Syllabus for Creative Programming 2010
Please note: the calendar has been adjusted to account for weeks starting on Wednesdays...
Course Outline
| Topic | Objective | Deliverable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| week 1 | The power of creative code | To understand the potential role of computer programming as part of the toolkit for creative artists and designers. | Essay based on three readings suggested |
| week 2 | Playing with shape grammars | To explore and play around with simple coding structures and commands, generating interesting recursive and random images. | Assignments modifying sample code and a simple project using ContextFree Art |
| week 3 | Installing and understanding Processing | To successfully install the Java SDK and Processing framework in our computers and understand its nature, interface, and documentation. | "Hello creative world" exercise in Processing |
| week 4 | Playing with Processing | To explore and play around with sample code projects in Processing in order to understand its structure, syntax and power. | Assignments modifying sample code using Processing |
| week 5 | Creative project I | To design an individual project using Processing 'from scratch' and implement a proof-of-concept version. | Project specification and early progress. |
| week 6 | Creative project II | To implement a demo version of the individual project and specify future development stages. | Contribution to the gallery of projects and reflective essay on the creative role of computer programming |
Week 1: The power of creative code
Please check Forum "Week 1: The power of creative code" for instructions
Readings:
- Harold Cohen's "On Purpose" (1974);
- Bentley, P. J. and O’Reilly, U. M. "Ten Steps to Make a Perfect Creative Evolutionary Design System" (2001);
- Casey Reas "Beyond Code" (2007).
Assigments:
- Monday 20th September deadline: submit a 600 to 800-word individual essay based on the three readings suggested where the link between computers & creativity is explored. Post only one forum entry with your essay.
- Wednesday 22nd September deadline: every student writes a three-paragraph review of two essays from their peers. Enter your comments as replies to your peer's forum entries.
An introductory synchronous meeting takes place on Thursday 23rd September from 18:00 to 19:30 CDT to discuss the main ideas of this first activity. You can check your equivalent schedule here: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock
Week 2: Playing with shape grammars
Presentation: "Algorithmic Art" by Ricardo Sosa
Readings: "Context Free in a Nutshell" (pdf)
Assigments: Download the zipped file "exercises_week_2.zip", uncompress and follow the instructions in file "readme.txt" to complete the three assignments of this week
- Friday deadline: submit the three final cfdg files with this format: YourLastName_WeekNumber_FileNumber.cfdg
Meeting times: An asynchronous forum is open through the week with two threads of discussion: "Troubleshooting ContextFreeArt" and "Reflections on Recursion and Randomness"
Week 3: Installing and understanding Processing
Presentation: "Quick Intro to Processing" by Ricardo Sosa
Readings: "Art, Emergence, and the Computational Sublime" by Jon McCormack and Alan Dorin (2002)
Assigments: Download the zipped file "exercises_week_3.zip", uncompress and follow the instructions in file "readme.txt" to complete the three assignments of this week
- Friday deadline: submit the three final pde files with this format: YourLastName_WeekNumber_FileNumber.pde
Meeting times:
- An asynchronous forum is open through the week with two threads of discussion: "Troubleshooting Processing" and "Reflections on Emergence"
Week 4: Playing with Processing
Presentation: "First Processing Challenges from Scratch" by Ricardo Sosa
Assigments: Download the zipped file "exercises_week_4.zip", uncompress and follow the instructions in file "readme.txt" to complete the three assignments of this week
- Friday deadline: submit the three final pde files with this format: YourLastName_WeekNumber_FileNumber.pde
Week 5: Creative project I
Presentation: "From Ideas to Projects" by Ricardo Sosa
Assigment: Friday deadline: create the 'design brief' of your final project following the five stages explained in the presentation: identifying opportunities, formulating messages, gathering data and defining requirements. Fill and submit the "ProjectBriefTemplate.doc" form with this format: YourLastName_ProjectName.doc
Meeting times: An asynchronous forum is open through the week with one single thread of discussion: "Aims, content and delivery of my project"
Week 6: Creative project II
Presentation: "Implementing and Testing Sketchy Ideas" by Ricardo Sosa
Assigment: Friday deadline: create a "proof of concept" version of your project implementing the main ideas in Processing. Submit the final pde file(s) with this format: YourLastName_FinalProject.pde
Meeting times: A final synchronous meeting takes place to discuss the progress of each project and formulate a plan for future work.
References:
http://www.openprocessing.org/
http://vis.stanford.edu/protovis/ex/
Galleries:
http://www.shiffman.net/teaching/nature/
http://www.donhavey.com/blog/category/tutorials/processing/
http://www.visualcomplexity.com/vc/search.cfm?input=processing