Grasshopper: Data/Path Management

(i - image sampling)

(ii - data management + facade panels)

(iii - data manipulation!)

Understanding the 'stream' of information within Grasshopper is critical. Without it, you're stuck in the realm of blobby forms that look cool, but are fairly random. Layering additional complexity is quite difficult... these are the limits that all my work until this point have been created with.

This weekend I was lucky enough to attend a workshop @ modeLab. Ronnie + Gil have a good thing going, run a great workshop and were more than helpful and informative. I walked away with a better understanding of data/path structure and manipulation.

Grasshopper: Building, Learning

First off, big thanks to V. Soler from 'http://www.grasshopper3d.com/forum' for helping me out with a component that I couldn't implement correctly. Secondly, more output. It's nothing exciting but it -does- represent my own progress with the Grasshopper.

The second image represents my most comprehensive study to date. It began with a series of (3) catenary curves, deformed toward a common, editable point. Each defining curve is anchored to vertices of an equilateral triangle. A mesh is finally applied, defined by each catenary. Theoretically, it's the first output with basis in structure, gravity, etc.

Generative Components: 2

The last post didn't center on Generative Components as I'd intended. Perhaps trying to chronicle something after spending an entire day learning it isn't the way to go. Perhaps talking about something, anything, directly after isolating yourself to it isn't the strategy. Take time to think and then formulate your thoughts. I digress.

The potential in GC is amazing. Those involved in formal design can tell you how much time is taken to refine, adjust and operate upon iterations of an idea. Weeks are easily spent building, editing and reworking studies both physical and digital. A tool that allows you alternate methods through this workflow would be a very fortunate thing. Contrasty, any tool is packaged with inherent limitations. Some see script-, code- or program- based design as limiting, taking away the freedom 'intrinsic' of pen, paper and creative thought. Indirectly, I agree. But what I find limiting is the enormous investment of time required to become minimally effective with any tool. Technology progresses; How many tools can or should we reasonably learn?

Generative Components? Maya? 3DsMax? Rhino, Maxwell, FormZ, Catia, Photoshop, Illustrator, Director, AutoCAD, Microstation, Ecotect, Revit? This isn't a new problem so much as a new medium. Watercolor, Welding, Charcoal, Ink(?).... each is a tool.

I'm working to wield a few more.