How COMPUTERS can be used as a design tool!

October 25, 2011

What does MATH have to do with design tools?How does our Culture interact with design tools?

Think about:

This info-graphic displays the progression of graphic design tools, on a timeline covering the last 27 years.

http://medialoot.com

Top 5 web design tools!Fireworks

Dreamweaver

Panic Coda

Photoshop

Firebug

Computers used as tools for Visualizing data?

• Visualization is any technique for creating images, diagrams, or animations to communicate a message.

• Visualization today has ever-expanding applications in science, education, engineering (e.g. product visualization), interactive multimedia, medicine, etc. Typical of a visualization application is the field of computer graphics.

Data Visualization?

• Data visualization is the study of the visual representation of data, meaning "information which has been abstracted in some schematic form, including attributes or variables for the units of information“.

• Main goal of data visualization is to communicate information clearly and effectively through graphical means.

Computers used as tools for modeling and design?

• Computer-aided design (CAD), also known as computer-aided design and drafting

• Is the process of drafting with a computer!

• 3D computer graphics software refers to programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery.

• Programming with Alice!

Computers used as tools for Art?

• Digital art is a general term for a range of artistic works and practices that use digital technology as an essential part of the creative and/or presentation process.

An example of a collage of digitally manipulated photographs.

Computers used as tools for Art?• Computer-generated animations are animations

created with a computer!• Movies make heavy use of computer-generated

graphics; they are called computer-generated imagery (CGI) in the film industry.

• 3D graphics are created via the process of designing imagery from geometric shapes, polygons to create three-dimensional objects and scenes for use in various media such as film, television, print, games/simulations and special visual effects.

Mathematics ???• Recursion is the process of repeating items in a

self-similar way. For instance, when the surfaces of two mirrors are exactly parallel with each other the nested images that occur are a form of infinite recursion.

• In C/C++ it is the process of calling itself.• In Mathematics: A recursive process is one in

which objects are defined in terms of other objects of the same type.

• Fractals has been defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is (at least approximately) a reduced-size copy of the whole.

Did anyone say Math?

• Dr. Ron Eglash at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has done a lot of research of the occurrences of fractals and mathematical functions in cultural designs. Based on that research Dr. Eglash has developed some very interesting materials for teaching mathematics through culture.

• Study based around instances of mathematics concepts, including fractals, basic Algebra, and Geometry concepts occurring in cultural designs.

Dr. Eglash Presentation

Three Design Tools we will be using:

• Virtual Bead Loom• Pacific Northwest Basket Weaver• Navajo Rug Weaver• Graffiti Art

For today:1. Open the Internet Explorer2. Go to: http://www.csdt.rpi.edu

To do:

• Research the cultural background on Native American beadwork, Pacific Northwest Basket Weaver, Navajo Rug Weaver, or the Graffiti Grapher.

• In other words, READ!!!!! And take notes! So take out a sheet of paper.