Generative Design and Interactive Web Design

Generative Design and Interactive Web Design
Using the NodeBox Live Tool

by Lucas Nijs
by Aalto University (Helsinki, Finland)

In this course participants learn NodeBox Live for creating interactive content in the field of art/design for websites (and beyond).
The assignment forces the students to think of generative design projects.
Students learn how all the parameters in a design algorithm can be used to alter the design and to generate multiple versions within their chosen limits.
They implement their work in a website where users can play with the provided parameters and limits.
The node-based approach allows students with no previous coding skills to quickly code their own ideas. The output can be single works of art/design, or infinite variations or animations or interactive digital work.

The workshop is focused on learning a tool which makes coding accessible for non-coders. Because it is node-based students can start coding after a few hours of introduction.
Quick successes make the students eager to dive deeper.
From the second day on students start developing their own project ideas.
Every day the continued courses focus on solutions for the students projects. Classroom discussions and individual help lead to a public presentation on the last day of the workshop. Students are empowered with the knowledge of the tool and can start implementing it in their own practice. Students are able to build an interactive website featuring generative art/design work.

Planning
1, Intro presentation about NodeBox Live
2, Half a day introduction kickstart course
3, Each participant presents first ideas for own project, followed by a discussion
4, Half a day follow up courses on day 2, 3 and 4, related to specific solutions for students projects
5, Group presentation with progress/problems and individual tutoring/help on days 2,3,4 and 5
6, Public presentation and feedback on day 5

Content Production
— Learning and Experimenting with new programming tool, first contact with concept of generative art/design/coding.
— Develop own ideas in the context of generative design/webdesign
— Make live interactive website or generative system for creating own artwork/design
— Present their work publicly

A user interface of a generative design tool, displaying a colorful 3D text rendering that reads
Screenshot from a Generative Art/Design made with the new tool NodeBox Live 1

I16_img1_Generative Art © 2024 by Lucas Nijs is licensed under CC0 1.0 

A user interface of a generative art tool, featuring a colorful pixelated grid pattern on the right. The pattern consists of vibrant dots in pink, green, blue, and red, forming abstract and symmetrical shapes on a black background. On the left, a coding panel shows a node labeled
Screenshot from a Generative Art/Design made with the new tool NodeBox Live 2

I16_img2_Generative Art © 2024 by Lucas Nijs is licensed under CC0 1.0

The course was developed by Lucas Nijs and EMRG (Experimental Media Research Group, Antwerp, St Lucas School of Arts and held several times at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture of Aalto University in Espoo, Finland.