26,000 pixels: Open Registration

Context

In an era of high-definition screens, liquid displays and powerful graphics cards, the thought of designing for low-reslution may seem a step into the past. If, however, that 192 x 157 pixel image is an almost 10 meter high architectural space, the situation is a bit different.

26,000 Pixels is a workshop that approaches the challenge of designing for the MediaLab-Prado LED facade through an investigation of creative coding and computational design principles. Topics include algorithmic animation, generative design and computational graphics focusing on how form, movement, pattern, scale and animation function in this particular space.

The workshop includes a theoretical lecture open to the public and a practical session in which students complete exercises and have the opportunity to test and display experiments on the MediaLab facade. A maximum of 15 students may enroll.

Programme

The course will take place bi-weekly from January to March allowing students time to experiment and improve skills. There will also exist the possibility for students to access the facade during some openLab Fridays.

The format for each class includes a review session from 17:00h – 18:30h followed by a theoretical lecture from 18:30h-20:00h. Theorethical sessions will be open.

19.01.11 / 6 pm to 8 pm: Session 1: Fundamentals. Conditionals, loops, iteration. This session will focus on both the fundamentals of design and programming.

02.02.11: Session 2: Form and structure. Computational geometry. Consider how to use primitive geometric shapes to explore the structure of the facade. Attention payed to important geometirc operations, calculating angles, intersections, distances.
 
16.02.11: Session 3: 8 bit graphics. Animated GIFs. Color studies.

[18.02.11: Special coding session with Golan Levin]

09.03.11: Session 4: Basics of Algorithmic Animation and Motion.

16.03.11: Session 5: Images and pixel operations.

30.03.11: Sesion 6: Digital Typing.

01.04.11: Special sesion. working group.

06.04.11: Special sesion. working group. 

Enrollment

This course is directed towards artists, illustrators, and designers interested in learning more about computational design and creative coding, and towards programmers of any level seeking to improve or challenge their design skills. Programming sessions will be given at a beginner level expecting little to no previous experience and will be taught using Processing.

Students should be comfortable with (if not excited about) showing their work publicly on an enormous led screen, and publishing code developed for the workshop open-source/copy-left.

The selection of participants will be based on the aim of building an heterogeneous group of people interested in exploring different possibilities and approaches about the aesthetics of programming for low resolution devices.

The call is open until January 2, 2011. On January 8 the list of selected participats will be published. It is mandatory to confirm your availability in case you are selected until January 14 (inclusive). Otherwise, the seat will be given to the next on the list.

Should you have any questions please send an email to: talleres[at]medialab-prado.es