(North Bergen--February 13, 2016) Formerly known as the Academy of Architecture & Contemporary Themes (AACT), the Digital Design and Fabrication Academy (D|FAB) at High Tech High School aims to usher in a new generation of leaders and workers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.
Rooted in liberal arts values, D|FAB offers students a range of vocational instruction in cutting-edge machinery and technology, provided by experts in their respective fields. D|FAB, the entry point for High Tech’s industry-supported Force21 initiative, addresses the need for high-paying, high-demand careers in manufacturing fields.
D|FAB prepares High Tech students for college or careers in architecture, fine arts, interior design, urban planning, industrial design, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, automotive technology, digital fabrication, programming, and wood technology. This innovative academy provides basic skills (e.g., sketching, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, AutoCad, and 3DMax) while reaching beyond the traditional classroom environment into the landscape of practical vocational training so much in demand these days.
Students witness programmers writing code for industrial designers who work hand-in-hand with machinists; review careers in STEM fields via field trips, guest speakers, and job shadowing; select pathway courses and dedicate themselves to them; obtain a knowledge of applications including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Rhino and Python, and elements of CAD/CAM; and commit to a vocational program in earnest preparation for post-secondary study and/or employment.
D|FAB students eventually chose a field in which they intent to excel, cultivating innovative and technically exceptional projects in their respective subjects. They focus extensively on problem solving, creative cultivation, portfolio development, historical and contextual understanding, and group work dynamics, nurturing projects of personal interest. Students often work collaboratively in a fabrication lab, employing machinery/technological equipment such as 3D Printers, CNC Router, and Laser Cutters, along with the computer programs required for these tools.
