also teaching this machine programming stuff is pretty fun 🤓

This was a very fun project to be a part of! Team effort led by Ilan Moyer, along with Devon Frost, Maria Yang and Jennifer Jacobs.

Checkout the paper >> dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/...

Or the project documentation >> stepdance.org

We used this system (called StepDance) to prototype playful fabrication machines like an etch-a-sketch plotter, a clay 3D-printer controlled like a potter's wheel, and an interface to interfere with the plotter while it's drawing a predefined SVG.

We developed hardware modules that can interface directly with existing CNC hardware (like this Axidraw pen plotter) and physical user interface elements.

This allows us to build novel physical interfaces, repurposing an existing machine's actuation mechanism.

What if we thought of fab machines not as output devices but as part of an interactive system?

Such interactive fabrication systems have long been conceptualized and built by researchers and makers, but it often requires building a new machine from scratch (and that's pretty hard)

CNC machines (like 3D printers) control machine motors based on a compiled set of instructions (often Gcode). That's neat for fabricating things reliably and fast, but makes it difficult to change machine motion on-the-fly.

At #CHI2026 we are also presenting "StepDance: A Toolkit for Redesigning CNC Machines Using Physical Metaphors"

Curious how a machine-building novice like me can make a sketch-to-print machine?

checkout the talk on Friday >> programs.sigchi.org/chi/2026/pro...

or see thread...

Super proud of Joyce Passananti for leading this work as a MSc student, coordinating a collaboration with professional ceramicist Timea Tihanyi, and with Professors Jennifer Jacobs and Tobias Höllerer.

please check out the paper >> expressivecomputation.com/publication/...

we designed and fabricated a bunch of pots (20-ish) to demonstrate the wide range of effects that the digital tools and modifiers afford

Joyce implemented this idea in a prototype AR system, that lets people manipulate and combine tools and modifiers to edit a toolpath.

... could we make precise toolpath editing feel more embodied?

Augmented reality seemed like a promising technology, but for toolpath editing we need to provide controllable ways to make edits.

We do that by encapsulating edit operations as digital ceramic tools, inspired by ceramics tools.

Clay 3D printing is often controlled through direct programming of the deposition toolpath, to fully take advantage of the possibilities of this fabrication method.

But systems that afford this level of control are based on desktop interactions...

A 6-part figure showing the process of designing a small clay 3D-printed cup. A) A person wearing a hololens holds a virtual triangular rib tool in her hand. In front of her there is a cylindrical object that is a toolpath. B) A close up on the toolpath with the bottom area transformed into a more angled shape, and with a wavy texture pattern. A green triangular shape (the rib) is shown coming closer to that area and affecting it. Icons explain that this is a rib (profile) action, with a texture modifier. C) The top part of the toolpath is transformed by making it slightly curved inward. A green half circle shape (the rib) is shown moving towards that part of the toolpath. An icon explains that this is a rib (profile) action. D) The toolpath is transformed by carving out a small area. A green half circle shape (the rib) is shown moving towards that part of the toolpath. An icon explains that this is a rib action E) The toolpath is transformed by adding a diamond shape embossing with a slight wavy texture. A green square with a diamond image on top (the stamp) is shown making contact with that part of the toolpath where a diamond is added. Icons explain that this is a stamp action, with a texture and repeat x6 modifier. F) The final 3D printed cup showcases the slightly curved shape, the diamond texture, the carved handle, and the slanted foot with wavy texture.

We're presenting this week at #CHI2026 a new paper:
"Clay ARTools: Precise Machine Toolpath Editing for Clay 3D
Printing With Craft-Inspired Direct Manipulation Tools in AR"

see Joyce's talk Wednesday >> programs.sigchi.org/chi/2026/pro...

or read thread below!

cute potscards from cool women researchers in the graphics community is the social media content we need in this era

the rising stars program is about forging meaningful connections and a sense of community among young women researchers!!! I met Sarah thanks to the program in 2023, those connections and seeing how everyone grows in their own path has been deeply inspiring to me

apply now >>

This is a fantastic program for people of underrepresented genders in the graphics (and hci/graphics) research space. Please share with your network and gently bully your colleagues and advisees into applying. Deadline March 27, application package is fairly light!

Starting the new year with exciting news, we welcome Deepali Aneja as our new Executive Committee Director!

Here are a few words from Deepali about WiGRAPH 💭

The Summer Geometry Initiative at MIT is a great way for students to discover the wonderful world of geometry processing research!

Apply now for next summer 🌱
Or share with a young up-and-coming student you know 🌟

SIGGRAPH Thesis Fastforward 2026 YouTube video by ACMSIGGRAPH

The #SIGGRAPH Thesis Fast Forward 2026 is here!

Learn about the future of CG in 9 PhD theses: from Monte Carlo PDE solvers and photorealistic 3D avatars to fantasy-based rehab games and modular umbrella meshes. 🎓✨

youtu.be/FlrTZEJeEXs

SIGGRAPH Asia Women in Research Coffee This is a networking event for students, faculty, and industry researchers organized by WiGRAPH. The purpose of the event is to broaden the network of women researchers and provide a friendly and pers...

Folks who are in Hong Kong for Siggraph Asia: join for some coffee, hear from some awesome women researchers, make new friends, etc :)

Also follow us on bsky >> @wigraph.bsky.social

www.wigraph.org/events/2025-...

Thank you! Yes the scale can be a bit of a struggle. I exported the cut lines from Fusion as a dxf file, imported to illustrator by setting the unit to millimeters, re-orged everything on multiple letter size artboards and printed at original scale

Fusion 360 model of a mushroom hat made of planar slices

Step by step process of making a cardboard paper mâché mushroom hat

Person wearing mushroom hat and collar

them: so why use CAD software

me: have you thought about the use case of making your own mushroom hat for Halloween

Dr. Jennifer Jacobs and Shm Almeda in front of a projector that reads The Design of Technology by and for Artistic Worlds in the Expressive Computation Lab space at UC Santa Barbara.

‪I have always so deeply admired Dr. Jennifer Jacobs and the amazing, critical work the Expressive Computation Lab is doing @UCSB's Media Arts & Technology Dept.… what an honor & a dream come true to share my work with them! 😭❣️‬

expressivecomputation.com/publication/...

Super proud to have been part of this work led by Sam Bourgault and Alejandro Aponte @ expressive computation lab

With WORM, we propose a new way to program cobot manufacturing actions through skilled manipulation and procedural repetitions

Checkout the paper and demo at #UIST2025

Fast Forward SIGGRAPH 2025 - Uncertainty for SVBRDF Acquisition using Frequency Analysis YouTube video by Ruben Wiersma

Our fast forward for SIGGRAPH 2025. Keep SIGGRAPH weird! www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYel...

Today we’ll be showing clay printing and artifacts from our research again at our course on Computational Craft 2-5pm @ #SIGGRAPH2025
If you can’t make it to the whole thing, demos will be 4.30-5pm

Packed this little guy up for #SIGGRAPH2025
Come to our course on Computational Craft, Wed 2-5 to see it in action!

s2025.conference-schedule.org/presentation...

Berthouzoz Women in Research Lunch The Berthouzoz Women in Research Lunch is a networking event for researchers, faculty, and students. Named in honor of Floraine Berthouzoz, who began this lunch as an informal gathering, the event con...

Join us at the 2025 Berthouzoz Women in Research Lunch at #SIGGRAPH to celebrate the past, present, and future of WiGRAPH!

📅 Aug 13, 12:30–2:00pm
📍 Vancouver, Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Ballroom
RSVP & details:
🔗 www.wigraph.org/events/2025-...
#WiGRAPH #Graphics #SIGGRAPH2025

Presentation - SIGGRAPH 2025 Conference Schedule

If you are interested in joining a lively and supportive discussion space about sustainability & graphics research, please join our birds of a feather event on Tue Aug. 12 - 4PM, in East Building, Room 9 🌱

Co-organized with Felix Hähnlein, Chenxi Liu, Maria Larsson, and @rubenwiersma.nl