Tasked with the challenge of imagining a tool that could both cut and emboss the dough at the same time, students designed objects inspired by personal interests, ranging from sports teams to favorite animals. In doing so, students grappled with questions around material thickness, strength and structure, and the inverse relationship between the cookie cutter and the resulting imprint.

As they engaged in the fabrication process, studio members learned how to model in digital space with the software design application Autodesk Fusion 360. Using these files, the class partnered with the Dalton Makerspace team to 3D print initial prototypes. Then, they used these early versions to test their concepts with playdough. Through observation and experimentation, the students continued to refine the designs before printing again.

With the final designs, the class celebrated their hard work and the holiday season by putting the tools to the test and partnering with the culinary arts students in the Teaching Kitchen to bake gingerbread and sugar cookies with their custom designs!