MSDMT CAPSTONE
GRADUATE STUDIO
MSDMT 700 - FALL 2024PROFESSOR
Sean AhlquistThis course is the culmination of the academic course of study. Participants are expected to apply new skills and knowledge towards advancing the discipline through their projects. Intensive and research-based, participants will be required to document their research and project-based work in partial fulfillment of their degree. Outside expert discussion is integrated into the MS Capstone through one or a series of colloquia presentations and public exhibitions by participants.
In this capstone studio, students synthesize computational, material, and design innovations to propose new directions in architectural discourse. While recent lines of inquiry—such as programmable surfaces, biomimetic design, and interactive textiles—illustrate the studio’s breadth, they also demand critical examination of feasibility, sustainability, and ethical implications. By documenting both process and outcomes, participants confront the gaps between conceptual ambitions and real-world constraints, building a body of research that both advances and interrogates emerging practices. Engagement with visiting experts situates each project in the broader disciplinary conversation, challenging students to refine assumptions and deliver rigorously substantiated contributions to the field.