Creating Code from Scratch

We had to create our code from scratch in order to create a smiley face. This is what I got. I was pretty proud but found the most difficult was creating the mouth.

My Favourite

After I established what it was I could do I tried to create a pattern less random and more controlled based off the last pattern I produced.

Pattern Play

The first patterns I made were strange and contained alot and were not controlled. They just helped me to establish the X and Y of the page and what kinds of reactions I would get when I changed something.

Final

Black card enabled me to create a new pattern using the same template. I was going to place the new composition on the blue fabric when I thought that having an empty background would allow the user to choose a texture and the like which was suited to their taste. I was very happy with my final composition.

Editing

After viewing the final composition, I decided to take it to the next level and cut out the white parts in order to place a blue fabric with amazing texture underneath. I started cutting out the white parts and realized that the craft would look better if I used black card and created the same pattern.

Final Composition Attempt

After thinking about what I wanted to do, I came up with a pattern which I wanted to create. The Pattern was optical but contained an algorithm with repetition which is what was required.

I liked the inverse colors that were used in the pattern.

Reflection

At the interim presentation there was generally good feedback. I asked Steven for clarification about Algorithms and found out that what I was doing was ok. I also got suggestions on how to improve my patterns. Some suggestions which stood out to me was the introduction of both color and a new material into the composition. My most popular pattern, as voted by my classmates was the linear pattern which has an off-center meeting point which I drew in a4. I also liked this pattern. Steven liked a tartan-ish looking pattern and suggested cutting out and bringing in a new material too this. I thought about everything that had been said at this presentation and I decided that I would create a bigger version of a different optical pattern which has changing levels and shapes in it. I would use this to cut out some of the shapes and place a different material under it to create an abstract composition which looked visually exciting but was also interesting to touch because of the texture of the material.

Massive Pattern

I chose a pattern from my second lot of pattern sketches which I found to be visually exciting and decided to draw it on a3. I also wrote an algorithm, having used my flow chart for it.

Algorithm Begins

I had to start translating my pattern into an algorithm. For my first attempt I used a flow diagram to let me know clearly when each step was occurring, and how it linked to the next one. It meant that I could see when loops would occur.

The First

Before looking at inspiration and after having seen the pattern books from Studio I experimented with various pattern designs such as these.

A4 Practice

I drew an A4 pattern to see if it was still as aesthetically pleasing in a larger form and if the algorithm needed to be changed if the paper size changed.

First Algorithm

I drew a pattern which I found really exciting and I wrote a matching algorithm. I tested it on someone and found the problems which I then fixed. I then tested it on a second person and there were no problems.

The Second

After researching what an algorithm was and doing research into patterns I found interesting I came up with several designs, on the side of each I wrote down instructions on how I made them. I did this so that it would be easier for me to write the algorithm for the pattern.

Inspiration

I looked up some patterns involving lines and weight to gain a point with which to base my designs off. I became interested in optical patterns, with an interesting focal point which drew the eye in and were confusing and chaotic but still had a repeating

pattern.

Images in order of apperance: http://switzernet.com/people/emin-gabrielyan/070808-spie-moire-pointer/a21.pdf

http://mitros.org/p/projects/encoder/

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-42791545/stock-vector-vector-simple-patterns-with-rss-black-symbols-on-a-white-background.html

http://www.bittbox.com/illustrator/the-power-and-ease-of-patterns-in-illustrator

Learning about Writing Algorithms

I looked at many websites which showed algorithms as they would be used in code, however as I have not began coding I found it difficult to read them and understand them. I then found this PDF: http://www.teach-ict.com/contributors/Ritchie_King/Writing_Algorithms.pdf which teaches the very basic way of writing an Algorithm. I used this to help write my Algorithm for my handmade A3 creation.

Researching Algorithms

I didn't know what an algorithm was, and was confused as to it's purpose. I looked up on google as to find out more about them. I liked the flow diagram from this website http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=19379.msg217582#msg217582, as seen here:For me this diagram showed how a loop worked, for me it was a progression from the loops we had been looking at/learning about in both the lecture and the beginning of the tutorial on Monday. The flow chart, while not an algorithm as I saw in my research, will help to clarify what I want to achieve out of my codes when I am planning them.