Intro

This course of independent study examines the role of Color as a method of active encoding/decoding/transfer of information between designers, machines, and software. For centuries, color has been used as a method of simplifying complex data whether it is showing the basic difference between land and water, or monitoring brain patterns via MRI to predict people’s thoughts. Traditionally, this system would encode information to be interpreted by people, but it has also become a general exchange method to be interpreted by machines or software.

After a round of initial research, half of the group will be focussing on color as a new mechanism of input and the other half will focus on output.

INPUT
Students focussing on input methods will be developing new interface methods for controlling complex, emergent design systems. This will involve developing methods of “scale” images as well as the methods that these images can be interpreted into a design outcome. Each student will focus on one of the topics including scripting techniques, using rendering as a calculation mechanism, computer vision, pattern recognition, agent-based design, and sensor based analysis. The group will be responsible for developing an overall protocol which allows the transfer of information between the systems developed by individuals. The software used will include Maya, Massive Prime, MaxMsp/Jitter, and Arduino IDE.

OUTPUT
Students focussing on output methods will be developing interactive, dynamic, master planning methods using LEDs. This will focus on the development of the Energy Masterplan Model being developed for the city of Xiamen, China in collaboration with Chora, and the University of Applied Science, Düsseldorf. This model uses 122 rapid prototype tiles to create the city of Xiamen and approximately 600 Leds which transform the model into a new typology of master planning tool. This course of study will look at the basics of wiring/electronics on a large scale as well as learning methods of developing the relationship between the users and the overall and local patterns of information. This will also include a 5 day workshop in Düsseldorf to assemble to model for an exhibition at the Aedes gallery in Berlin.