Workshop one, titled Encounters with Nature is a workshop held by Andreas, focusing on the use of generative design in daily applications. We had opportunities to choose one of three different briefs, ranging from using a machine called the Axidraw that lets computer programs plot onto paper, to creating our own images via an image generator, along with working with the imaginary — involving creating 3D objects superimposed by a phone’s camera to appear in an augmented reality.

Choosing to create generative designs, we worked in a group of three, tackling the over-arching concept of Nature Encounters. With my assigned theme of Aquatic Elements, through utilising generative code, I chose to highlight the beauty of our surrounding environments when undisrupted by the human touch — demonstrating our interpretations of the unseen and under appreciated beauty in our daily lives.

With each refresh, our codes generate new imagery, showing that nothing is truly linear and that the beauty of planet Earth should be preserved, better appreciated and in most cases, undisrupted.

Workshop two, titled Code to Thing is a workshop held by Dhiya, introducing us to the creation of 2D to 3D objects with the use of p5js and Blender. Through this workshop, we practised bridging the gap between virtual to physical spaces with the over-arching theme of Cosmic Dust.

Taking inspiration from the formations of rocks from the cosmic space, I found similarities to the crystals named Black Tourmaline for their faceted, geometric shapes — utilising their forms as my main point of reference to generate and tweak my code through p5js.

Overall, this workshop gave us a concise but informative approach on how to transform numbers into shapes, further aiding our understandings of various forms of data and file formats.

"Tourmaline" represents my take on Cosmic Dust, appearing as a little black jewel from the cosmic space.

Workshop three involved the use of Projection Mapping held by Jo with the over-arching topic of “Other Worlds”.

Imagining an otherworldly scenario mapped out on 3D paper prototypes, we worked in a group of three, taking inspiration from the installation “im here to learn so :))))))” as featured in Singapore Art Museum’s “Proof of Personhood”. Our concept explores the idea of confused identities imposed by the thoughts and opinions of others thrown upon us (expressed through the splatters of marble).

The background shows a distortion of faces with fauna to further dive into the narrative, adorned by a set of blooming flowers to signify that despite it all, there is still hope in finding ourselves in the end.

Afterall, who are you when you're not "projecting"?

Workshop Four, titled “Play” is a workshop held by Syaz incorporating the use of a machine named the Arduino to create an interactive experience between both the user and device via the use of physical computing.

Working in a group of three, we explored the concept of creating a cooking simulator via the use of light sensors, where we sculpted a stove first out of clay then cardboard, topping it off with a mini frying pan also sculpted out of clay to emulate an egg in its hard shell dropping, then later transitioning into an egg being fried when the light sensor is covered by the frying pan.

Overall, the intuitive and interactive workshop brought a fun, collaborative touch between humans and machines with our very first attempt at physical computing. Similar to Workshop Two, "Play" also bridges the gap between physical and digital, demonstrating how varied our approaches can be depending on our tools acquired.