Week 6: Playing with exisiting code on P5.js

This week, my experiments primarily revolved around engaging with the activities curated by Andreas from the BA level 1 workshops. Given that I missed out on the first year, I find myself fortunate to have these resources at my disposal. Andreas's guidance in providing me with a structured path, preventing me from feeling adrift and lost in the process.The activities, especially those involving code manipulation, have offered me a tangible sense of direction. By working with provided code, I've been able to decipher the intricacies of visual elements and gain insights into how different coding techniques influence the final output. This hands-on approach not only facilitates a deeper understanding of the coding process but also serves as a launchpad for my own creative exploration.

The opportunity to manipulate existing code has been instrumental in helping me identify the types of visuals that captivate my interest. This process of experimentation acts as a crucial stepping stone, allowing me to discern my preferences and, in turn, empowering me to envision and develop my own code. It's a journey of self-discovery within the realm of coding and visual aesthetics, guided by the expertise and resources provided by Andreas. As I navigate through these experiments, I am not only building technical skills but also cultivating a keen eye for design and an understanding of how code can be harnessed to manifest textural concepts. I am excited about the prospect of translating my newfound insights into the creation and development of my unique visual language. This iterative process of exploration and adaptation is not just about learning to code but also figuring out the intersection of technology and creative expression.

  • P5.js sketch Using chat gpt to generate a code

Manipulated Code

To be certain, my 3 pillars are interactive, generative typography and textures Setting out on these 3 keywords, I nosedived into the library as well as the online scholary resources to get more readings and knowledge on what the focus of my research is on. Another issue I faced was trying to source for case studies on textures. As it futher leads me into keywords such as sensory, food textures and materials. Which is all so fascinating but delves into the scientific aspects which kind of slowed down my attention span

Some experiements I explored from exisiting code that Andreas have created and how I used his code to manipulate.
1. Existing Code
2. Manipulated Code
3. Code Created by Myself
4. AI generated Code

RPO Consultation

his week's consultation focused on my progress with the RPO. Having finished two reading pillars, being generative typography and texture studiea. The readings have deepened my understanding of the subject for my project direction.

Generative typorgraphy is a technique where typography is created using algorithms, code, or other automated processes, rather than traditional manual methods. It often involves the use of programming languages. This method can provide dynamic, ever-changing typographic designs that react to user interaction, data, or environmental conditions. Generative typography can be used to generate distinctive and visually appealing typographic compositions in a variety of design contexts, including digital art, graphic design, and interactive installations.

I ponderede over the aspect of algorithms, which is to produce dynamic and developing typographic designs. These algorithms establish the rules and behaviours that regulate how typography is generated, allowing for a diverse range of outputs. Designers can utilise algorithms to build typographic compositions that are dynamic, responding to multiple inputs or conditions like as user interactions, data feeds, or environmental changes. This dynamic nature imparts unpredictability and individuality to the typeface, making it more engaging and expressive than typical static typography.

This then technically goes hand in hand with the idea of my other pillar which is interactivity. Good visualisation design transforms complex interaction datasets into visible, understandable graphics, often in familiar formats like maps, pie charts, or graphs, and sometimes in new forms.

During consultation, I struggled to convey my research using my own words and terms, relying largely on chat gpt for assistance. Andreas identified this as a red flag and advised me to write in my own words. I need to reword my previous pointers into my own terms. He suggested using DEEPL to improve my writing. Writing, however, is not one of my strengths. Andreas provided helpful suggestions, like creating an overview in point form, adding sentences, and integrating them into paragraphs.

Studio Work and Feedback

We shared our previous experiments with our classmates duringclass. We were also given post-it notes to provide input on our classmates' experiments, as well as a piece of paper to write a quick description of our project outline.

From the post-its, there are some suggestions and ideas I can take into consideration moving forward. Generative typography being my main pillar is quite lacking as for now in my works. With that lacking, the connection between typography and textures are still quite blurrede and not seen as one but separate. This is something I have to continue to develop and experiment. Mostly with textures being quite broad, is there a way I can curate or make a collection that will help better relay the message. Right now, I have to consider the link between the pillars as I feel what I am working on is all quite separate.