Shape Grammars II: Theory and Explorations

This interdisciplinary course investigates and explores embodied practices through the visual-perceptual, rule-based approach of shape grammars. The course extends shape grammars in architecture, engineering, the arts, medicine, and robotics in new contexts and possibilities. Students explore thinking, doing, and seeing with shape grammars for analytical, descriptive and generative investigations. The course covers fundamentals and new explorations through lectures, readings, discussions, hands-on exercises, and projects. This course is ideal for graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in visual thinking, drawing as a form of thinking, developing visual vocabulary and language, analysis, computing, and scholarly research (building new knowledge) with potential outputs in conference posters, papers or presentations. A background in computing or computer programming is not assumed and is not a requirement. Students with varied interests and who are deeply curious and motivated to explore complexity are welcome.