CREATIVE CODING WORKSHOP
Processing Sketches
June 2020
Company
Through a series of creative coding workshops developed within the Master of Architecture programme at Universidad Europea de Madrid UEM participants were commissioned to develop Processing scripts based on concepts such as natural patterns, light and colour diffusion, swarm behaviours, and cloth simulations. The workshops aimed to strengthen software and coding literacy through the production of multiple interactive sketches.
INTERACTIVE CLOTH DRAWING
The script tracks the moves of the mouse and creates autonomously cloth patterns that follow mouse inertia. Those patterns’ shape depends on the mouse movement inertia and will acquire different colours relying on the mouse velocity. The system produces different results based on the movement path made. This script is mobile-friendly, instead of moving the mouse, touch the screen with the finger to modify the automatic cloth patterns.
TRIANGULAR MOTION NETWORK
The script generates a moving grid of points that act like multi-agent systems forming different triangular surfaces when 3 points exceed the threshold distance. Those agent points move with different velocities and directions, forming an interactive motion system. Triangular surfaces have multiple colours depending on the initial tones of forming points and their size.
SOFT SWARM BEHAVIOUR
The script follows flock birds pattern rules where every agent in the system comes after other agents behaviours. At a particular time, the flock is denser or its shape changes due to external actions (in this case mouse location).
Swarm density and internal shape vary depending mouse’s position on the screen. Horizontal mouse coordinate affects density while vertical location modifies the internal sweep’s sections.
The final result reveals a soft swarm flocking behaviour that varies over time and reflects its relation with external operators.
LIGHT RAY TRACING SYSTEM
The script renders different colours, shapes and locations of lights rays which creates multiple glimmery flashes. It generates an automatic constellation of merged lights drawing rays from the centre to every position on the screen perimeter.
SELF REPLICANT WORMS
The script replicates wool patterns fabricated by multiple worm swarms. Every time the script runs, the silkworms will produce a different stitched design. The user should click or touch the screen to create a new self-replicant silkworm swarm. The swarms act as an agent-based system design which will spread over the screen following multiple paths performing varied patterns and growth simulations.
Self-Replicant Worms Script (Click on the screen)
BLURRED LANDSCAPES
The script assembles a blurry background with different colours and brush sizes that recreate an abstract living landscape. The blurry atmospheres, vibrant colours and shimmering lights draw by the impressionists are the inspiration and aim of this algorithm.
SOFT PARTICLE FIELD
The script simulates suspended particles sets that are drawn based on distance from the screen. It reproduces a 3D dimension adding a fading algorithm to the particles located farther away from the viewer. The user can dive over those particles, moving the mouse around or touching the screen in an immersive atmosphere feeling.
DECONSTRUCTION OF PICASSO
The script uses simple forms (pixels) and a limited colour palette (grayscale) to depict the twentieth-century painter Pablo Picasso’s image. It tracks the mouse location to explode the image’s pixels in a 3D environment depending on its lightness value. The result is an abstract illustration showing different perspectives and a diversity of shifting deconstructed forms yielding an active quality to the overall painting.
