This class is a top‐down introduction to creative coding using openFrameworks, a well‐established C++ creative coding toolkit with an active and helpful community. Students will learn basic object‐oriented programming principles and gain a foundation in C‐like languages while exploring techniques common to the creation of interactive installations, such as procedural graphics and animation, manipulation of images, audio, and video, communication with peripherals such as cameras, microphones, and other sensors, and interaction with other software. The technical basics taught in this class form the foundation for most computer graphics platforms, and the focus on thoughtful and meaningful interaction is applicable across many media. Students will create three or more polished interactive projects that typically take the form of screen‐based interactive art pieces, but projects and assignments are flexible enough that students can pursue nearly any form of computational work they would like. Beyond learning to write code, giving thoughtful, helpful feedback and creating engaging documentation will be emphasized. To this end, a good portion of the class will be spent presenting both in‐progress concepts and completed work. Students will be expected to present concepts, revise concepts with the help of in‐class critiques, and execute their concept using the skills learned in class. Finally, we will explore the current field of interactive and computational design in order to inform the work that we do. Although the principles taught in the class are cross‐platform, we will focus on Mac development, so students should have access to a Mac outside of class (there are new iMacs on D12 for use in this regard). No previous programming experience is expected.

Over the past two decades, the programming language Python has emerged as a frequent tool of choice for creative technologists, artists, designers, practitioners, and researchers working in a wide variety of disciplines. Python is often applied to domains such as data visualization, IoT, computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, and machine learning. It has become an industry standard platform in all of these areas and more. Python has also been embraced as a highly effective teaching platform for learning to code. Development and community support for Python is massive, and the language can now be effectively used for almost any creative pursuit. This class will provide students with a thorough foundation of Python as a programming platform via a series of initial weekly projects. These exercises will focus on different aspects of coding (input, output, math, conditionals, looping, functions, classes, object-orientation). Students will also learn about the variety of ways this language is being used in the real world, via examples of actual applications and projects. Depending on students' coding experience (and external research or creative practice), they will (later in the semester) have a choice of either applying Python to their existing studio/research projects, or carrying out individual class projects with foci of their choice. This is an ideal course for Design+Technology, Data Visualization, or Code as a Liberal Art students at any level. No prior computer programming experience is necessary, although enthusiasm and curiosity are recommended.

Unity is a popular game development engine which can also be used to create powerful interactive experiences and simulations. In this course we'll start by learning the Unity basics that are essential for any type of project. Then we'll explore how to implement creative coding concepts in Unity -- including interesting interactions, physics forces, animations, procedurally-generated behaviors, and visual effects. We'll learn to code C# scripts (and potentially HLSL shaders) to produce exciting effects that can be developed into innovative games and experiences.