Design Machine

In this workshop I learnt a new visual development methodology.

 The idea of the Design Machine is to create patterns and images according to the rules that have been created.

For example, a rule or formula is set that says that if two ●●● are connected in an image with a number of ●● drawn on it, the image will become ■■.

Example: ● ●● ●● ●● → ● ■■ ● ● ■■

By setting such rules, you can go beyond the scope of your own possible ideas. Also, by rearranging the number of terms in the formula, thousands of patterns can be created, like a Machine, from which the designer can select the best idea.

For example, the MIT media lab logo identity designed by Pentagram. This was developed according to the rule of using the initials of each research group based on a 7 x 7 grid.

Another example is the limited-edition packaging design for Smirnoff, in collaboration with HP.

This was selected from among thousands of ideas developed with a single click using the HP SmartStream D4D Design Machine.

The ideas and features of the Design Machine allow designers to reduce the time spent on creating thousands of different images, and to put their creativity into the rule-making part of the process.

During the afternoon workshop, we worked in teams to create rules based on the conditions set by the instructor (create an image to fill 25 squares).

Our team created rules based on the theme of SOLID.

When we actually drew the images to create the rules, we found that if we set simple rules, the possible patterns would be boring. Therefore, it is necessary to set rules with a certain degree of complexity. Furthermore, with simple rules, the variety of possible patterns is too large, so rules are needed to “limit” the number of possible patterns.

We therefore applied the following rules to make the shapes a little more complex.

RULES

SHAPE 1

Start from one of the corners

Connect 3 points

Connect 1 point to the side/ bar

Place 1 point inside the working space

SHAPE 2

Start from the existing point inside the working space

Connect 3 points

Connect 1 point to the side/bar

End on one of the unoccupied corners

Do not overlap the shapes

Fill the space outside the shapes with black colour

The resulting shape is the pattern below.

If I had been asked to just create a pattern of shapes, it would have been difficult to come up with such a geometric image.

A particularly interesting idea for me was the part about how setting ‘limiting’ rules can help generate ideas that are beyond the human imagination. I have certainly had my own problems when developing ideas, as I could only develop visuals within the limits of what I knew. I found it very interesting that, like a machine, it could instantly create thousands of visuals and go beyond the scope of my own thinking.