Rant

Computational Design workshops 2013 at Dark

One of the things I really wanted to do when I started my current position as Digital Design Manager at Dark was to try to generate some interest around computational design. I'm absolutely no computational nor design expert, but I have some interest when it comes to conceptual modeling tools, math and visual programming, and as with many things in life; when you like something you stick with it.

We put together 6 workshops, most of them with different attendees. This meant we spent some time on introductions to the concepts and tools available each time we met. Still, I was very impressed by the work that we managed to produce during the 3 hours these workshops lasted.

I normally divide the workshops in three parts; during the first hour I show something I believe will be new to the present attendees, the second hour everyone model something from their imagination - totally without creative constraints or guidelines, but before we start I announce that during the last hour every participant must present their work to the others. That has a tendency to up the prestige slightly. I guess I never actually mentioned that their work would also be published online...

We've mostly used Autodesk Vasari during these sessions. Unfortunately we haven't been able to spend much time on visual programming and Dynamo yet, but this is something I hope we can dive into at the start of 2014. I'm sure Zach Kron will recognize some of the patterns in our exercises, as we've used his YouTube on several occasions. I bow in honor.

While these interactive training sessions are mainly for Dark employees we have at times invited certain individuals from other companies and educational institutions. If you'd like to be invited to these workshops, please let me know and perhaps we can make it happen. They will also most likely be published in the Events section on Relinquish.

Here is a sober selection of the creative work we produced during some of these very inspirational workshops: