Workshop Application Opens : March 15th, 2024 (Fri), 12PM JST
Workshop Application Deadline : March 25nd, 2024 (Mon) 8PM JST(The deadline has been extended)

GEMINI Laboratory, a co-creation project aiming to realize a “mirror world,” has recently opened applications for its first design awards competition.

As part of a workshop held as part of the overall award project, we are excited to welcome cutting-edge American architect Andrew Kovacs as an instructor who will lead an exciting workshop aimed at helping participants conduct prototyping on digital databases focused on architecture and the worlds created from them.

At the center of this is “AltField,” a platform constructed by the GEMINI Laboratory that enables users to share and edit alternative information spaces where multilayered worlds interact, paving the way to new and unprecedented designs while serving as a data library.

We hope to explore new design approaches and ideas aimed at an era where the horizons of the virtual and physical have melded together.

*Please note that this workshop will be held online as a part of the GEMINI Laboratory GLOBAL DESIGN AWARDS project.
*Artworks produced during the workshop will be considered as entries for the GEMINI Laboratory GLOBAL DESIGN AWARDS.

Introducing the Instructor

Andrew Kovacs

ANDREW KOVACS is a Los Angeles based designer. Kovacs’ work has been published in the The New York Times, Architectural Design (AD), A+U, Perspecta, Metropolis, and Domus. Kovacs is the creator and curator of Archive of Affinities, a widely viewed social media feed devoted to the collection and display of architectural b-sides. Kovacs’ design studio, O.K. (Office Kovacs) works at the edges and junction of art, architecture, images, the internet and the landscape around us. In 2019, O.K. completed Colossal Cacti at the Coachella Music Festival. In 2021, O.K. completed Rainbow Forest, a public and permanent interactive work in Athens, Georgia. In 2022, O.K. completed Superobject Arch, a temporary gateway for the Mother of the Nation Festival in Abu Dhabi, UAE. In 2023, O.K. completed Gloriette-R1 in celebration of the 100th birthday / anniversary of Hollywood Sign.

http://www.o-k-o-k.net
https://www.instagram.com/archiveofaffinities/

The ARCHIVE OF AFFINITIES is an ongoing project by Andrew Kovacs. It is a continuously updated collection of architectural images that explores the dual meaning of affinity, reflecting personal preferences and the relationships between things, forming a kind of database. This image collection project collects the b-sides of architecture, and at times remixes this material into architectural proposals.
As new data continues to be generated every day, and especially considering the recent proliferation of design by generative AI, how will the nature of design continue to evolve? One possibility lies in the concept of “Making Architecture from Architecture,” which Kovacs often discusses. It is the idea that rather than just generating new data, we can construct and curate our own databases and then reimagine existing ideas to create our own.
By the end of this workshop, participants will have constructed their own original data archives and be able to present them.

Workshop Outline

Workshop Goal
In this workshop, participants will create works under the instruction of renowned architect Andrew Kovacs that can be submitted to the GEMINI Laboratory GLOBAL DESIGN AWARDS.

Outline
Workshop Format: All online (planned to be held through Zoom)
Language: English
Number of Participants: 25 people
Participation Cost: Free

Date
Day 1｜
Los Angeles, USA | March 25th (Mon), 4PM-7PM PST
New York, USA | March 25th (Mon), 7PM-10PM EST

Day 2｜
Los Angeles, USA | April 8th (Mon), 4PM-7PM PST
New York, USA | April 8th (Mon), 7PM-10PM EST

Program

The workshop will be held across two days. Day 1 will focus on instruction and discussions with the instructor, while Day 2 will focus on the participants receiving feedback from the instructor after creating their archives.

Pre-Workshop Assignment:
As preparation for workshop participation, participants are required to gather resources to service as 3D data for constructing their own worlds.

Day 1: Inspiration
・Orientation – Introduction to Gemini and the award (30 min)
・Instructor presentation（60 min)
・Break (15 min)
・Discussion on the theme (30 min)
・Assignment handout（15 min）
・Q&A session and advice for the award（30 min）

Day 2: Receiving Feedback
・Orientation（15 min)
・Overall review（10 min)
・Feedback（60 min)
*The instructor will check the assignments submitted in advance and select 5 participants for feedback. (Participants not selected on the spot will also receive written feedback from the instructor separately)
・General Q&A session with the instructor（20 min)
・Q&A regarding the award（15 min)

Workshop Application Requirements

• Must be able to attend both days of the workshop
• Must be able to submit the work created during the workshop to the GEMINI Laboratory GLOBAL AWARDS (Participants can edit their submissions after Day 2 of the workshop and work on it until the deadline)
• Must be able to use the necessary software for the assignment
  *Participants will be expected to conduct simple 3D scanning using Polycam by using devices such as iPhones.
  *Knowledge of 3D scanning and basic data editing using 3D software is required (Blender, Rhinoceros, etc.). There are no restrictions on the software used for this.
• Must have a stable wifi connection during the workshop
• For those with a Discord account:
  *In this workshop, communication will take place via an official Discord channel. We recommend registering for Discord in advance and joining the official channel.
• Must be able to communicate in English.

Workshop Application Method

Please apply via the entry button below.
*Please note that there is a maximum number of participants. We will conduct a lottery in the case that there are too many applicants.

Workshop Application Opens : March 15th, 2024 (Fri), 12:00 (Noon JST)
Workshop Application Deadline : March 22nd, 2024 (Fri) 12:00 (Noon JST)

Q&A

Q. What kind of works will be created during this workshop?
A. Participants will create works that meet the requirements for the GEMINI Laboratory Global Awards. For more details, please check this page.

Q. What software do I need to participate?
A. Any software that can export to jpeg or png formats will suffice. For example, for architecture, Rhinoceros can be used, and for gaming, Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, etc., can be used. Of course, softwares such as Illustrator or Photoshop are also acceptable.

Q. Where can I inquire if I have other questions about the workshop?
A. Please ask questions from the “help-center” channel within this Discord server.