Introduction to Generative Typography

Let's use this class to get to know one another a little more and review the syllabus.

Class Agenda

Weekly "Assignment"

In preparation of our first lecture, please attempt the readings under "Further Resources". Further Resources are not formal assignments and are only meant to be primers or starting points for further research.

Readings

• Always Already Programming by Melanie Hoff
• Harnessing Algorithms to Create Shape-Shifting Typography by Liz Stinson

Discussion Questions

• In your practice what type of programs are you already programming?
• How does programming on an user-friendly tool like Canva compare to programming on an Adobe product.
• What similarities already exist between Typography and Parametric Design?
• In response to the quote, "If no tools or systems exist to enable what you want to create, you just make the tool yourself.". How might creating tools that are tailored to your process change your art?

Further Resources

• JavaScript in the browser console by Allison Parrish
• First steps with p5.js by Allison Parrish
• Expressions, variables and loops by Allison Parrish

Introductions

Hi! I'm Romello Goodman

He, Him. I'm a creative technologist based in Washington, DC. I use web technologies to explore how computation and creativity are connected. I also work as a Senior Software Developer at Shopify on their Design Systems team. Good Graphics is my artistic practice where I use computation to produce compositions and prints.

And what about you?

Let's go around the room and introduce ourselves. It would be helpful to include: name, pronouns and maybe a piece of art that is really interesting to you at the moment.

What is Generative Typography?

The idea is fairly simple: in the old days, designers had a set of punches and chisels, now they have a mouse and a keyboard. So instead of being carved into metal, the typeface is now being generated by a set of rules or algorithms which can churn out a variety of forms. And when you factor in that those algorithms can now tap into the network through APIs, the possibilities seem endless. And what amazing possibilities they must be. It used to be all about geometrical rules, now typefaces can be tied to environmental, social and individual activities feeding from networked information.

- Sorin Pintilie

p5.js web editor

Go to editor.p5js.org. Bookmark this page. This is the p5.js web editor, an in-browser online coding environment for p5.js. We will be using JavaScript and the p5.js coding library throughout the course and this is where we will write code. Go ahead and create an account so that you can save your sketches.

Quick introduction to the interface: On the left side of the screen we have your code. It tells the computer what to draw. Below the code is your “Console”. This is used for outputting messages for debugging. On the right side we have our sketch. If you press the play button it will render the output of your code.