Early concept sketch.  Several different sketches were worked up on anything ranging from bar napkins to different iPad apps, including Autodesk Sketchbook Pro and Adobe Ideas.

Design refinements.  From here, the scribbles and sketches served to inspire as the design was created in Adobe Illustrator.

Laser-cut wooden model of the facade.  Illustrator file had to be converted to Corel Draw, since the workshop I used did not have Adobe Illustrator licensed on the machine connected to the laser (which was a huge pain).

Eridu Society Sign.  Adobe Illustrator logo art file turned into 3D model in Cinema 4D.  3D model then brought into Cut3D and prepped for use with ShopBot PRS Alpha CNC router.

Panels designed in Adobe Illustrator, converted to Corel Draw (since the workshop we used didn't have Illustrator licensed on the machine I needed to use), and then cut into 1/8" luan panels with an Epilog 60-watt laser cutter.

Cut panels were then painted and packed for the trip to the desert, where they were assembled on-site.

Finished Adobe Illustrator design for the Steampunk Airship Outpost was then taken over to Vectric's VCarve Pro.  There, the design was prepped for the ShopBot PRS Alpha CNC router.  The outpost design was etched into the surface of sheets of plywood using a ball-nosed bit, and then the outline was cut out.

Once each sheet of plywood had been etched and cut, it was painted - sort of like a very large coloring book.

Completed Airship Outpost by day.  The outpost design served as a facade to siguise our van, as well as provide a more elegant backdrop for the platform and shade structure up above.  In a city of tents, getting ten feet above the ground had the effect of being at the top of the Empire State Building, and afforded great views of passing art cars.

Evening View.  While the ground level art wasn't illuminated, the elevated view of Black Rock City at night was spectacular.

Steampunk Airship Outpost at San Francisco Decompression 'Heat The Street FaIRE" event.  We brought the installation to the annual street fair and had a constant stream of visitors throughout the day and night.

Steampunk Airship Outpost at San Francisco Decompression 'Heat The Street FaIRE" event.  We brought the installation to the annual street fair and had a constant stream of visitors throughout the day and night.