Processing is defined as a ‘flexible sketchbook’ or as a computer language creating visual design. The initial project started in 2001 by Casey Reas, a conceptual artist and Benjamin Fry, an expert in data visualisation. From the start, Processing was created as a first programming language, and holds inspiration from earlier computer languages, following the users coding input to create. The focus within processing is to create a visual/interactive design, and allow users to instantly see their coding result visually in the process.

Reagan Kelly, an interaction designer, I believe described one of processing’s pro’s perfectly;

“For me the appeal of Processing was that it is a non-proprietary open source programming sketch pad for visual artists who grapple with problems of data display in computational environments. It’s relatively easy to learn, and allows one to move fairly quickly from idea to proof of concept, one idea at a time—which means there is no need to develop a complex code script to see if what you want to make can be made, and ultimately will say what you are trying to say.”

The is a free and completely open source software program, and runs on Mac, Windows, and GNU/Linux platforms.







To further investigate it’s uses within the design industry, I wanted to really see how visual design is being created using the software.


MIT Media Lab

A Berlin and New York based design practise, collaborated with MIT Media Lab to create a visual design for them that would be rearranged and altered in colour for every application, whether that’s digitally or in print. “Each figure symbolizes the contribution of an individual towards the collaborative process; the entire form stands for the result: a continuous redefinition of what media and technology could be today...”, with this design reasoning, it represents the company perfectly, through their philosophy of being open to the future of technology and its growing developments. In relation to the processing aspect, the program through coding instruction created constant unique designs while still withstanding visual detail that sticks to the base design.

Echophon

Another aspect of processing is simply users creating artwork that uses the software’s basic functions to create design. One of the major pros of using it this way is the never ending possibilities of what your result could be. The result it brings every time and the quick process from idea to result give users the opportunity to create to the furthest technology has brought precision in design.















Data Visualisation

Data is a collection of facts or statistics collected together for reference/analysis of something. One main aspect within the design industry is visually displaying data in such a way that is informative yet aesthetically pleasing. Data Visualisation is being commonly created within processing due to the capability of processing visually working out large data sets.

In the Air

The visual design project aimed to show the invisible aspects floating in Madrid’s air, and using processing to visualise how all the properties interact with the city. Using processing, the data is visualised in the invisible space the components would be.






To first learn the basics and the fundamental knowledge needed to using the software, I used http://hello.processing.org and followed the 1 hour tutorial.

Within our workshop we went through the initial basics and actually creating designs to see how instant the results can be when the program is used correctly.













1. Testing out simple shapes with a blend of angled lines to create a unique shape.




















2. Testing out alignment and sizing variables.




















3. Testing basic RGB colouring.





















4. Testing opacity potential.





















5. Further testing of colours and content positioning.













6. Testing out line alignment and the potential of how this could become 3D.























1. For further skill development I wanted to try out a static processing image in cartoon style. After testing/experimenting, I knew there was potential to further develop these skills with continuous use of the software.



































2. My next venture into the processing world was through data visualisation. The aim was to use the existing skills learnt up until this point and further experiment with the potential of how the software capabilities with data. Using the basis of an existing data visualisation code for wool used within a year, I decided to change the theme completely to the year popularity of Apples. The main experimentation consisted of altering circle sizing, centering text, altering colour tones and adding a background. My final data visualisation resulted in a somewhat clear representation of data that was readable at the same time as introducing me more ways to create designs within the software.