Access

How do I get a door code to Arch Hall 043?
You work with a DMG faculty member (Brian, Ellen, Mark) on a design computing research project.

I need to use a DMG machine to learn PhotoShop/Maya/FormZ. Can I have access?
No, although a great deal of teaching and learning takes place at the Design Machine Group, its primary function is research, not instruction. Other facilities are available in the Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, and University of Washington to support your learning needs.

I need to use a DMG machine for my studio/thesis/independent study project.
Again, other facilities are available for these purposes.

Can my friend use a DMG machine? All the public labs are full and s/he really needs to complete an assignment for tomorrow.
No. Sorry. Not even at night when no one's around. It might seem unreasonable, but it's a slippery slope, it promotes false expectations, and sooner or later it leads to tears.

Do you have to be a programmer to be part of the DMG?
No, but it doesn't hurt. We have need for many different skills, so just because you don't know how to program doesn't mean you can't be part of the group. But, we are looking for people with research skills of one sort or another.

Who's in charge of what around here?
Mark, Ellen, and Brian are the faculty members. They are ultimately responsible for what goes on in the lab. Thomas and Ken are knowledgeable research staff members who can help with many things. Among other things, they share the duties of "lab manager"

Do I have to attend all the lab meetings? Many of them are about other people's projects.
Yes. We are a community, and one of your responsibilities as a citizen of this community is to know about, and contribute to, the work of others.

What about demos? There's a scheduled demo next week, but I'm not on the list of presenters. Do I have to attend?
Yes. See above. It's also useful to watch other people present and hear the comments on their work.

If I do a thesis using DMG space or machine should i give a hard copy of the thesis to DMG?
Absolutely. It's also useful to make a PDF version of the thesis so it can be posted and accessed on the web for future students.

Can I get paid for doing my thesis?
No, we don't pay people for doing their Master thesis work. However, in some cases we may be able to support you if a project we are working on is closely related to your Master thesis work.

There's an interesting conference in Bali/Spain/Shanghai. If my abstract is accepted, will DMG pay for me to attend and present at this conference?

Maybe, but definitely don't count on it. Discuss this first with your faculty project leader, before sending in the abstract or paper. We like to support student participation in conferences, but like anything else, this costs money, and that has to come from somewhere. Just because your paper is accepted does not mean you will be funded to attend the conference.

Where does the money come from?
Various places. Some start-up funding for the lab was made available by the Provost's office and by the Department of Architecture. Some money has come from grants, both internal (university) and external (outside the university). None of the funding for the laboratory comes from funding earmarked for student instruction.

Some people are getting paid, and others not. What's the difference in responsibliites?
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How do we buy things (supplies, etc.)?
Generally, purchases are made through the College Office of Computer Support. To avoid confusion it's best to have a single channel to the College, so please let the lab manager know if we need supplies. In an emergency, you can buy supplies and get reimbursed IF the amount is under $200 AND you keep the original receipt. Again, see the lab manager about getting reimbursed. Same holds for software and miscellaneous equipment purchases (e.g., cables, mice, etc.).

How do I get reimbursed for supplies I bought for the lab or my project?
Keep receipts, identify the project, the account number if you know it, the reason for the purchase. Many (most?) requests for reimbursement are returned for additional information, so it's important to get all the information right the first time through. When you've got it ready, the lab manager will submit your reimbursement request for you.

Can I borrow the Visor/Projector/Computer? I need it for my studio presentation.
No, sorry. Lab gear is for lab use only. Seek other resources.

I need a 3D rapid prototyping printer (Lear jet, personal helicopter) for my project. Will the DMG buy one?
We'd love to, but like you, we don't have the cash for big-ticket items. Write a grant to get one! On the other hand, if we have a real need for a piece of equipment, begin by documenting the need (why do we need it, what would we be able to do if we got it, what can't we do that we need to do), identify a price and vendors, and let's talk about it as a group.

My computer doesn't work What should I do?
Don't just walk away and find another one to use. First, try to fix it yourself (and if you need help, ask for help). Knowing how to make things work again is a valuable skill, and painful though it is, debugging a broken computer is one of the best ways to learn it. If it's well and truly broken, then let the lab manager know, and we'll get it fixed.

What about back-ups?
We have a tape back up system, that will (occasionally) back up the DMG machines, but only if they are configured correctly as Retrospect clients. It's YOUR responsibility to ensure that the machine you use is configured to back up your work. As a general policy, you should always take personal responibility to keep current backups of your work (on a server, on another machine, on CD-ROM, on tape, on Zip). It's dangerous to rely on the lab's backup system - consider this an extra layer of backup.

Can I use DMG's computer and other equipment to do other class assignments and projects?
The school provides resources for instructional computing elsewhere, so if you have any doubt about this, use the public instructional labs (or your own computer) first. Yes, can accept a small amount of "spill-over" from class work; No, we aren't here to support your class or studio assignments. As a rule of thumb, if you are spending more than 10% of your time in the DMG on class work, you should find another solution.

Can we borrow DMG's equipment outside DMG's lab?
Yes, for presenting your (DMG) work, or for a DMG project. (For example, to show your DMG project to a class or other presentation; or to conduct research for your project outside the lab). In any case, ask first, and if it's equipment that anyone else might need, be sure and leave a note.

How about user manuals, software, etc. Can I borrow them?
Yes... but be sure and leave a dated note indicating that you have borrowed the item, and when you will bring it back. Nothing's more frustrating than not being able to find the Norton Utilities disk repair CD when you really need it. Also, be sure to observe copyright law when borrowing copyrighted items such as software.

If my project is done, will all of my expenses (for that project) be reimbursed?

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How about DMG projects that are also thesis projects?

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Mark/Brian/Ellen helped me a lot during an earlier phase of my project. Do I have to put him/her on my thesis committee?
Who you put on your thesis advisory committee is ultimately up to you. However, if you ask for and receive significant amounts of help or guidance from a faculty member while you are preparing your thesis proposal, or even while you are doing the thesis work, they may reasonably feel that they should be credited as a member of your committee. Keep in mind that advising thesis students is not part of the regular teaching load, so formal recognition by the student is usually appreciated.

Whose name goes first on the author list of papers?
Whoever did the most work goes first. This includes doing the research as well as writing the paper. Even if your faculty advisor didn't do more than guide you through the process, it's appropriate to include his or her name as an author of the paper.

How should I acknowledge people who helped with my project?
There's a place in every paper (web site, video, and presentation) for formal acknowledgment of all who helped. This includes people who contributed good ideas, pointed you at some important literature, paid for part or all of the study, and/or provided any other resources that were useful in doing the work. For certain funding agencies (e.g., NSF), very specific language for the acknowledgement is required.

Do I need to put Design Machine Group name on my projects (that is done in DMG)?
Yes, if you used DMG resources to do the work, even if you didn't get paid in money. When in doubt, check.

Can I take my parents, relatives or other guest (other than student or UW staff) to and show DMG?
Absolutely Yes. You are welcome to bring visitors at almost any time. If you want to show them a particular project, you should arrange for that demo yourself. If you want anyone in particular to meet and talk with them, you should make prior arrangements. We welcome visitors, but we can't promise to drop whatever we're doing to talk to them if we didn't know they're coming.

Can anyone bring/send visitors to the lab?
If you aren't going to host a visit, it's still usually possible to arrange a visit. Just check with the faculty or lab manager first, before inviting anyone. Most of the time the answer is Yes, but we like to be prepared.