Computational Design

Table of Contents

• What is it?
• How is it used - Cases
• How to practice it
• Tips

What is it?

• Creative thinking, supported by a computer
• Exploring a wider set of solutions to a problem, using the computer
• Making the most of our technical abilities
• “A good dish is a result of a great recipe”

How is it used - Cases

• Bydepride festival
  • How can we make something distinct 🌈
  • How can we use the rainbow without literally putting rainbows everywhere?
• Soul sessions Oslo
  • How can we visualize a culture that generally opposes ‘corporate identity’
• Forma
• House captain
  • Have the user choose a house
  • Keyboard accessible
• símon.com
  • Free design rationale
  • Written/visuals database
• Naive set

How to practice it

• Making posters in JavaScript
• P5JS, CanvasSketch, SvelteKit
• Practicing a lot
• Sin and cos

Tips

1. You don’t have to specialize
2. If an idea strikes you as “not right”, always (re)consider why!
3. Think about your language (try using your native tongue)
4. The product is the idea, not (just) the output (get paid for all your work)
5. Collect your own references
6. Definitely stay (or like, consider becoming) weird