Wakandan Bling

Preparation / Setup

Depending on how much time, how many students, how many facilitators, and how many computers and tools, you might want to pre-cut or 3D print the jewelry symbols.

This project includes three levels of digital fabrication skills:

• Novice – basic stl files and 3D printing
• Intermediate – jewelry parts with modification and 3D printing
• Advanced – jewelry parts with advanced 3D modeling and printing

Step 1 – Introduction to Cultural Art & Jewelry Design (45 minutes)

Establishing the Activity (5 minutes)

• “Today we are going to start by learning what inspired designers to create 2D symbols and related 3D objects for the ‘Black Panther’ film. The designers’ approaches included researching African cultures, identifying several African artifacts and symbols, and repurposing them for the film.”
• Before starting with tools we will start with ​Computational Adinkra​(Adinkra is one type of cultural symbol system used in the film).
• Each Adinkra symbol means something specific. For example, Dwennimmen (“JWEN-nih-men”) means “ram’s horns,” symbolizing that even the strong have to be humble.

• After reading about ​how Adinkra symbols were used​(in Black Panther) look at an ​Adinkra chart​and answer the following questions:
  • What symbols would you choose for the Dora Milaje? For T’Challa? For M’Baku?
  • What do/does the chosen symbol(s) mean?
  • How do you think your character would wear the symbol(s)? As jewelry?
  • How would you re-create or simulate the symbol?
• Come up with several ideas for how to use the symbols in jewelry, print and cut out symbols using craft foam sheets, then create prototypes for jewelry (earrings, bracelets, etc.) using the craft foam. Note: This material can also be laser cut.

• Discuss in small groups what they come up with.
• If time allows, complete the tutorial for the Adinkra CSDT: https://csdt.rpi.edu/culture/adinkra/tutorial.html

Step 2 – Simulate & Model Cultural Symbols for 2D and 3D (45 minutes)

Black Panther designers repurposed and simulated cultural symbols, including Adinkra. ​Culturally Situated Design Tools​(CSDTs) are web-based software applications that allow students to create simulations of cultural arts using underlying math principles. The software exposes users to computation and design, as well. On the RPI ​CSDT Community site​there is a “Challenges” section with a selection of Adinkra symbols that can be simulated in order of difficulty. The Dwennimmen simulation was the hardest symbol to simulate.

• Use the ​Adinkra CSDT​to simulate ​any​Adinkra symbol (play around with the tool).

After students create their CSDT symbols, they can screen grab and trace them in Inkscape. Then, the digital files can be laser cut from cardboard, foam, wood, or plastic, or made ready for 3D printing using Tinkercad. If time allows, students can 3D print their objects using PLA (plastic) material.

Note: If there are time constraints, students can download Adinkra symbols using the Web (Google).

To screen capture the symbol on a Windows PC: Click on the window you would like to capture and press Ctrl + Print Screen (Print Scrn) by holding down the Ctrl key and then pressing the Print Screen key.

• Open the symbol (as a raster or bitmap image) into Inkscape:
  • Inkscape Basics: ​https://www.wccusd.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=5658
  • Creating Vector Image from Bitmaps: ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-xxhphybnE

Step 2 – Digital Fabrication: Laser Cutting

In this step, students will take their imported symbol (a raster image) and trace it to create a vector image. A raster image is composed of pixels, while vector images are made of mathematical paths connected by lines, or curves. A vector image is ideal when creating a shape to digitally fabricate due to its high quality and ability to edit without losing detail. Once they understand the basics, students can ​tinker and create multiple iterations of their designs.

Create Vector Shape From Symbol Using Inkscape:

• Select 2D symbol
• Path → Trace Bitmap
• Check “Live Preview” Box

• Under ​Single scan: creates a path​select the following option that best fits your image (see above):
  • Brightness cutoff
  • Edge detection (see image)
  • Color quantization
  • Invert image
  • Increase or decrease the “Threshold” to your preference
• Click “OK” & close Trace Bitmap window
• Delete old image

Prepare Vector Shape (symbol) for Laser Cutting:

• Click ​File → Open and select your symbol (shape)
• Select all objects in the symbol (there may be more than one). Use one of the two methods below:
  • Create a dashed selection box around the objects
  • Hold Shift and click on all of the objects
• Click Object → Fill and Stroke
  • Fill = – “no paint”
  • Stroke Paint =– “flat color
    • R – 0
    • G – 0
    • B – 0
    • A – 255
  • Stroke Style:
    • Width – 0.001
    • Units – “in”
  • Opacity
    • % = 100
• Draw a hole (or holes) in the vector shape using the same process. This is for stringing wire or elastic.
• Save in the proper format for your specific laser cutter (i.e., as a TIFF or PDF)
• Laser cut the vector image

Step 3 – Digital Fabrication: 3D Printing (OPTIONAL)

Create Vector Shape From Symbol Using Inkscape:

• Select 2D symbol
• Path → Trace Bitmap
• Check “Live Preview” Box
• Under ​Multiple scans: creates a group of paths​select the following option that best fits your image
  • Brightness steps
  • Colors
  • Grays (see image)
• Click “OK” & close Trace Bitmap window
• Delete old image
• Save as .svg

Designing 2D to 3D

• Open Tinkercad: ​https://www.tinkercad.com
• Learn Tinkercad: ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60xfIu-lqAs
• Import vector image
• Create 3D models with the following parameters:
  • Resized and/or personalized (use ruler)
  • Width ≤ 1.5 inches (38mm)
  • Length ≤ 1.5 inches (38mm)
  • Depth ≤ 1/8th inch (4mm)
  • Print time < 30 minutes
  • Save as .stl file
  • Prepare for 3D printing (see image below)

After students 3D print their objects, they can assemble the pieces by stringing them together with wire, string, or elastic. More advanced students can create/3D print a centerpiece that has some personal meaning to them or even a holder for an electronic device.

Share Activity (10+ minutes)

• Share with the group what you made, and your process to getting there.