Design Principles for CNC Fabrication 1F26
Age Group:
Adults
Explore the intersection of digital fabrication and contemporary design in this hands-on CNC course. Students will design and build a custom modular shelving tower while learning the foundations of structural stability, precision joinery, and CNC fabrication processes.
Through guided demonstrations and hands-on practice, students will gain experience prototyping with cardboard, developing digital files, programming a CNC router, and fabricating and assembling custom components using contemporary fabrication materials. The course combines digital workflows with practical fabrication skills, including prototyping, machining, and final assembly.
By the end of the course, students will leave with a functional contemporary piece for the home and a deeper understanding of the design process and modern CNC fabrication methods.
Students should be computer literate. Familiarity with design software such as Carbide Create or SketchUp, and CNC programs such as VCarve, is recommended but not required.
Optional Class Add-On: Students enrolled in Design Principles for CNC Fabrication may register for additional one-on-one guided CNC studio instruction to receive individualized support developing their projects outside of regular class time. Add-on hours are purchased in 2-hour increments, with the option to register for either a single 2-hour session or a discounted 4-hour package that may be scheduled across multiple dates. Sessions will take place on Thursdays in parallel with the Tuesday course schedule.
Registration for add-on hours is separate from the main class and requires enrollment through the separately listed Design Principles for CNC Fabrication: Guided Studio Add-On course. Students who register for add-on hours will be contacted with scheduling information and instructions for reserving specific dates and time slots. Standard Eliot School cancellation and refund policies apply.
Class Make Up: 11/10/26
Chris Pak Villalta
Chris Pak Villalta is a licensed architect and the founder of BADD Architect, a Massachusetts-based practice that bridges digital design with physical construction. After a traditional career in the architecture industry, he transitioned his focus entirely to hands-on building, experimental fabrication, sustainable design, and community education. His work relies heavily on raw, reclaimed, salvaged, and regional resources. Christopher applies his extensive background in building science and technical construction to create interactive models, installation art, public art, and large-scale sculptures.
As a mixed-race artist of Cuban and South Korean descent, Chris is passionate about integrating precolonial indigenous building methods into contemporary sustainable design. He actively shares this approach with the local maker community by leading hands-on workshops and teaching digital fabrication techniques. He holds a Master of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, where his thesis research focused on revitalizing ancestral construction techniques to address modern environmental challenges. Outside the studio, he serves as a First Sergeant in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
Materials to bring to class:
Students do not need to bring any materials to class.