Topic: Clay 3D-Printing: Beyond Digital Design
Date: August 15 – 16, 2026
Time: 14:00 – 18:00 GMT
Format: Online on Zoom
Duration: 2 Sessions (8 Hours)
Registration Deadline: August 14th, 2026
Total Seats: 50 seats
Difficulty: Beginner – Intermediate
Language: English
Certificate: Yes
General Registration: 100 EUR
Join free: with Full Access membership
Fee for Digital Members: 85 EUR (15% discount available only for Digital Members)
Organized By: PAACADEMY
Tutor: Edurne Morales
Recordings: Recordings will be available for all participants afterward indefinitely.
Introduction to Clay 3D-Printing: Beyond Digital Design:
The possibilities of digital fabrication go beyond the creation of complex geometries; interaction with materials offers opportunities for expression or for exploiting their characteristics. This also means that the physical prototypes will often look or react differently from what was assumed digitally.
This workshop will focus on the capabilities of materials and how to plan for their use in digital fabrication, with a particular practical focus on semi-liquid materials for 3D printing applications. The specific application will be the creation of a standard brick element or set of elements with a customized intervention for facade or other applications.
Through theoretical and practical sections, the participants will learn about: diverse cases of material reactions using multiple digital fabrication processes; how 3D printing with robots and printers works; and some possibilities, particularly with clay printing.
In the practical section, the participants will learn the basics of Rhinoceros and Grasshopper, the main software I use for these applications, specifically for printing applications, and will be able to produce geometries for 3D printing and test their assumptions by physically prototyping through Zoom at ZHAW’s digital lab using a WASP Clay 3D printer.
Methodology:
The workshop will have a theoretical and a practical section.
We start with a theoretical section by going through:
- Case studies using diverse fabrication processes, with specific examples on semi-liquid materials.
- Introduction to the 3D printing process, and the particularities of robotic and printer-based 3D printing. Such as production capabilities, scale, programming, and data generation.
- Considerations and possibilities when printing with clay: viscosity, texture, drying stages, firing, additives, paints, and glazings.
And follow with a practical section, which will be individual or groups (depending on the quantity of participants) and will involve:
- Tutorial on print path generation, effect, texture, and shape manipulation
- Tutorial on data generation for robots and 3D printers
- Workshop time for technical doubts and design
- Practical workshop for the application of print path using a Delta WASP 40100 Clay, available at the Digital Lab in ZHAW
The typology to be used is a standard brick, which participants will manipulate individually or as a system to apply specific textures, functions, and details. The main software used will be Rhinoceros and Grasshopper, which will be used to generate the geometries and print paths.
Key Learning Topics:
- Understand material behavior in digital fabrication and in clay 3D printing.
- Design and model architectural elements using Rhino 8.
- Develop parametric systems using Grasshopper.
- Generate and prepare 3D-printing toolpaths for fabrication.
- Translate digital designs into robotic and printer-based workflows.
- Participate in live clay 3D-printing and physical prototyping.
Program:
Day 1:
- Introduction by tutor and digital fabrication case studies
- Introduction to 3D printing (robots and 3D printers), clay, and ceramics
- Tutorial [Rhinoceros + Grasshopper]: Toolpath generation options (textures, effects, infill, height, and shape control)
- Individual design development and technical Q&A
Day 2:
- Review of participant designs
- Technical troubleshooting and discussion of participant work
- Tutorial [Grasshopper (KUKA PRC, Robots), Ultimaker Cura profile manipulation]: Fabrication data generation, simulation, and visualization
- Introduction to material preparation and machine setup, tips, and best practices
- Live 3D printing of participant designs (participants will print one or two projects)
Software:
- Rhino 8
- Grasshopper
- Kuka PRC
- Robots
- Cura
Workshop Notes:
- Software Installation is NOT a part of the workshop! Students must have all the software installed before starting the workshop.
Instructor:
Edurne Morales
Edurne Morales is a Mexican architect whose work focuses on computational design solutions, development of non-standard fabrication processes, and the introduction of natural materials for applications in architecture, objects, art, aerospace, and automotive sectors.
She has participated in projects such as Mexico City’s New International Airport (FREE + Foster & Partners), Clay Rotunda (GKR, ETH Zurich), Magic Queen (MAEID – Venice Biennale 2021), BMW M Visionary Seat (BMW + Gradel LW), Un Proyecto de Talavera (MANUFACTURA), earthprinting (ZHAW). Edurne is a co-founder of MANUFACTURA (Mexico) and Robocraft (UAE), and is currently a researcher at Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
Important Notes:
- The “Clay 3D-Printing: Beyond Digital Design” workshop by PAACADEMY will start at 14:00 (GMT) on Saturday, August 15th, 2026.
- Total sessions: 2 Sessions (8 Hours).
- The teaching duration per session will be 4 hours.
- Students will have time for a break between teaching hours.
- The workshop will be recorded, and videos will be available for participants just a day after the class for an unlimited time.
- PAACADEMY will provide a certificate of attendance.
- The studio has limited seats. Tickets are non-transferable & non-refundable. Please read carefully before you register.
Topic: Clay 3D-Printing: Beyond Digital Design
Date: August 15 – 16, 2026
Time: 14:00 – 18:00 GMT
Format: Online on Zoom
Duration: 2 Sessions (8 Hours)
Registration Deadline: August 14th, 2026
Total Seats: 50 seats
Difficulty: Beginner – Intermediate
Language: English
Certificate: Yes
General Registration: 100 EUR
Join free: with Full Access membership
Fee for Digital Members: 85 EUR (15% discount available only for Digital Members)
Organized By: PAACADEMY
Tutor: Edurne Morales
Recordings: Recordings will be available for all participants afterward indefinitely.
