Notes for development 02/13/08

Some very nice work on Wednesday, let’s keep moving ahead, continue to evolve the cells , and work out strong strategies for interaction within each system. By next week everyone should have at least 3 different cells with a notion of scale and architectural character. Combine geometries for greater specialization and interaction. Allow the geometry to work for you, surfaces as nurbs, solids as subdivisions and polygons. Letting the geometries work together will help to develop the cells as biological robots, with tectonic connections and physical growth. Move beyond the notion of the module, cells communicate; the greater the possibilities for communication increase the chance for survival in more complex environments. There should be a balance between optimization and excess. Along with the development of taxonomies of behaviors you should also be providing your own parameters of success.

I am pleased that most of you incorporated animation into your presentations. Please keep this going, learn from movies that you like, look at how they use the camera, timing, characters, light, intensity. When does the camera move, when does the object move, how are the two communicating. This will help to develop the character of your animations and the overall presentation. Treat the research with the same eye. Be careful and intentional with your timing, you should not have to pause and play your presentation while you talk, it is there to talk for itself. Try recording your presentation and then doing the timing to what you have to say. Keep the presentations to 4-5 minutes max. Remove the need for PDF or Powerpoint style slide shows, these often lead to very linear and dry presentations. Evolution is not understood only in one direction, we must understand the now in parallel with the past. Understand the precedence in conjunction with the new.

Many of the drawings are very intriguing, study the way that the wireframes explain geometry and density. Consider whether the generic wireframe is the best method of representation, there are many other techniques of drawing that may serve your geometry and character better. Surface and constructed of curves not polygonal meshes, subdiv provide a different structural geometry than meshes and nurbs. How can the pure representation of the geometry enhance the affect of the cell, where does density change and what does this describe in the behavior of the cell.

Carefully test scale. Within the cell, within the homogeneous cell system, within the heterogeneous cell system. What are the parameters of scale, how much can something grow or shrink, expand or contract, stretch or relax… These qualities lead to rhythm, and when combined in complex systems, melody.

Through your research of cathedrals you should find architectural shortcomings, areas of architectural speculation that your cells and systems can evolve to negotiate.