Computation in Design

Muhamamd Zafhir

Introduction

Welcome to my website! Here, you will be able to see the culmination of my hard work over the past 15 weeks in the coding module. Through this website, I invite you to explore my journey in coding and see the progress I have made. You will find a range of projects, from simple exercises to more complex assignments, that I have worked on during this time. In addition, you will also get a glimpse into my coding process and see how I have tackled various challenges along the way. So come along and join me on this exciting journey into the world of coding.

Workshops

Over the semester I participated in 4 different workshops covering topics such as Creative Coding, Projection Mapping, Making, and Physical Computing. Here you will find some of the process documentation and deliverables that were created in small teams of up to 3 people or individually. Through these workshops, I gained valuable skills and experience that I can apply to future projects in the field, and I am excited to continue exploring these topics further. I found the Creative Coding workshop to be particularly fascinating. We learned about different programming languages and how to use them in creative ways, such as designing virtual reality art and creating projections. these workshops provided a well-rounded introduction to different aspects of creative technology and I look forward to continuing to explore these topics. Looking back, I am amazed at how much I learned and grew over the course of these workshops. Not only did I gain new technical skills, but I also developed my ability to work collaboratively and think creatively. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in these workshops and am excited to see where my newfound knowledge and skills will take me in the future.

Jump to workshop one, two, three or four.

Workshop one

Coding is a workshop by Andreas Schlegel that looks at the creative application of code in the design process. This project briefly showcases augmented reality and the use of a phone's camera to observe 3D things layered on the actual world. We were told to create an abstract 3D object using the software blender. We can find mould and fungus everywhere, so my team and I started to research them. Those to us are natural encounter that sometimes we subconsciously ignore, When I see mould growing on something, my first instinct is to throw it away whenever I see Them. However, WHAT if we create them into abstract art using augmented reality. Since Mould and fungus have been a source of fascination for us. We wanted to explore more.

Their ability to grow and spread in unexpected places, and their unique shapes and texture has inspired us to explore the possibilities of creating something new and abstract. I did some sketches to get ideas from some of the fungus and moulds I find online, just to see if there are any organic shapes I can reference from. We then translate these sketches to Blender and made come to life! The most exciting aspect of augmented reality for me is its ability to create immersive experiences. By combining virtual objects with real-world environments, users can feel as if they are actually in the environment they are exploring. As you can see in the pictures I've never looked happier.

softwares used: Blender, Visual Studio Code, Netlify

Link to external outcomes, Augmented Reality

    Workshop two

    CodeToThing is a workshop that looks at how from code a physical object can be realised. Creating things is a form of communication, by translating something from digital to physical has a sentimental value to it, Dhyia also mentioned to always trust the process when making things and having To explore and learn from your mistakes is key. The theme for this brief is called cosmic dust and I named this project Extraterrestrial. Cosmic dust is made of various elements, such as carbon, oxygen, iron and other atoms heavier than hydrogen and helium. It is the stuff on which planets and people are made, and it is essential for star formation. Stars like our sun churn out flecks of dust as they age, spawning new generations of stars and their orbiting planets.

    I ultimately ended up with four mockups to be satisfied with my final outcomes. The entire workshop, from the coding to the making, was enjoyable for me. I discovered that you can never get it right the first time, and that the greatest way to improve at design and crafting is to learn from your mistakes. Despite the workshop's overall appearance of simplicity, there were some unexpected learning curves that I encountered. Dhyia was kind to us and made sure we made errors so we could learn from them. Overall, I am satisfied with the outcomes I developed, seeing it from a code to an actual shape was truly satisfying indeed.

    Softwares used: Blender, illustrator, Photoshop

      >

      Workshop three

      Screens, a projection mapping workshop with Jo Ho. In this hands-on workshop, we got to learn how to project and map images onto non-rectangular surfaces using coded, static and moving images. The assignment is to develop a concept base of "other worlds." Jo advised keeping things simple. We were instructed to create a 3D shape on which to project the visuals. Jans and I had this idea on creating kryptonite crystals that are alluring but deadly to humans and that I can only be found in a different dimension that is not on this earth. The crystal is called DANAYA

      This whole workshop made us realise how calm we can be. With a little refresh and starting all over again it eventually will work. We are satisfied with our outcome. We are glad we had fun along the way and had a blast partnering up with each other for this workshop. Jo mentioned that she liked how the projection, at a certain angle, makes you feel like you're in a different environment, which was ultimately the goal.

      Softwares used: P5Js, adobe Premier pro

      Workshop four

      Play is a workshop by Jake Tan Zi Jie which looks at physical computing to interface between physical and digital spaces. Introducing Kaboom - the ultimate interactive game that will keep you hooked for hours! If you're a fan of the classic PC game, Minesweeper, you'll absolutely love Kaboom! With its familiar game mechanics and an even larger audience, this game is a must-try! In Kaboom, players take turns hitting the button, just like in Minesweeper, but with an exciting twist. Instead of placing mines, Kaboom generates a random number that players need to avoid hitting. This adds a whole new level of entertainment and excitement to the game!

      Overall, this process has taught me to always be optimistic no matter what I'm doing. Due to the workshop's nature, I wasn't as excited to attend as I had been for the other workshop. But I was genuinely surprised that I had fun and me and Jans were able to create something out of just pure imagination and Idea. This process really made me realise how a positive attitude can make a difference. Yes there were many challenges that we faced but with the help of jake’s and many trial and error we did make it work and most importantly we had fun along the way.

      Softwares used: P5Js, Arduino

      Conclusion

      What have I learned over the course of this semester?

      I have learned that coding can be fun and exciting if you put a positive outlook to it. I learned that there is so many possibilities that coding can do, the projection mapping was something that I always wanted to try and was able too, this semester. I also learned that coding is not just about getting the right syntax or code, but it's also about problem-solving and creativity. It's amazing how you can create something out of pure code and see it come to life. I am excited to learn more and explore the endless possibilities of coding.

      Some of my most interesting findings this semester are?

      I think the most interesting findings for this semester is that I am actually starting to enjoy coding, last semester was hard as I did not know what coding is all about and how to write code. It can be frustrating when the code doesn't work, but I have found that taking time to step back and approach the problem systematically can lead to success. But now, I can see how coding can be used to solve real-world problems and I find it really satisfying when I can make something work. I am looking forward to continuing to learn and improve my coding skills.

      What are some of my achievements?

      I believe going through all of the workshops and seeing my group mates and my works come to life is my achievements. The satisfying feeling of being able to complete it felt really good. I also learned a lot from my group mates and the feedback they provided. It was a great opportunity to improve my skills and learn new ones, as well as make new connections and build relationships with my peers.