Smoke and Mirrors is a summer intensive at the Melbourne School of Design and explores the intersection of stage sets, miniatures, architecture and narrative driven design. Utilising spatial analysis of film sets and literature, the animated artefacts are a product of the digital and physical born from rapid prototyping (laser-cutting), digital fabrication techniques and model-making.

Teams were tasked with designing and fabricating an animated set model based on sourced material. Using techniques and discussions learnt over the course of 12 days, they explored the use of model making and designing through the lens of a camera. Highly detailed models were creating using a mixture of intricately laser-cut pieces, hand modelling, and lights and motors and used in-camera effects such as forced perspective.