they are being made not by machines, but by the hands of many real people who work tireless hours for little wage.

We found that riding the rails in Mumbai takes a special quickness since most trains never actually come to a complete stop. There are cars for men and cars for women. The women will not hesitate pushing you out if  accidentally hop in their car. Getting out is even more challenging than getting in and you must prepare many stops ahead and begin making a move. Its a special sort of dance that I am not sure of I could handle on a daily basis. 

A men's train during rush hour

Check out more of Nathan's work on his website or blog. You won't be disappointed!!

Google Sketch Up TRAINING (MYP 4 & 5)

For your architectural & urban planning solution product models, you will be creating a color model in 3D using Google Sketch Up. You need training!! 
Once you gain an understanding of this amazing software you'll be able to create models like the ones below:

You can download if for free from here: http://sketchup.google.com

After getting the basic (see the blog entry from February), try the following recommended tutorials to develop more advanced skills and understanding of Google Sketch Up.

Recommended Tutorials

Scale Tool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_xqUsZnzJA&feature=channel

Add Text
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClHdYWFczgU&feature=player_embedded

Paint Bucket & Materials Window
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvSP54o_KqY&feature=player_embedded


Follow Me - a helpful feature to complete a shape dragging your mouse along a path...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOxrFN7JbiQ&feature=channel

Copy & Arrays - helpful when making symmetrical designs with elements repeated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk6ok7S8goA&feature=player_embedded


How to Create & Work in Sections
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiMA1IAn8HU&feature=player_embedded

Working in Layers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBdP499iw0Y&feature=player_embedded

For ALL Video Tutorials from Google visit:

http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos/new_to_gsu.html

MYP 4 - PeePoople & a great solution for sanitation

Peepoople...what a great name. This is the name of an organization that deals with innovative sanitation solutions for developing and disaster areas. Now THIS is a great example of an innovative but simple design solution for a very necessary, life-threatening problem. (visit their website)

What is the Problem?

"In the world today, more than 2.6 billion people have no access to basic sanitation. That means that 40 out of every 100 people lack even the most simple latrine to perform their needs. The lack of toilets affects both society and the individual through the contamination of fresh water and ground water. Human faeces contain viruses, bacteria, worms and parasites which kill and infect people. One child in the world dies every 15 seconds due to contaminated water." (to read & learn more click here)

About Peepoople...

"Peepoople AB was created to develop, produce and distribute the Peepoo (pat.pend) sanitation solution. The mission of Peepoople is to provide universal access to dignified and hygienic sanitation.

The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Research has been conducted in co-operation with the Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU) and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)."

About the solution, PeePoo...the product

"The Peepoo is in the form of a slim elongated bag measuring 14 x 38 centimeters.
Within the bag there is a thin gauze layer measuring 26 x 24 cm. The inside of the Peepoo is coated with a thin film of urea. Without sacrificing ergonomic function, the bag’s design is adapted in every way so that it might be manufactured at as low a price as possible and sold to groups with the weakest purchasing power in the world.
The Peepoo is easy to carry and easy to use. It doesn't need any supporting structure, but, for convenience, a cut PET-bottle can help a lot." (to read & learn more click here)

MYP 5 - Great Buildings

A great website with famous buildings, their plans, photos and 3D models...to help you with YOUR creative architectural design solution.

Great Buildings
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings.html

My favorite...the Guggenheim Art Museum in Bilbao, Spain...

Can you imagine planning this?? What a visionary the architect Frank Gehry is!

Looking forward to seeing your innovative and humanitarian designs!

MYP 2: Sustainable Cities - Real Cities!

MYP 2 have become urban planners and are doing an incredible job planning cities. Over the last few weeks students have worked in teams and created 3 different urban plans.

Using Lego pieces, string and cards on a 16 x 16 inch grid, students designed cities incorporating all of the requirement components (residential housing, commercial businesses, municipalities, public transport, industry and energy).

The 3 different requests for plans were -

1. Design a city which maximizes the amount of personal space each citizen will have.

2. Design a city which maximizes the amount of public space citizens will have

3. Design a city which maximizes the positive aspects of city life, minimizing the negative aspects of city life.

The plans were really thoughtful and I think we have some potential and influential future urban planners and thinkers in our class!

Our aim is to design a sustainable city. What is a sustainable city? What are important elements of a sustainable city? Starting this week students will begin to finalize their plans and will begin to build an actual 3d model of their ideal sustainable city. We will be working with recycled materials and creating our city to scale. Students will justify all their design choices and reasoning. I'm really excited to see how this materializes! And hope that some of our students go on to challenge the way things have been done and introduce innovative ideas to improve our communities!

There are cities around the world that have taken steps and made great efforts to improve the quality of life for residents. Some are designed and implemented by the government, others through organizations. Changes include: recycling/waste management projects, increase in green space and parks, change in city layout, enhancement of public works such as schools, in addition to alternative energy and industry.

• Stockholm, Sweden: http://international.stockholm.se/Stockholm-by-theme/European-Green-Capital/
• Burlington, Vermont (USA): http://burlingtonlegacyproject.org/projects/environment/
• Curitiba, Brazil: http://www.geographypages.co.uk/curitiba.htm
• Boston, Massachusetts (USA): http://www.cityofboston.gov/environmentalandenergy/
• San Francisco, California (USA): http://www.sustainable-city.org/
• Asheville, North Carolina (USA): http://www.ashevillenc.gov/departments/administration/default.aspx?id=11040
• Los Angeles, Californa (USA): http://www.environmentla.org/
• Atlanta, Georgia (USA): http://web.atlantaga.gov/atlstat/index.shtml
• Salt Lake City, Utah (USA): http://www.slcgov.com/slcgreen/
• Tapiola, Finland: http://www.eukn.org/finland/themes/Urban_Policy/Urban_environment/Environmental_sustainability/Renewable_energy_supplies/ekoviikki_suburb_1005.html

Assign each person in your group to research a different city. In your process journals answer the questions below on that city and its projects.

1. What projects have been implemented in this city to make it more sustainable? (Identify what the project is: Transportation, Green Space, Waste Management, etc.)
2. What are the long-term affects that each of these changes will have on the quality of life in that city?
3. What ideas can you take from these real-life examples and incorporate into your plan?
4. What do you think could be improved? Do you have ideas that you think could work better?

Mechanical/Kinetic Toy Design (MYP 4 Design)

MYP 4 Design students are designing original toys for a client of their choice under the age of 14. Toys must be mechanical or kinetic in some way and educational. Students have already interviewed their clients to find out more about their interests. Looking forward to seeing what kind of Some helpful links to help you get started.

Flying Pigs?

Automata - wooden kinetic toys. Below is a link to teach you the simple mechanisms to make them.

http://automata.co.uk/mechanisums.htm

Rocking Bamboo?

Old toys redesigned to make new. Simple mechanical/interactive toys. They are really great!

http://blog.vandm.com/2009/11/tomorrows-yesteryear-toys.html

Mechanical Paper?

This toy designer makes his toys out of paper. Wow! Some really cool ideas.

http://www.walterruffler.de/Designs.html