Generative Design

“Generative design approach works in imitation of Nature, performing ideas as codes, able to generate endless variations “ — Celestino Soddu

“Generative design is not about designing the building – Its’ about designing the system that builds a building.” – Lars Hesellgren

“Generative design is a design method where the output – image, sound, architectural models, animation – is generated by a set of rules or an Algorithm, normally by using a computer program.” - Wikipedia

This workshop shows the idea and tactics of generative design. The principle itself can be used in a variety of tools. We will use the in-house developed - and well fit - tool NodeBox Live to find out the fundamentals.

Goals

• Get a brief history and background of generative design.
• Learn about the basics of NodeBox Live: network, nodes, ports, parameters ..
• Learn about some basic functionality: we will focus on the functions needed for GD.
• Create a few simple examples that explain the prinicple and shows the power of it.
• Learn how to embed your NodeBox project into your own webpage.

Requirements

• NodeBox is free to experiment with. Go ahead and create your account.

Project

We'll make several networks that have endless variety as outcome.

Next Steps

• Go to the library or buy a copy of Flake's Computational Beauty of Nature: Computer Explorations of Fractals, Chaos, Complex Systems, and Adaptation or Maeda's Design by Numbers.
• NodeBox is also well equiped for other design approaches. Have a look at more examples in the tutorial section.
• Generative Design is applicable in a lot of contexts. Fusion 360, an 3d modeling and engineering tool also implemented it