• Class Number 4389
  • Term Code 3130
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Prof Mitchell Whitelaw
  • LECTURER
    • Prof Mitchell Whitelaw
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 22/02/2021
  • Class End Date 28/05/2021
  • Census Date 31/03/2021
  • Last Date to Enrol 01/03/2021
SELT Survey Results

This course introduces code and data as powerful tools for design and creative practice. By working directly with these fundamental processes of computing, students will develop practical skills and conceptual approaches that can be applied to design, fine arts, digital media, data visualisation and many other fields. Students without previous computer programming experience will gain an introduction to core concepts, processes and techniques of coding, with a focus on generating visual and spatial form. Through practical production workshops and design projects, students gain the expertise required to generate creative works for screen, print and fabrication technologies (such as laser cutting, CNC and 3D printing). This course will also introduce students to the vibrant cultural context of creative code platforms and practices.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. interpret, adapt and apply creative coding concepts and techniques;
  2. employ computational methods to generate innovative design outcomes for a range of media;
  3. reflect on and strategically adapt to the technical and cultural constraints of a specific context;
  4. conduct research into design artefacts and processes, and expertly apply findings to creative production; and
  5. understand design as a critical research practice and substantiate process and outcomes.

Resources for each assessment task will be made available via the course Wattle site and in weekly classes.

Staff Feedback

Students will be provided with verbal feedback in the weekly classes. Verbal and written feedback will be provided for all assessment items. 

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Introduction - What is Creative Code? Mapping practice, community, contexts and concepts. Intro to Processing & P5js; learning to learn.
2 Drawing machines: variables and interaction. Painter demo. Code Sketch 1 due Thursday
3 Iteration and randomness. Clock demo. Code Sketch 2 due Thursday
4 Text and image: mashup poetics. Arrays. Webcam and mirror demo. Code Sketch 3 due Thursday
5 Functions and transforms. Code Sketch 4 due Thursday
6 Recap and revision. Digital Redesign work in progress presentations
7 Dynamic ID - Introduction. Surveying dynamic identity design. Generative systems: variation and coherence
8 Dynamic ID design approaches Combinatorial systems; Dynamic ID concept development
9 Computational Typography Dynamic ID project development
10 Physical Simulations Dynamic ID project development
11 Dynamic ID project development
12 Dynamic ID project presentations

Tutorial Registration

Required: Use Wattle for Self-Enrolment

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Return of assessment Learning Outcomes
Code Sketches 20 % * 08/04/2021 1,2
Digital Redesign 20 % 08/04/2021 22/04/2021 1,2
Dynamic ID Project 50 % 27/05/2021 10/06/2019 1,2,3
Rationale and Research Report 10 % 03/06/2019 17/06/2019 4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

The course has been designed with the expectation that students will attend and participate in the weekly class activities. Students are required to present their work in class for both in-progress and final reviews. 

Assessment Task 1

Value: 20 %
Return of Assessment: 08/04/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1,2

Code Sketches

Total value: 20% (4 x 5%)

These weekly assessments will demonstrate your developing understanding of fundamental code concepts and techniques, and your ability to apply code for creative outcomes. Each week you will submit a single small p5.js sketch that demonstrates your understanding and creative exploration of techniques covered in class:

Week 2

  • Creating and manipulating variables; 
  • Drawing — at least line(), rect() and ellipse() 
  • Mouse and keyboard interaction — mousePressed(), keyPressed()

Week 3

  • Iteration — for() and/or while() loops
  • Randomness — random()
  • Saving images — save()

Week 4

  • Arrays 
  • text() 
  • image() 
  • loadStrings() and/or loadImage()

Week 5

  • Functions with arguments
  • Transforms — translate(), rotate(), scale()


Use comments in your code to demonstrate your understanding of the techniques you are using. Your comments should briefly explain how your code functions, focusing on the required techniques for each exercise. Your sketches should also demonstrate your creative application of code to create developed and resolved visual outcomes.

Create your weekly sketch in the p5.js online editor (http://editor.p5js.org) with a 600 x 600px canvas. Submit the URL of your sketch via the class Wattle site.

Rubric

HDDistinctionCreditPassFail

Understand and apply creative coding concepts and techniques

All required techniques applied successfully with comprehensive interpretation. Additional techniques applied and integrated, with evidence of independent learning

All required techniques applied successfully with clear and comprehensive interpretation. 

All required techniques applied successfully, with mostly sound interpretation. 

Most required techniques applied successfully. Basic interpretation. 

Fails to apply most required techniques successfully. Limited interpretation and understanding shown. 

Generate successful visual outcomes using computational methods

Highly resolved and polished creative outcomes, showing inventive and independent engagement with computational methods. 

Successful and resolved creative outcomes, showing inventive and fluent application of computational methods. 

Coherent creative outcomes showing successful application of established computational methods. 

Mostly coherent creative outcomes showing a basic application of computational methods. 

Incomplete, incoherent or non-functional creative work, showing significant limitations in applying computational methods.

Assessment Task 2

Value: 20 %
Due Date: 08/04/2021
Return of Assessment: 22/04/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1,2

Digital Redesign

Code is a powerful medium that can enable us to rethink or redesign familiar forms. This assessment item will demonstrate your knowledge of fundamental coding techniques, and your ability to apply code to develop a more complex creative idea. Based on work undertaken in class, develop a p5.js sketches in response to one of the following prompts. Consider the familiar conventions or structures that each of these refers to, and think about how you can use code to respond to and redesign them.

  1. Clock - design a dynamic visual representation of the current time. Your clock might be legible and familiar, or experimental and abstract. Consider the design conventions around the representation of time, and how you can use, bend or break these. How can the passing of time be visualised? How can you use creative code to investigate or play with concepts of time?
  2. Mirror - design a digital “mirror” that uses a live video feed. Transform, manipulate, remix or composite the image however you like. You might use the live image to generate or manipulate new graphics, text, sound, animation etc. Design a mirror that demonstrates your creative exploration of code, and your thoughtful reflection on the digital image in the age of the selfie. 
  3. Painter - develop an interactive app that allows the user to create graphics. This might be a familiar painting or drawing app, or something more complex. Your app may create still or animated graphics. It may use pre-existing materials (such as images). It may include text. Your app should show a wide range of creative potential, but also have its own distinctive character. Consider the design of the app’s interface, as well as the graphics it creates.

Extend your knowledge of code techniques beyond the basics covered in class. Add detailed comments that explain the function of each portion of the code to demonstrate your understanding. You may use pre-existing code, provided that it is licensed appropriately and attributed correctly; also note that you must demonstrate in the comments an understanding of how the pre-existing code functions.

Submitting

BuiId and present your sketch using the p5.js web editor environment (http://editor.p5js.org). Submit a link to your sketch via Wattle.

Rubric

HDDistinctionCreditPassFail

Interpret and apply creative coding concepts and techniques

Code techniques applied successfully with comprehensive interpretation.

Code techniques applied successfully with clear and comprehensive interpretation.

Code techniques applied successfully, with mostly sound interpretation

Code techniques applied successfully. Basic interpretation.

Fails to apply code techniques successfully. Limited interpretation and understanding shown.  

Generate successful design outcomes using computational methods

Highly resolved and polished design outcomes, showing inventive and independent engagement with computational methods.

Successful and resolved design outcomes, showing inventive and fluent application of computational methods.

Coherent design outcomes showing successful application of established computational  methods.

Mostly coherent design outcomes showing a basic application of computational methods.

Incomplete, incoherent or  non-functional work, showing significant limitations in applying computational methods.

Demonstrate independent learning of creative code techniques

Extensive evidence of independent learning

Substantial evidence of independent learning

Some evidence of independent learning

Limited evidence of independent learning

No evidence of independent learning

Assessment Task 3

Value: 50 %
Due Date: 27/05/2021
Return of Assessment: 10/06/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3

Dynamic ID Project

Value: 50%

In this project you will apply fundamental programming techniques to realise a creative project. Working in groups of 2-3?, devise and develop a dynamic visual identity for one of the following Canberra organisations:

  • FYI Festival
  • Molonglo Group
  • Thinkplace
  • ANU Energy Change Institute
  • The National Arboretum Canberra
  • Landspeed Records
  • Mallaluka Wines
  • (or nominate another with approval)

A visual identity is a designed system of text and graphics that conveys an organisation’s identity in a distinctive, legible, recognisable and engaging form. A dynamic visual identity is one that uses code to systematically create variations on the identity, while retaining its character. Variation can be created through coded rules, external data, or user interaction. Consider how variation in the identity might be meaningful in relation to the client. 

Your identity should show a wide range of variations, while maintaining its distinctive character and appeal. Prepare a p5.js sketch that demonstrates dynamic variation and use of interaction, data or generative rules. Demonstrate your dynamic ID in at least two of these three physical realisations:

Screen? - stills or animation for web, video, mobile app, digital signage or projection

Print? - identity for business cards, stationery, posters, flyers.

Object? - digitally fabricated realisation, eg laser-cut signage or 3d-printed object 

For digital fabrication we highly recommend the ANU Maker Space. They run regular inductions and provide a range of fabrication services. If you are intending to use their services make sure you complete your induction early in semester!


Submission Requirements

Each submission must include: 

  • Final output (screen media, prints, or fabricated items)
  • Dynamic ID p5.js sketch
  • Process Documentation

For the Process Documentation, produce a PDF containing: 

  • All Processing / p5.js code used to generate the outcomes
  • Documentation explaining the code and generative processes used
  • Documentation of the final realisation (eg photographs of fabricated outcomes or plots)
  • Documentation of group roles and contributions to the project. Briefly outline the contributions of each group member

The Process PDF is documentation, not an essay. It should clearly demonstrate what has been done, how, and by whom.

Upload digital files (screen media, Process PDF) via Wattle. Submit p5.js sketches as links to the online editor, or other public URL. Submit physical media in class. 


Final Presentations

Groups will present their finished projects in class, in a final review during week 12. Give a 15 minute presentation outlining the process and outcomes of your project.

Individual Assessment

In this group assessment students should demonstrate their individual contribution in the Process Documentation (above). Students will also have an opportunity to demonstrate their individual learning and contribution in the Reflective Report (below).

Presentation requirements:? Present your completed Dynamic ID Project in class week 12 

Rubric

HDDistinctionCreditPassFail

Interpret and apply creative coding concepts and techniques

Fluently adapts and applies swarm approaches, independently extending and developing the swarm scaffold. 

Successfully applies, adapts and extends swarm concepts and techniques 

Successfully applies and adapts swarm concepts and techniques 

Successfully applies swarm concepts and techniques

Fails to apply swarm concepts and techniques

Use computational methods to generate coherent creative outcomes for a range of media

Fluently uses computational methods to realise highly resolved and inventive work in a specific medium or material. 

Uses computational methods to realise highly resolved work in a specific medium or material. 

Uses computational methods to realise successful work in a specific medium or material. 

Uses computational methods to realise coherent work in a specific medium or material. 

Incomplete, incoherent or non-functional creative work, showing significant limitations in applying computational methods. 

Creatively adapt to the technical and cultural constraints of a specific context. 

Fluently combines the creative potential of code with specific cultural features of the chosen context and outcome.

Successfully combines the creative potential of code with specific cultural features of the chosen context and outcome. 

Adapts creative code to specific cultural features of the chosen context and outcome. 

Applies creative code in line with cultural conventions of the chosen context and outcome. 

Fails to adapt creative code to cultural conventions of the chosen context and outcome.

Assessment Task 4

Value: 10 %
Due Date: 03/06/2019
Return of Assessment: 17/06/2019
Learning Outcomes: 4,5

Rationale and Research Report

Prepare a document that provides a rationale for your Dynamic ID project and documents and demonstrates the research content of the project.

  • Document your research into specific creative code works, practitioners and contexts relevant to your project. Formulate a critical response to this practice and show how this critique contributes to your creative project.
  • Document your research into specific applications of creative code in the cultural context you have chosen (eg visual art, advertising, games). Develop a critical response and show how this critique contributes to your creative project.
  • Document your creative process and provide a rationale, explaining and contextualising your decisions and investigations in the Dynamic ID project, accounting for research, practical experimentation.

Cite all sources as per the School of Art and Design referencing guidelines

Rubric

HDDistinctionCreditPassFail

Critically reflect on practice and substantiate design outcomes with research and rationale.

Articulate and insightful reflection on practice and learning. Sophisticated and thoroughly supported rationale. 

Open and astute reflection on practice and learning. Clear and well supported rationale.

Sound reflection on practice and learning. Clear rationale with solid support. 

Some reflection on practice and learning. Offers a limited rationale with some support.

Fails to show reflection on practice and learning. Little or no rationale and/or inadequate support. 

Understand design as a critical research practice and substantiate process and outcomes.

Detailed and thoroughly documented research into creative code outcomes and processes. Insightful critique applied directly to production.

Throrough research into creative code outcomes and processes. Thoughtful critique applied to production. 

Sound research into creative code outcomes and/or processes. Clear application of critique to production. 

Some research into outcomes and/or processes. Some application of critique to production. 

Little or no research demonstrated. Little or no application of critique to production.

Effective written communication and organisation

Flawless written expression and sophisticated expression of ideas. Effective document structure 

Fluent written expression and clear articulation of ideas. Effective document structure. 

Sound written expression and clear articulation of ideas. Sound document structure. 

Key points are clearly conveyed; some minor errors. Document shows coherent organisation. 

Unclear, incoherent or significantly flawed written communication and/or failure to structure the document effectively.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.


The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.


The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

The written assignment (Reflective Report) is submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. 

Hardcopy Submission

Submission for the Dynamic ID Project may include physical outcomes (prints, objects etc). These should be submitted in person, in class, on the due date. 

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Physical submissions will be returned in person by arrangement with the Course Convenor.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Students whose assignments receive a Fail grade may be permitted to resubmit at the discretion of the Course Convenor

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

Prof Mitchell Whitelaw
6125 4713
Mitchell.Whitelaw@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Prof Mitchell Whitelaw

Tuesday 14:00 16:00
Tuesday 14:00 16:00
Prof Mitchell Whitelaw
mitchell.whitelaw@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Prof Mitchell Whitelaw

Tuesday 14:00 16:00
Tuesday 14:00 16:00

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