Generative design is the theory behind my project. I have always been interested in creating patterns but I needed some information to fuel the design. The focus of generative design does not rest in the final outcome, it's within the process of creating conditions which then form an outcome.
The begining of my design process started with exploring iterative design. Iterative design in this instant was used as a form of research which informed my design with each successive version. I really enjoyed this way of working as it was a really quick way to generate pattern. From combining and repeating shapes I was able to produce some complex imagery. Although I liked this method, I didn't want to create my final this way.
My next method for producing a pattern was to create some squares with dots in. When in the studio, I asked my peers to create a pattern and I gave them these rules:
- Only use straight lines
- You have to use all of the dots
- You can pass through each dot as many time as you like
I then made the tessellating shapes progressively more complex.
This design I called 'The Molecule', it had a science/ atom feel about it. I really liked this outcome and it featured on my book covers etc. It worked really well as a single image but when it came to tessellating it as a pattern, some of the lines in the design didn't match up due to the shapes being rotated which was a shame.
Below is an example of the sheets I printed off and drew patterns on by using the same original rules. I chose to initially draw them by hand as I felt this was a much quicker and organic way of creating the patterns. I later drew up what I had designed in Illustrator. I really enjoyed this way of working, although it was time consuming I really enjoyed the method and not knowing quite how the final image was going to turn out.
I also decided to stitch my design for one of my outcomes which I thought gave it another
dimension and was very successful.
I then started to experiment with other ways that my pattern could be represented and also applications for my design. I wanted to look into the wider context of my project. I think fashion and upholstery was the most successful. These last steps really pushed my project and made the final outcomes a lot more visually pleasing. There was a lot of theory behind the production of the pattern so showing possible uses for it finished the project off well.
