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....

Terraform Design by Nick ODonnell

Terraform Design is a company that creates fixtures, furniture, and lighting using Rhinoceros and Grasshopper to design, customize, and help fabricate their pieces.  

The founder, Nick ODonnell, is an Entrepreneurship graduate from Florida State University. He runs the company and works with clients on special furniture and fixture projects within the field of parametric design. His lighting and furniture work has been in USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, and he recently received the 'Governor's Young Entrepreneur Award' for the State of Florida for his work.  

Check out some of his projects and their Storefront in Etsy:

• Sporelamp: The Sporelamp is Terraform Design's best-selling lamp.  Made of more than 130 laser-cut pieces, the model reflects the geometric patterns seen in plants like pine cones and artichokes, as well as in animals such as the Pangolin.

• Terraform Chair: The Terraform Chair was the company's first model.  It was designed after the form of an average-height male body in relaxing position, to provide a level of comfort surprising for a chair made entirely of plywood.

• Aevum Bench: One of the company's larger-scale models, created for places of high foot-traffic, such as malls, airports, corporate headquarters, etc.  Aevum, meaning 'loop' or 'eternity' in Latin, was the concept that inspired the bench's abstract, inter-connected shape.

For more information please contact Nick ODonnell - Founder, Head Designer. 

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...