SYSTEM THINKING

Kollision was asked to host a workshop with the theme ‘System Thinking’ in October 2009, at Architecture & Design (AOD), at the University of Aalborg. The workshop was co-facilitated by Mads B. Jensen og Esben S. Poulsen, and included more than a 100 students from the third semester of AOD. The aim of the workshop was to introduce computer-oriented design processes in general and more specifically algorithmic thinking and parametric design to the students.

The students were challenged in an explorative design process aimed at investigating potentials and alternative solutions through reflective practice and open experiments. The first task was to study natural phenomena and systems, looking into intensive attributes such as heat, pressure, density, and speed – as well as extensive attributes such as time, distance, scale, and movement. Based on these studies the students created their own rule-based behavioural systems, which were tested as analogue prototypes before the students were introduced to algorithm based design processes.

The students were introduced to Grasshopper, a parametric tool for the CAD software Rhino. Using this tool the task was to move from the analogue prototypes into the realm of digital, parametric design. By applying a bottom-up approach to the task, the students experimented with alternative solutions by letting their solutions ‘grow’ from scratch through an iterative and explorative process and reflective practice. The results from the workshop were exhibited at AOD afterwards.