Workshops in Digital Design Process

The learning process is a never-ending loop and we are constantly researching in technologies and emergent process to apply in our work. The education is essential in our mission and it's embedded in every project we do.

Designemergente have been teaching / conducting for many years workshops in Universities, Symposiums, Private institutes and Companies.

Computational Geometry Workshops

HOK, London
September - October 2017

Four workshops were conducted at HOK London to introduce Designers and Architects in the field of Computational Geometry. The concepts introduced were Points and Vectors, Curves, Surfaces and Meshes. Every module explained the basic concepts behind these concepts with examples and small challenges for participants. The main tool used was Grasshopper.

The emergent agent, geometry optimization though agent based interaction using genetic algorithms

Advanced Architectural Geometry Conference, Paris
July 2012

The participants will have an understanding of multi-agent systems and principles of Genetic Algorithms, and their implementation in computational design in architecture. Participants will be introduced to Processing and the open source computational geometry library for processing IGeo. They will be able to set up processing sketches using IGeo and extend the relevant agent classes and methods as a computational design strategy.

Additionally participants will explore different types of genetic operators such as roulette wheel selection, elitist selection, tournament selection (deterministic and probabilistic), crossover of 1 and 2 points and uniform crossover and different mutation flavours in order to select the most appropriate method for their explorations through LAGA a genetic algorithm library for designers and architects.

This will enable them to apply optimization routines to a specific design problem in the form of a responsive pavilion, focusing on the dialectical relationship between the "whole/exterior” (geometry/environment) and the "parts/interior" (agents/daylight/ventilation) , thus gaining hands-on experience of how to implement these computational design strategies in a problem specific design situation.

Artificial intelligence, information exchange, emergence and responsiveness are important concepts to grasp and explore in this workshop, which we hope will open discussion and pose questions regarding the way we designers/architects approach design challenges and generate solutions.

Rhinoscripting Introduction

Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (ETSAM), Madrid
April 2009

Rhinoscripting Workshop in GIGA: Departamento de Ideación Gráfica at ETSAM Madrid. The Participants, with high knowledge in mathematics and geometry were introduced to computational geometry through rhinoscript, a technical modification of visual basic scripting for Rhinoceros software. The workshop lasted for 2 days. The first day, data types, mathematical operations, conditional statements, loop, arrays and functions were covered. In the second day, curve and surface analysis and generative shapes through parametric equations. Fractals and recursive functions were also revised.

Thanks to: Carmen García Reig (Organization and invitation), Ismael García (Organization), Antonio Casas, Pablo Miranda Carpintero, Tomás Pineda, Miguel Vidal.

Cities, New Ecologies: Protoblocks, online coding assistance

Harvard School of Architecture, Online
January 2009

Protoblocks was a semester course at Harvard School of architecture were designemergente supported the students with scripting documentation and online help. During the course the students were able to define parameters to coordinate block-growths in large structures. The "mesh" blocks has to respond to the urban surrounds defined in the code. Designemergente developed a document to explain how to code "smart responsive blocks" with exercises and examples. During the semester we support the students with coding and logic questions. The generated volumes focused on the distribution of an hypothetical brief and the urban effect that the resulting volumes produced in the neighbor: alignments, corners, continuities, transparencies, shadows, view obstructions, etc.

Rhinoscripting Introduction

IDOM Barcelona, Barcelona
Julio 2008

Computational design workshop to introduce designers and architects at IDOM Barcelona. The workshop ran for 5 hours and the participants were introduced to rhinoscript and the basic computational design concepts like curve analysis, surface analysis and vectors.

Rhinoscripting Introduction

Escuela Universitaria de Barcelona - Diseno e Ingenieria (ELISAVA), Barcelona
April 2008

In collaboration with Ernesto Bueno we conduct a 12 hours workshop split in 3 days. In the first day we explained the logic behind programming languages and a brief introduction to data types and conditional statements. In the second day we developed a base script for surface subdivision to be used as start point to explore different designs. In the last day the students developed an architectural design approach related with environment.

Thanks to Dennis Dollens for his orientation and support, Ignasi Perez Arnal for his vision and make this possible and the 35 participants who been pushed to the limit in a very short time.

Digital Design Process

Escola Superior Artística do Porto, Porto
March 2008

The Workshop Digital Design Process was celebrated in the ESAP Oporto with the collaboration of Gonçalo Castro,, Pedro Sousa and Luis Soza from RED architects. This Workshop was part of the digital architecture seminar. During 3 days the participants with no previously experience were introduced to scripting to finalize with a design exercise consisted in a bridge over the Douro river.

Processos Digitais de Projecto

Escola Superior Artística do Porto, Porto
September - October 2007

Tercer Workshop en Oporto, en colaboracion con Gonçalo Castro Henriques de Portugal, Marta Malé-Alemany y José Pedro Sousa del grupo RED. El taller estuvo dividido en dos partes, la primera dedicada a la fabricación digital con tecnología CAD / CAM y la segunda parte programacion a traves de Rhinoscript.