This thesis is a three-part creative coding exploration of generative typography and pixel-based image manipulation. Systema is composed of three distinct projects named Lyra, Mensa, and Vela, respectively, that investigate and demonstrate the advantages and drawbacks of generative graphic design. / Master of Fine Arts

Computational design is often depicted as an instrument for analysis or production, but it is also a space in which to explore and create new ways of working and thinking. This thesis explores how, through critically engaged practice, designers working computationally are uniquely able to envision and work toward desirable futures, challenging a techno-utopian status quo and projecting humane alternatives. What computational design methods, approaches, and strategies can help to bring about these desirable futures? Through primary research involving interviews with computational design practitioners, developing interactive software prototypes as investigative tools, and conducting design workshops, I investigate various modes of working computationally. Building on this research, I propose a three-part framework that synthesizes high-level approaches to computational design work. The first component, generating, reveals how computation enables the designer to work at various levels of abstraction, navigating large possibility spaces. The second, simulating, provides a frame for envisioning and modeling potential interventions in complex systems. Finally, interrogating, drawing from both Schön’s ‘reflective practice’ and Wark’s ‘hacker ethos,’ encourages computational designers to critically question their tools and practices in order to discover new ways of working and thinking. I conclude by discussing potential embodiments of this framework in computational design education.

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Ålö is a supplier of products for agricultural tractors. They mainly develop and manufacture front loaders, which traditionally are used to handle hay, but today are employed also in various other application areas. Ålö's products revolve around the front loader, where one of the products is the subframe. The subframes are the mechanical adjustment required for the front loaders to fit different tractors. The design of the subframe can sometimes be difficult to develop since it is limited by the tractor and its attachment points. The Product Integration Department at Ålö wants to investigate a software called Generative Design to facilitate the process of developing new subframes. Three different tractor models with a plate-like geometry are investigated. In addition, a tractor model for which an alternative casting subframe should be developed is investigated. A total of three different methods for the development of subframes are applied. For two of the methods, separate load cases need to be simulated on the two different parts of the subframe. The load cases used for the simulations are obtained by hand calculation. For each method, the time it takes from modelling to optimized design is investigated. In addition, information about other optimization programs is obtained. The result of this project is that the software has too few adjustment possibilities and that the generated design becomes too complex to be successfully used in the development of new subframes with sheet structure. However, an optimized cast design was developed, which provides a weight reduction of 17 kg. The total time of the design process, from the introduction of scanned data to the final subframe concept, is about six hours. Two topology optimization programs are considered better suited for the project and a further study is recommended to explore the software Altaire Inspire. / Ålö är en leverantör av produkter till jordbrukstraktorer. De utvecklar och tillverkar i huvudsak frontlastare som i grunden används för att hantera hö, men som idag har flera olika användningsområden. Ålös produkter kretsar runt frontlastaren där en av produkterna är fundament. Fundamenten är den mekaniska anpassningen som krävs för att frontlastare ska passa till olika traktorer. Designen för fundamenten kan ibland vara svår att ta fram då konstruktionen är begränsad av traktorn och dess infästningspunkter. Avdelningen Produktintegration på Ålö vill undersöka om programmet Generative Design kan underlätta proceduren att ta fram nya fundament. Vid Projektarbetet så utvärderas tre olika traktormodeller där designen ska ha en plåtliknande geometri. Utöver det så undersöks en traktormodell där ett alternativt gjutet fundament ska framtas. Totalt tre olika metoder för framtagning av fundament appliceras. För två av metoderna så krävs det att separata lastfall simuleras på de två olika delarna av fundamentet. Lastfallen som används vid simulering framtas genom handberäkning. En tidsredovisning framtas från modellering till optimerad design och information om andra optimeringsprogram erhålls. Det projektet resulterat i är att Generative Design har för få inställningsmöjligheter och att den genererade designen blir för komplex för att kunna användas vid framtagning av nya fundament som har plåtstruktur. Däremot så har en optimerad gjuten design framtagits vilket ger en viktbesparing på 17 kg jämförd med den nuvarande designen. Tidsredovisningen ger en sammanlagd tid på sex timmar från införandet av inskannad data till konceptfundament. Två topologioptimeringsprogram anses bättre lämpad för projektet och en vidare undersökning rekommenderas inom mjukvaran Altaire Inspire.

Despite the increasing availability of personal fabrication hardware and services, the true potential of digital fabrication remains unrealized due to lack of computational techniques that can support 3D shape design by nonexperts. This work develops computational methods that address two key aspects of content creation:(1) Function-driven design synthesis, (2) Design assessment. For design synthesis, a generative shape modeling algorithm that facilitates automatic geometry synthesis and user-driven modification for nonexperts is introduced. A critical observation that arises from this study is that the most geometrical specifications are dictated by functional requirements. To support design by high-level functional prescriptions, a physics based shape optimization method for compliant coupling behavior design has been developed. In line with this idea, producing complex 3D surfaces from flat 2D sheets by exploiting the concept of buckling beams has also been explored. Effective design assessment, the second key aspect, becomes critical for problems in which computational solutions do not exist. For these problems, this work proposes crowdsourcing as a way to empower non-experts in esoteric design domains that traditionally require expertise and specialized knowledge.

<p dir="ltr">Invasive species wreak havoc on global ecosystems, with negative ecological and economic consequences. Human activities, primarily stemming from globalization, trade, and increased travel, have played a significant role in accelerating species invasions. To manage and possibly mitigate these challenges, humans can harness data analysis to predict and control species invasions. Addressing this issue requires an understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of invasions. This research developed an innovative visualization tool designed to illustrate complex spatiotemporal data pertaining to species invasion routes. By analyzing pest invasion records spanning from 1905 to 2020, the tool presents the invasion trajectories of four non-native species in the eastern United States. Implementing spatial tools such as road networks and terrain, the visualization clarifies the spatiotemporal progression of these invasions, allowing users to intuitively determine invasion epicenters, and identify propagation pathways. Additional features enable the examination of correlations between highway systems, terrain, and invasion dynamics. Following a comprehensive training and exploration phase with domain experts, the efficacy of the tool was proven. The findings underline the proposed solution’s potential to enhance users’ comprehension of invasion dynamics, highlight intrusion centers, and indicate the influence of external factors on species expansion. This study not only validates the visualization tool’s capability but also serves as a foundation for future spatiotemporal research endeavors.</p>

"Revealing the simple complexity" is a series of explorations which investigates the wonders of Persian patterns and develops its principles through generative and interactive design.The exploration consists of four main stages of studies and manifestations. [1] Fundamental studies, delves into the mathematical detail and principle of traditional Persian patterns, looking at the underlaying rules of the construction and composition of the patterns. [2] Generative coding and modeling, investigates ways in which traditional pattern algorithms can be simplified and reconstructed. This stage declares the main body of my thesis and includes producing work which explores techniques for form-finding using algorithm and code. [3] Interactive studies, are another important component of the process. The interaction between designer/user, code/design has been investigated though motion and light sensors in this phase. [4] A conclusion of all the previous stages have been gathered in the form of architectural manifestations and future application in this chapter. My explorations have tried to uncover simple ways in which we could rethink complicated form finding strategies, and suggests a new direction for future explorations in interactive and generative architecture. / Master of Architecture

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:42:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Henrique Valerio.pdf: 6043900 bytes, checksum: 180a04e1603076d2e5d38913b36c912f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-18 / The Processing language programming can be considered a pluralistic language. It is used in works ranging from design to their association with the use of the logic board Arduino, with which it is possible to control systems with applications in the field of 3D printing, robotics, transportation engineering, and others. All of them this vastness applications, this research focuses on Processing language programming while design. It seeks to understand, from a historical and conceptual as well as the analysis of the works of some contemporary artists from Brazil and abroad, the existence of the unpredictability of this type of design, purposing to study the processing design and their applications. The generative structure will be faced with the cultural design tradition propagated today in schools and by designers. Therefore, this project It starts with the practical-theoretical reflection: presents a series of examples of processing design developed by professionals based on questions and clarifications raised throughout the research process, contributing to the understanding and suggesting new avenues for research on processing design and new technologies. / A linguagem de Programação Processing pode ser considerada uma linguagem pluralista. É usada em trabalhos que vão do design até com sua associação ao uso da placa lógica Arduíno, com a qual é possível até mesmo controlar sistemas com aplicações na área de impressão 3D, robótica, engenharia de transportes, entre outros. Dentre toda essa vastidão de aplicações, esta pesquisa concentra-se na linguagem de programação Processing enquanto design. Procura-se entender, a partir de um levantamento histórico e conceitual, bem como pela análise das obras de alguns artistas contemporâneos, do Brasil e do exterior, a existência da imprevisibilidade desta modalidade de design, com o objetivo de estudar o processing design e suas aplicações. A estrutura autogerativa é confrontada com a tradição cultural do design propagado hoje, tanto nas escolas quanto por designers. Para tanto, este projeto parte de uma reflexão prático-teórica: apresenta uma série de exemplos de processing design desenvolvidos por profissionais a partir dos questionamentos e das elucidações levantados ao longo do processo de investigação, contribuindo com o entendimento e sugerindo novos caminhos para a pesquisa sobre processing design e novas tecnologias.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify needs in the AEC industry of Generative Design as a process methodology in design processes in the initial stage, since the design process has not developed in line with digitalization. The aim is to compare Generative design as a process methodology in design processes with established methodology to investigate the need for a changed design process as well as its challenges in the AEC industry. Method: The study is executed as a field study and is based on a method triangulation between literature search, document study and qualitative interviews with five individuals semi-structured form. The informants have good experience in the subject area. Findings: The findings are of different ambiguity in individual perspectives, but if seen in combination a clearer result is shown. The study achieves following findings; A need for change in the AEC industry's design process exists and a multidisciplinary approach is sought. Implementation of needs begins with a parallel process between current methodology and GD, one need not exclude the other. An increased programming knowledge of architects and engineers is required. A clear strategy for valuing requirements and design alternatives is required. Today's (2020) established process tends to move towards projects of high complexity being sub optimized which gives generic consequences for design, but GD have the potential to break the trend. Implications: The authors believe that the study’s set goals answer the questions of concern with high reliability and validity based on the study's coordination. Potential for further and in-depth studies are considered and that the collected empiricism to a wider extent than initially desired. Limitations: The subject area studied is predominantly of a contextual nature, which is partly reflected in the results. Because the result is based on a small selection of informants, it cannot be assumed that the same results had been obtained from the perspective of other professional groups. The results can be perceived as subjective due statements are based on personal opinions and preconceived opinions. The collected empiricism can provide a basis for a deeper analysis but the study’s scope of 15 hp was limiting. / Syfte: Syftet med arbetet är att kartlägga behovet i AEC-branschen av Generativ Designsom processmetodik i designprocessens initiala skeden eftersom designprocessen idaginte följt den digitala utveckling som snabbt går framåt. Målet är att utreda behovet aven förändrad designprocess samt dess utmaningar i AEC-branschen genom att jämföraGenerativ design som processmetodik i designprocessen med vedertagen metodik. Metod: En fallstudie av kvalitativ ansats med metodtriangulering mellanlitteratursökning, dokumentstudie och intervjuer med fem individer av semistruktureradform. Informanterna har god erfarenhet av ämnesområdet. Resultat: Resultaten är av varierande entydighet i enskilt perspektiv men ses resultateni kombination ges en tydligare resultatbild. Studien kommer fram till följande; Ettbehov av förändring i AEC-branschens designprocess existerar och etttvärfunktionellt arbetssätt eftertraktas. En implementering behöver inledas med enparallell process mellan nuvarande metodik och GD, det ena behöver inte utesluta denandra. En ökad programmeringskunskap hos arkitekter och ingenjörer krävs. En tydligstrategi för värdering av kravställningar och designalternativ krävs. Dagens (2020) vedertagna process tenderar att gå mot att projekt av högre komplexitetsgradsuboptimeras vilket ger generiska konsekvenser för utformandet men att GD harpotential att bryta denna trend. Konsekvenser: Författarna anser att studien besvarar uppsatt mål och frågeställningarmed hög reliabilitet och validitet utifrån studiens omfattning. Potential till vidare ochdjupgående studier anses finnas och att insamlad empiri är av högre omfattning än vadsom initialt planerades. Begränsningar: Ämnesområdet som studeras är till övervägande del av kontextuellkaraktär vilket delvis avspeglas på resultatet. Eftersom resultatet är baserat på ettmindre urval av informanter kan det inte utgås från att samma resultat hade erhållitsutifrån andra yrkesgruppers perspektiv. Resultaten kan uppfattas subjektiva eftersominformanternas uttalanden är baserade på personliga åsikter och förutfattade meningar.Den insamlade empirin kan utgöra en grund för en djupare och grundligare analys menarbetets omfattning på 15hp var begränsande.

Abstract Historically, design has been associated with unique, handmade products and utilities; however, the advent of the Industrial Revolution introduced the system of mass-production, which generated a recurrent and ambivalent problem: the lack of customized products. Generative Design redresses this issue. This new design method is based on a system of rules, which produce a design that maintains individuality and character. Generative Design takes one away from natural elements and the distinct personalities of designs and products. Forming a design out of certain algorithms and sets of rules constricts it to artificiality and separates it from the natural. Hence, Generative Design has mostly developed without paying close attention to natural processes and human interaction. Based on the research, an attempt has been made to bridge the gap between the artificial and the natural, instituting a dialogue between the two. This study has brought together the two concepts of Generative Design and mass production to produce a series of designs which can be mass-produced yet remain unique because of their connection to the natural world.