Design Explorer, an evolving open source design tool

Are you baffled with the many iterations that Grasshopper provides? Which ones are the good ones? Let Design Explorer help. Design Explorer is an interface that lets you visualize and filter groups of iterations.

CORE studio has been working on their Design Explorer, this open source tool for exploring design spaces on the web, for over a year. Now they recently posted a few blog posts explaining is history, goals, and functions. They follow up with a few examples of how Thornton Tomasetti and others are using Design Explorer in practice.

The first post introduces Design Explorer. The second post concentrates on its history and highlights a few projects within the AEC technology community. The third post focuses on how the tool is currently is used in practice by architects, engineers, and designers. Check them out...

Post 1: Announcement
Post 2: Natural History
Post 3: Use Cases

Level 1 Rhino Course in San Francisco

Level 1 Rhino 5 for Windows

February 24-26, 2017 (Friday-Sunday)

Arup | San Francisco

$695.00 per person

Join Maia Merav Holtzman, Authorized Rhino Trainer, for her upcoming Level 1 Rhino 5 for Windows course*. It will be at Arup's San Francisco office the weekend of February 24-26, 2017.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the vocabulary of the Rhino interface
• Understand the features of the Rhino interface
• Customize your tools
• Create basic objects
• Model using coordinate input, object snaps and SmartTrack tools
• Modify curves and surfaces with edit commands
• Use control point editing to modify curves and surfaces
• Analyze your model
• Render your model

*Please note, to attend this class, you will need to bring a laptop with Rhino 5 for Windows installed.

Sign up today!

Grasshopper-ARCHICAD Live Connection now available for Mac OS

GRAPHISOFT, a leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) software developer for architects, released its intelligent Grasshopper-ARCHICAD Live Connection for the Mac OS. Rhino and Grasshopper users can connect to ARCHICAD on both the Windows and Mac operating systems.

The Rhino-Grasshopper-ARCHICAD connection enables architects to leverage Rhino, Grasshopper, and ARCHICAD to fill the gap in the design process between the early stages and BIM.

Now, Mac users can also access this bidirectional live connection. With tools beyond seamless bidirectional geometry transfer, basic geometrical shapes can be translated into full BIM elements, while maintaining algorithmic editing functionality.

According to Robert McNeel, CEO of McNeel & Associates, "The development of Rhino and Grasshopper for Mac OS is a response to our customers around the world who wanted to work with our products on their favorite platform."

Peter Temesvari, Director of Product Management at GRAPHISOFT, says, "We're pleased to offer this revolutionary algorithmic design solution. Combined with the best architectural BIM solution, running on designers' most popular platform, it ensures the best design experience possible.

More information....

Download the free Grasshopper-ARCHICAD Live Connection for the Mac OS ...

Automated Diagramming with Grasshopper Webinar

Automated Diagramming – Driving Graphic Production with Grasshopper

Thursday, December 15, 2016 

9:30 am-11:30 am PST

Presenter: Andrew Heumann

This session will cover workflow for automating the production of high-quality graphics from Grasshopper, by manipulating Grasshopper’s graphic display, and automating screen captures and renderings, and even automatically populating design layouts, streamlining your workflow for capturing multiple views or design schemes.

About the presenter 

As a Design Technology Specialist at Woods Bagot, Andrew Heumann develops custom tools and workflow for design teams across the firm. Formerly the leader of NBBJ’s Design Computation team, he has written more than 15 plugins for Grasshopper (Human, the most popular, has had more than 20,000 downloads). Andrew has created many custom tools for design teams and practices, aiding in the management of project metrics, environmental and urban analysis, and façade design.

Register...

Rendering with KeyShot 6 and Rhino for Windows - Video by Simply Rhino UK

Simply Rhino UK has just published "Rendering with KeyShot 6 and Rhino for Windows - An Introduction". In this video tutorial Simply Rhino senior instructor Phil Cook introduces KeyShot for Rhino and runs through some basic renderings of a watch.

The starting point for the exercise is a Rhino model of a wrist watch. All the components are modeled as watertight solids and the component sets are on individual layers. For example, the hour, minute, and second hands are separated, as are the painted areas of the hands which will be rendered in a different material. By default, KeyShot applies materials on a per layer basis.

If you are a Rhino for Mac user, keep checking this page, since Simply Rhino UK will be producing a KeyShot for Rhino for Mac tutorial soon.

More info...

Video...

Job Opening at CHAM in London: Software Developer for RhinoCFD

Job Title: Software Developer
Job Level: Junior Level (1-2 years experience)
 
Position Description

CHAM is seeking a Software Developer for its CFD Applications Department at its Wimbledon office, in particular, to focus on the further development of its latest product, RhinoCFD, a plugin integrating CFD capabilities into Rhino.

Main Tasks

• Build upon and improve RhinoCFD, optimizing all aspects of the program, from the menu systems and general interface to the underlying physics and how they are displayed in the Rhino environment.
• Ready the plugin for integration with Rhino 6.
• Begin the integration project with Grasshopper 2.
• Provide support to clients and agents.

Qualifications

• MSc or above in Computational Science, Systems Engineering, Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering or related field
• Experience with the following programming languages: C#, .NET framework, C++
• Solid CAD knowledge and experience, in particular with Rhino
• 1-2 years of experience using and developing software/plugins
• Knowledge of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Desirable:

• Experience using Rhino and Grasshopper
• Knowledge of FORTRAN
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative team environment

CHAM offers a competitive salary and benefits package to the successful applicant. Applicants are invited to send a current CV and cover letter outlining their unique qualifications for this position to HR@cham.co.uk with the subject heading Software Developer Application – (Your Name).

CHAM accepts direct applications only and does not process submissions via agencies.

RhinoCFD Beta 2 and video series by CHAM - Computational fluid dynamics in Rhino

CHAM has announced the release of RhinoCFD Beta 2, with many bug fixes and improvements from the first Beta version.

New features include:

• Ability to use INFORM to change your case setup
• Free surface models for use in naval, jewelry, and industrial applications
• Cylindrical-Polar meshes
• Streamlined menu system

The trial period for Beta testing has also been expanded, so feel free to try the full plugin free until January 6.

CHAM is also launching a new video series called RhinoCFD Basics. These short clips illustrate the basic concepts of CFD and how to apply them within RhinoCFD so that you can get the most out of your simulations.

Download RhinoCFD Beta2 from food4Rhino...

RhinoCFD Basics video series...

NVIDIA Iray for Rhino Webinar by Rüdiger Raab - December 15, 10 am-11 am CET

NVIDIA Iray for Rhino Webinar

Thursday, December 15, 2016 

10 AM-11 AM CET

Presenter: Rüdiger Raab

On December 15th, McNeel Europe will cohost the webinar NVIDIA Iray for Rhino with the NVIDIA crew.

By attending this webinar, presented by the NVIDIA Iray expert Rüdiger Raab, you will learn about the advantages of visualizing your design in Rhino using photoreal and interactive rendering.

Iray for Rhino delivers a new level of quality when it comes to creating a realistic-looking image of your models. Being an interactive renderer integrated to the Rhino viewport, Iray facilitates judging the look of your design so you can create previews and render high-quality imagery in no time.

The webinar will show you how quickly results can be achieved, the philosophy behind the workflow, and how easy it is to render with Iray.

Register now...

About Rüdiger Raab

Rüdiger has been with NVIDIA ARC for more than 10 years. Having a background in 3D animation, modeling and rendering, he has been with the Iray for Rhino project from its very beginning. His focus lies in rendering, material workflow, and UI design. He is maintaining the Iray for Rhino Youtube channel and the NVIDIA Iray for Rhino forum, providing content to all users seeking information and learning resources for Iray and Iray for Rhino.

How to use VR in your design process

How can augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) be useful in a design practice? What is its potential? What are the problems? At the NewSchool of Architecture and Design's Symposium on Computational Processes in Architecture and Design, Casey Mahon, Director of Design Technology at Carrier Johnson + Culture, discussed this. He focused on the way we use immersive environments and gestural controls in their practice.

In immersive environments, we can inhabit our designs at true scale with Oculus headsets, a phone, and other tools.  We can create, iterate, and evaluate the space through the headset. We can walk through the project. The platforms let designers visualize 3D spatial conditions virtually, at full scale.

Casey also demonstrates mapping geometry and interaction with hand gestures using Grasshopper.

Watch the You Tube video Immersive Environments and Gestural Modeling... 

LutraCAD: Orthotics and insoles design in Rhino

LutraCAD offers specifically developed software for designing insoles/orthotics.

LutraCAD was established by bundling specialized knowledge, technology, and skills. This software is a wonderful tool for foot specialists. Designed with the user experience in mind, the software includes:

• Manager that bundles client information, notes and files
• 2D-package for designing insoles/orthotics with CAD software
• 3D-package as expansion with 3D scan technique 

User friendly

Everyone can work with LutraCAD! With the simple steps, an insole/orthotic can be designed quickly and easily. LutraCAD offers three different user levels, each containing different functions. You can choose the user level that best serves you.

Personal library

LutraCAD features an extensive library, containing various insole/orthotic patterns and elements. Easily add personal elements, patterns and even complete insoles or orthotics of your own. This makes the design process faster and more efficient.

Download LutraCAD from food4Rhino...

DIVA-for-Rhino Daylight Modeling Training, San Francisco

DIVA-for-Rhino Software Training: Computer Daylighting Analysis

When: December 8, Thursday, 9 am - 4 pm

Where: Pacific Energy Center, San Francisco

DIVA-for-Rhino is a daylighting and energy modeling tool made for designers. It was conceived as a way to give designers access to high quality, accurate simulation tools in an accessible modeling environment.

This class will use example models to teach how to properly set up models, run simulations, and interpret results. While most of the class will focus on the version of DIVA used in Rhino, at the end of the class DIVA-for-Grasshopper will be briefly introduced.

The class will be taught by Kera Lagios of the Integral Group.

To attend, you should be familiar with Rhino or a similar 3D modeling program, and have some understanding of daylighting metrics such as illuminance, luminance, glare and and climate based metrics (Daylight Autonomy, sDA/ASE, UDI, CDA, etc.). Basic skills in Rhino, Grasshopper, and daylighting metrics use will not be covered. 

Web site for more info...

To register...

BMW's Vision of the future

BMW celebrated its 100-year anniversary by designing a research vehicle for the future. Its show car debuted at the Centenary Event in the Munich Olympic Hall last March.

Visualizing a world where digital and analog work together, they incorporated two distinct operating modes, Ease and Boost, in the Vision Next 100. Ease is the fully-automated driving system, for the world of self-driving cars. Boost is the mode customized to the driver, typical of a current BMW driving experience.

The surface treatment includes some cues from the BMW i, as well as futuristic elements. Alive Geometry is mosaic of 800 sensor-activated triangles that form a dynamic analog display spanning the dashboard. These triangles move and turn red in response to objects in the vehicle's vicinity, to alert the driver to potential dangers. The concept is like many modern buildings, where exterior panels automatically change to adapt to lighting conditions and increase energy efficiency. Rhino and Grasshopper was used to develop the Alive Geometry pattern.

More details in the Car Body Design article ....

Mesh Mould: Robotically fabricated metal meshes

Mesh Mould, developed by researchers at ETH Zurich, allows for building load-bearing concrete elements of any shape without formwork. The project has been developed by an interdisciplinary research team of ETH Zurich within the framework of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Digital Fabrication.

The building technology has the potential to revolutionize construction of steel-reinforced concrete structures through the combination of the two commonly separated functions of form work and reinforcement in a robotic fabrication process.

In short, with Mesh Mould architects and engineers can build complex concrete structures without any extra costs. Also, it saves material, so it contributes to a more sustainable construction.

The project team behind this novel building technology received the Swiss Technology Award 2016 during the 11th Swiss Innovation Forum in Basel.

See Rhino and Grasshopper in use in the video!

More info...


Last Call: Rhino 5 for Mac Free Webinar (Intermediate)

Rhino 5 for Mac - Intermediate 
Freeform Modeling and Render Preparation of a Perfume Flacon

McNeel Europe
November 28 - December 2, 2016
10:00 am (CET)

For those of you thinking about attending the Rhino 5 for Mac Free Webinar (Intermediate), this is a reminder that there are only a few seats left for all languages. Sign up now!

More info...

The new Arch_Tec_Lab at ETH Zurich

The Arch_Tec_Lab demonstrates how digitization can contribute to resource-efficient, compact, and emission-free construction. Six professors from ETH Zurich have pooled their research approaches and developed a prototype of the innovative building.

The largely digital planning and construction process took six years and involved architects, civil engineers, building service engineers, and construction physicists from six Chairs at the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich. Together, they investigated how to use digital technologies and collaborative planning processes to contribute to resource-efficient and spatially compact construction. They have created a laboratory with real-world conditions where they can apply their latest findings on a 1:1 scale. A new building—the embodiment of sustainability at every possible level—has been built on the roof of an existing car park on the Hönggerberg campus and is connected to the existing Department of Architecture building by a skyway.

See Rhino in use in the video!

More info...

One in a Million Bird Ring

Netherlands designer Michiel Cornelissen created his One in a Million Bird Rings in Rhino, Blender, and Grasshopper.

Every bird in this flock is unique, as he used the software algorithm to create new postures and body types for each bird.

They are printed in polyamide in various colors: black, white, grey, red, indigo, purple, pink, dark green, brown, blue, yellow, and orange.

More information ....

Free, self-paced tutorials

Do you know that we have free, self-paced tutorials in our Rhino User's Guide? Find them on the Learn page on the Rhino web site. This series of progressive tutorials will help you get started in learning Rhino, starting with beginning projects and progressing more complicated instruction as you gain experience.

Start with the 5-minute Interface Basics: an overview of the user interface for those just starting out in Rhino 5. Try modeling a glass or water bottle. Check out the User's Guide and Training Manuals. Model a simple building or learn a few tricks of freeform modeling.

Learning to Use Rhino ....

Intermediate Grasshopper class begins November 28

Intermediate Grasshopper Online Training

November 28 - December 1, 2016

US$215.00 per person

Instructor Andres Gonzalez explores the intermediate concepts of generative modeling in Rhino 5 using the Grasshopper add-on. He will apply these concepts to Grasshopper intermediate design and development in numerous real-life examples with you.

This course is for design professionals who are looking to efficiently learn concepts and features of Grasshopper at an accelerated pace in an instructor-led online environment.

Space is limited. Register now!

Dates/Times:

Monday-Thursday, November 28-December 1, 9:00am-Noon (PST)

All times listed are Pacific Standard Time. Calculate your time zone here.

Note: This course requires Intro to Grasshopper training or equivalent.

Rhino for Mac Essential Training now on Lynda.com

Join Chris Reilly for his new Rhino for Mac Essential Training course.

Learn everything you need to know to get started designing with Rhino for Mac in this essential training course. Chris covers basic interface navigation, 3D modeling, parametric modeling with Grasshopper, and rendering. Plus, learn how to produce detailed drawings and layouts and prepare Rhino projects for digital fabrication. More...

Rhino for Mac offers a compelling 3D modeling experience for designers who prefer to work in the Mac environment. Its hybrid solid+surface modeling toolset is powerful yet flexible. Along with a few third-party plugins, Rhino's built-in features make tasks like 3D printing and laser cutting easy and intuitive.

Details...

Parametric Furniture Design with Grasshopper and Rhino workshop by DesignMorphine - Skopje (Republic of Macedonia)

Parametric Furniture Design with Grasshopper and Rhino workshop

January 27-29, 2017 from 9:30 to 18:00

SEEU Skopje Campus, South East European University

Skopje (Republic of Macedonia)

Parametric Furniture Design with Grasshopper and Rhino is an intense course combining algorithmic methods for 3D modeling with the digital fabrication of furniture. The purpose is to produce furniture using parametric design with geometries that allow materialization.

The course will go through the processes of constructing a shape algorithm, customization, 3D printing, and fabrication. Parametric modeling tools in Rhinoceros and Grasshopper will be introduced, so participants can create and visualize unique custom designs. Participants will have the opportunity to get their designs manufactured and learn about all aspects of the fabrication process. For this, 3D printers will be available on the site and, in the end, participants will have their prototypes 3D printed.

What you will learn

• Intro to Grasshopper, creation, and customization of various shapes through parametric modeling
• 3D printing prototypes
• Visualization with KeyShot

Tutors
Zlatko Yanakiev / Bulgaria, Member @ DesignMorphine
Martin Petrov / Bulgaria, Member @ DesignMorphine

Required software
Bring your computer with Rhino 5, Grasshopper, and KeyShot installed. (Trial versions can be found on each software company’s web site.) DesignMorphine will send participants the links to the required software, trials, and plugins to download. Please have the software installed before the start of the workshop. If you have issues installing software, DesignMorphine may be able to help you during the workshop.

No previous software experience required.
There will be 3D printers on-site for fabrication.
All participants who complete the intensive course will receive a certificate of completion.
Drinks and lunch snacks are provided.
Please note that places are very limited on a first pay first serve basis!

Early registration until November 27, 2016.

More info...

Registration...

Facebook event...

Fab Lab now at Bering Strait

Unalakleet Fab Lab students hold up stickers they designed and made. Left to right: Genesis Blatchford, David Johnson, Kadyn Erickson, Taylor Harvey, Robert Gilley, Siku Johnson, John Henry, Jayden Wilson. (Photo from BSSD Strait Talk)

Fab Lab is spreading in Alaska. The Bering Strait School District now has its first Fab Lab course: the Fab Lab for Fabrication Laboratory at Unalakleet.

The Fab Lab's goal is to work on skills, not just repetitive tasks. This semester, thirteen students are implementing problem solving, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and creative skills. One popular tool is the vinyl cutter, which the students use to make vinyl stickers, signs, and garment logos.

The new Fab Lab also includes ten PC computers with Rhino, a laser cutter/engraver, a 3D printer, and a CNC router.

See the write-up in Alaska Public Media....

Speckle Streams brings parametric design to the web

For now, Speckle Streams is a free service, courtesy of The Bartlett School of Architecture & InnoChain.

Speckle Streams has just two components: SPK Sender and SPK Receiver. With that you get a Pandora's box of things: 

• Realtime data broadcasting from any Grasshopper file to any other multiuser Grasshopper!
• Realtime online viewer of the geometry: Updates in Grasshopper are immediately visible online. 
• Realtime online parameter manipulation of your definition (like the remote control, but available anywhere as long as the definition is online).
• Solution space packager: Detach your parametric model from the live backend for a more responsive and stable experience. No more flakiness (at an upfront computational cost on your side). Supports concurrent computations.

Download from food4Rhino...

Advanced Design Workshop by Luigi Memola - November 30, Turin (Italy)

Advanced Design Workshop
Wed, November 30, 2016
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Via Agostino da Montefeltro, 2
Turin (Italy)

At this special event, Luigi Memola will explain his process and techniques used in the creation of his personal work, showing you how he uses Rhino and KeyShot to create stunning visuals.

He will cover the design process, addressing the designer’s need to increase the quality of their work and reduce communication time between departments. He will also push designers to research and develop the appropriate tools and techniques to enhance the creative process.

More info and registration...

Foundation Training Courses from ThinkParametric

ThinkParametric's Foundation Training Courses teach everything you need to know about Grasshopper related software. The tutorials are available for a 14-day trial, followed by a small monthly fee. (For example, Kangaroo 101 is $29/month.)

Kangaroo 101

Learn the fundamental aspects of Grasshopper's Physics Engine Kangaroo, as well as some of the form finding strategies you can achieve with it.

First, the basic components of Kangaroo are taught by setting up your engine to do your first simulation. Then, the main force components that achieve different form finding strategies are presented. You will learn how to create Catenary curves and vaults, with tensile membrane structures and efficient dome structures.

Galapagos 101

This course teaches basic evolutionary computing, its theory, how it works, and how you can use in your daily practice.

Galapagos is helpful in optimizing complex design questions that have lots of variables. Examples are optimizing a building mass to maximize its views, optimizing a facade system according to solar radiation, or optimizing member sizes in a structural space frame to reduce weight and cost.

Grasshopper 101

This course presents the basic principles of parametric design using Grasshopper. Learn the key features of a parametric design approach and its benefits. Also covered, in depth, is how Grasshopper works, its interface, and how to manage and organize information.  The basic concepts of computer science and programming and the importance of these concepts for developing your algorithms will be presented. Learn how to identify the different design parameters and how to associate them to each other to build flexible systems with smart components.

Try the 14-day trial....

Grasshopper Pro Online Workshop Series

In case you missed the announcement last month, the team at Performance Network has added new fall workshops. No need to travel! All workshops are being offered online. Sign up today!

Thursday, November 10
Grasshopper Pro Series - Data Trees Master Class

Thursday, December 1
Grasshopper Pro Series - Smart Interfacing with Rhino | Intro to Human

Thursday, December 8
Grasshopper Pro Series - Intro to Grasshopper with C#

Thursday, December 15
Grasshopper Pro Series - Automated Diagramming

Parametric Design & Form Finding Workshop in Argentina

Join Arq. Arturo De La Fuente in Parametric Design & Form Finding Workshop in FADU UBA - Buenos Aires, Argentina. The workshop will focus on the creation of algorithms as a form finding method of complex geometry and their parametric optimization for future fabrication.

Participants will generate a complex system that determines the relationship between elements, visualize the emergent information in real time and study how the complexity of the system allows the analysis of data, to achieve more efficient results.

Objectives:

1. Introduction to the work of Frei Otto, Gaudí, Heinz Isler, among others.
2. Introduction to computational design, parametric design based on visual programming.
3. Understand how Kangaroo (Live physics simulation plugin) functions to develop real-time physical simulations.
4. Develop different digital form-finding techniques.
5. Establish optimization strategies for construction.
6. Understand different digital fabrication methods available for existing models.

Workshop: Parametric Design & Form Finding
Date: November 7-8, 2016
Time: 5 PM-10 PM
Instructor: Arq. Arturo De La Fuente
Language: Spanish
Fee:
$800 (Pesos Arg) Profesionales y general
$500 (Pesos Arg) Estudiantes y docentes
Place: FADU UBA - Buenos Aires, Argentina (Facultad de diseño y urbanismo de la Universidad de Buenos Aires)


For more information please contact Arq. Arturo De La Fuente or call  +54 911 57268799. 

Free-form bricks in a modern vault

Using Rhino and the plugin RhinoVAULT, ADAPt designed and built Iran's first free-form brick structure.

The vault structure, named FaBRICKate, has five different brick patterns. By laying different sized bricks in different ways, they achieved an interesting surface pattern with a traditionally linear material.

ADAPt team used RhinoVAULT to generate the 3D form from their plan. Each iteration took them closer and closer to reaching a vertical and horizontal equilibrium in the forces acting on the vault until they reached the final stable structure.

Both Karamba and Grasshopper were used to simulate wind force and material properties.

More details in the ArchDaily article....

New food4Rhino website!

The new food4Rhino website is now live!  

With a completely new design and search system, finding and downloading a Rhino or Grasshopper plugin is now much faster. 

There are also new resource types such as Scripts, Grasshopper definitions, Toolbars, Tutorials, Companion Software, Materials, etc.

Visit www.food4Rhino.com for access to more than 250 apps!

Dynamic Acoustics: From Parametric Design to Digital Fabrication

We have another interesting presentation from the NewSchool of Architecture and Design's Symposium on Computational Processes in Architecture and Design. This one is on architectural acoustics and presented by Erik Luhtala, Materials Lab Manager at NewSchool.

Traditional software to study acoustics can be both expensive and static: Design a solution. Prototype. Test. Redesign. Prototype. Test. .... And the solution is for one acoustical scenario, even though the space may be used for both small conversations and big music.  The acoustics may change, but the design solutions don't. So Erik searched for a better way.

Erik used parametric modeling to study building acoustics, develop a model, test it, and build prototypes. He built a ray trace engine in Grasshopper and used Galapagos to control a testing panel. Instead of taking months, the process took hours to test.

To learn more about Erik's process watch Dynamic Acoustics: From Parametric Design to Digital Fabrication...

AEC Symposium + Hackathon registration now open

Register now for CORE studio and Thornton Tomesetti's AEC Technology Symposium + Hackathon!

On hand will be noted speakers to discuss topics such as data-driven city planning, accelerated building design, the benefits of custom digital applications, and state-of-the-art research and development initiatives at leading AEC firms.

Following the symposium will be a Hackathon at Thornton Tomesetti Offices. This is an opportunity for the AEC community to learn new skills, and generate new ideas and processes through data-driven and customized applications.

Thursday, December 8th, the day before the symposium, more workshops will be at Thornton Tomasetti's offices. Learn about advanced parametric tools, including Grasshopper and Dynamo.

The workshops are hosted by CORE studio, Mostapha Roudsari, and others.

Location:
New York

Schedule:
December 8 - Workshops
December 9 - Symposium + Hackathon
December 10 - Hackathon

More information and to register.....

New project by Aleksandar Dimitrov: a climbing boulder for kids

Aleksandar Dimitrov, product designer and 3D modeler, has been kind enough to share with us his recently finished design project done with Rhino and Grasshopper.


The project, a climbing boulder for kids in the shape of a boat, consists of a series of flat plywood panels entirely generated with Grasshopper and Kangaroo.

More info...

Maxwell | Rhino for Mac now available

Next Limit Technologies recently released Maxwell 4. Among other new features, it now offers Rhino for Mac Support.

Maxwell | Rhino for Mac offers a brand new integration for Rhino for Mac, allowing you to work within the Rhino interface via a Maxwell toolbar. Also included with this integration is Maxwell Studio – Next Limit sophisticated standalone scene editor. This provides an additional workflow based on the Asset Reference feature, which allows live-linking to assets (.obj, etc) created in Rhino from within Maxwell Studio.

Bundled together in one easy installation package, the plugin + Studio workflow includes the entire suite of Maxwell tools. For integrated features see the Feature Table.

More info about Maxwell 4...

Maxwell for Rhino for Mac video...

How movies are made -- Terminator: Genisys

In October 2015, the NewSchool of Architecture & Design presented a Symposium on Computational Processes in Architecture and Design in San Diego. The presentations were later posted on YouTube. We are just discovering a few of them.

One of the many interesting presentations was by the film designer, Andrew Reeder. He gave us some insight to his part in the design of the Cyberdyne R&D Labs in the movie Terminator: Genisys. Andrew is architecturally trained and works with both digital and traditional tools.

In his presentation, Computational Design and Fabrication in Feature Film, he discusses the film and crew organization, the design stages, how the design was realized, and the lighting and material studies. Both Rhino and the PanelingTools plugin were used, important for the accuracy in the construction tolerance for the fabrication.

To learn more, see Computational Design and Fabrication in Feature Film....

RhinoCFD Beta - Computational fluid dynamics in Rhino

RhinoCFD is a new plugin for Rhino by CHAM that adds the power of computational fluid dynamics to the CAD environment. Rhino users can undertake interactive CFD investigation of their CAD models operating under a multitude of flow conditions, all without leaving the Rhinoceros environment.

Until December, it is free to download and use as a beta release.

Features:

• Easy to create CFD meshes without worrying about fitting to your complex geometry
• A convergence wizard which greatly reduces the complexity of obtaining converged solutions
• Model conjugate heat transfer and other heat-related scenarios, including radiation modeling
• Large library or gas, liquid, and solid properties
• Full visualization of flow patterns within Rhino
• Steady-state and time-dependent transient flows
• Selection of various turbulence models

Contact RhinoCFD@cham.co.uk with any questions or thoughts on the software!

RhinoCFD Quickstart Guide...

RhinoCFD Tutorials...

More info...

GCD 3 Symposium at TU Wien - November 18, Vienna (Austria)

GCD 3
Symposium on Geometry and Computational Design
Friday November 18, 2016
TU Wien Kuppelsaal
Karlsplatz 13
Vienna (Austria)

The members of the Center for Geometry and Computational Design invite interested faculty, students, company representatives, and the public to their third Symposium on Geometry and Computational Design.

During the symposium, leading researchers will present recent developments in geometry, computer graphics, computational design, and architectural engineering. Selected and ongoing research projects within the center will be presented through short talks, posters and an exhibition. A virtual reality demonstration showing the exploration of virtual spaces by using a VR backpack will be also offered.

GCD 3 symposium is free for all attendees. Register via email at gcd-registration@geometrie.tuwien.ac.at until November 8.

More info...
GCD Flyer...

Rhino for Windows Video Tutorials by Simply Rhino UK: new video released (1 of 3)

Simply Rhino UK has just published the first video in a new video series.

This video series looks at creating production-quality surfaces and solids from 2D design intent and focuses on a ceramic coffee pot. In many design disciplines, including the ceramics industry, often much of the 2D design work is done before progressing to 3D. This tutorial follows that method.

The starting point is an existing 2D CAD drawing presented in Adobe Illustrator. Simply Rhino senior instructor Phil Cook will look at bringing the Illustrator artwork directly into Rhino and explaining the key differences between Illustrator’s cubic Bezier curves and Rhino NURBS before moving on to reconstruct some of the major construction curves in Rhino.

Then, the emphasis is on creating high quality surfaces relatively quickly from the minimum of curve input before assembling a watertight solid model suitable for production.

This first video looks specifically at:

• Importing 2D Illustrator data into Rhino
• Differences between Illustrator cubic Bezier curves and Rhino NURBS curves
• Recreating main construction curves in Rhino
• Building high-quality surfaces from minimal curve input
• Main body surface and handle creation

The second video in the series will follow in November. Stay tuned!

Video... 

More tutorials by Simply Rhino UK...

New book: Advancing Wood Architecture - A Computational Approach

Advancing Wood Architecture
A Computational Approach
Achim Menges, Tobias Schwinn, Oliver David Krieg

In light of the environmental challenges architecture is facing, wood is no longer regarded as outmoded, nostalgic, and rooted in the past, but is increasingly recognized as one of the most promising building materials for the future. Recent years have seen unprecedented innovation of new technologies for advancing wood architecture.

Advancing Wood Architecture offers a comprehensive overview of the new architectural possibilities enabled by cutting-edge computational technologies in wood construction. It provides both an overarching architectural understanding and in-depth technological information through built projects and the works of four leading design research groups in Europe. The projects presented include large scale, permanent buildings such as the ETH Arch-Tec-Lab Building in Zurich, the Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall near Stuttgart and the Boiler House in Hooke Park, UK, as well as built research prototypes investigating additive robotic fabrication and folded plate structures. Almost all of the projects' authors have used Rhino and Grasshopper throughout the whole process.

Illustrated in full color, the book showcases the latest technological developments in design computation, simulation, and digital fabrication together with an architectural, engineering, and manufacturing perspective. It offers an outlook toward novel spatial and constructional opportunities of a material with unrivaled ecological virtues.

Routledge is happy to provide a web discount on the paperback edition for Rhino blog readers. The discount code is AWA230 (valid until 31-May-2017) and entitles you to order the book with a 20% discount (£27.99 instead of £34.99).

Order here...

Level 2 Rhino Online Training, November

Image credit: Kyle Houchens, The Outside

Our next Level 2 Rhino 5 for Windows online course begins next month. Kyle Houchens will be the instructor for this course. Kyle is a very talented industrial designer, skilled instructor, an Authorized Rhino Trainer, the owner of The Outside Digital Design, and a McNeel support technician.

Sign up today!

Dates/Times:
Monday-Thursday, November 7-10, 9:00am - 12:30pm and
Tuesday-Thursday, November 15-17, 9:00am - 12:30pm

Note: All times listed are Pacific Daylight Savings time. Calculate your time zone.


This course consists of seven, live sessions. All sessions are instructor-led and will be recorded for later viewing. Videos will be posted to a private, classroom album. If you cannot make a session, watch the video and catch up before the class meets again.


For a sample of Kyle's online Level 2 training, watch this video.
Password: Test

Register here...

Webinar: Grasshopper Pro Series

Grasshopper Pro Series - Data Management & Collaboration

Thursday, November 3, 2016

9:30am-11:30am Pacific / 12:30pm-2:30pm Eastern

Andrew Heumann recently delivered workshops on a suite of tools he developed for Grasshopper. He returns with a five-topic Pro Series that teaches how to use Grasshopper within the workplace for big projects and big teams generating big data. He has led these efforts for two large multinational firms, NBBJ and Woods Bagot. This webinar workshop is free to attend.

Register today!

About the presenter... 
As a Design Technology Specialist at Woods Bagot, Andrew Heumann develops custom tools and workflows for design teams across the firm. He has written more than 15 plugins for Grasshopper and created many custom tools for design teams and practices, aiding in the management of project metrics, environmental and urban analysis, and façade design. 

If you're unable to attend the live webinar, a recording will be available for rent here.