Grasshopper UK UGM March 2024 – Meeting Notes and Recording

On Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, Simply Rhino held the Grasshopper UK User Group Meeting at The Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. This free event was kindly hosted by the AA [EMTECH} team and delivered to a busy room at their London base.

We have made a full meeting report and invite you to view it below. We hope this is useful for those who were not able to attend and those who joined us but would enjoy a reminder of the presentations. Our thanks to Luca Biselli for his help with the write-up of this meeting.

Meeting notes...

Recording...

Steampunk: New History 3D Modeling Competition Launches on 3DModels.org

3DModels.org, a popular platform for 3D artists, has just announced the launch of its latest competition, Steampunk: New History. The contest runs from March 20th to June 5th and invites 3D artists to show their skills and creativity by crafting steampunk-inspired 3D models and renderings. We especially encourage Rhino users to enter the contest and demonstrate how Rhino's powerful features can bring intricate steampunk designs to life.

Steampunk, a genre that combines Victorian-era aesthetics with steam-powered machinery and retro-futuristic designs, offers a unique opportunity for 3D artists to explore alternate histories and create captivating visual narratives. Participants are challenged to model a steampunk vehicle, mechanical device, gadget, or invention and place it within a 3D environment to produce a high-quality rendering.

The competition encourages artists to pay close attention to details, realistic textures, and complex mechanisms that bring their objects to life. Participants can create truly immersive and compelling scenes by considering how their creations would function within a steampunk world and contribute to the overall narrative.

Submissions will be evaluated based on several key criteria, including the originality of the concept, the quality of the 3D modeling, and the overall presentation of the scene. The judges will look for renderings demonstrating technical proficiency while telling a captivating story and transporting the viewer into a unique steampunk universe.

3DModels.org has a long-standing reputation for hosting successful 3D modeling competitions that attract talented artists. With the Steampunk: New History contest, they aim to provide a platform for artists to push the boundaries of their creativity and showcase their skills to a broad audience of enthusiasts and industry professionals.

Visit the official contest page on 3DModels.org, to learn more about the Steampunk: New History 3D modeling competition, including submission guidelines, prizes, and sponsorship opportunities. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to be part of a thriving community of 3D artists and showcase your talent in the captivating world of steampunk.

Rhino User Webinar: With Vision and Voice - Utilising Multimodal Large Language Models in Grasshopper's Parametric Design Workflows

Rhino User Webinar

With Vision and Voice - Utilising Multimodal Large Language Models in Grasshopper's Parametric Design Workflows

21 March 2024 at 3:00 pm (CET)

In this webinar, we will explore the integration of large language models directly within Grasshopper workflows. We will start with an introductory overview of multimodal large language models, with a special emphasis on OpenAI's API and the capabilities of ChatGPT Vision. We will demonstrate the power of controlling parametric models using natural language inputs, reference images, or a combination of both through a project example. On top, we will hack a simple mobile-friendly Gradio web app, that will allow participants to drive models using voice commands or images captured with their smartphones.

About the speaker:

• Serjoscha Düring has worked and researched within the field of computational planning for more than five years, promoting data-driven approaches in urban design. Before joining RehubForge as a Digital Architect, he was part of the City Intelligence Lab (CIL) at the Austrian Institute of Technology, where he focused on creating and integrating diverse impact-assessment simulations with interactive city models. He is experienced in comparative data analysis and visualization. He has taught at several universities, focusing on the application of urban data for planning and design, including machine learning and computer vision frameworks.

Complete details and registration...

DesignMorphine Masters Y24/25 Degree in Computational Design

DesignMorphine Masters Y24/25 Degree in Computational Design

DesignMorphine has created a bespoke, accredited, and worldwide recognized 9-month online Master of Science program. It is crafted to be accessible from all corners of the world, and it aims to fulfill the demands of those who seek to exceed and lead in multidisciplinary, advanced, and computational design. The Master of Science Degree is accredited by the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Geodesy (UACEG), founded in 1942 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The program also partners with The Microsoft Garage in New York, Logitech and Pininfarina, hubs for talent and community growth, driving innovation and inspiration. Some students are placed in diverse leading design companies, while others choose to follow a career in academia or create their design firms.

DesignMorphine is an international educational institution that acts as a catalyst for progress. By expanding profusely its diverse multidisciplinary design family, it creates a unique collaborative experience. Technological advancements in advanced and computational design have led to exciting new opportunities that blur the lines and norms of conventional design education and its application. DesignMorphine's mission is to democratize these innovative design practices and allow all fields of design to blend. Today, more than ever, all architects, engineers, and designers (metaverse, interior, vehicle, industrial, animation, fashion, etc.) should be exposed to this mindset and techniques to be on the frontier of the inevitable rapid technological advancement. Over the past ten years, DesignMorphine has had the opportunity to meet and teach thousands of specialists from 84 countries and nurtured their progress and success in some of the biggest companies in the world. The classes are taught by our team of fearless design innovators who have experience in teaching and practice from the best practices worldwide. 

Please visit the Masters Open Day page to view a recording explaining the program and to hear from current students.

Rhino User Webinar: Improved Landscape Architecture Workflows - From Useful Grasshopper Scripts

Rhino User Webinar

Improved Landscape Architecture Workflows:

From Useful Grasshopper Scripts

9 April 2024 at 4:00 pm (CEST)

As landscape architecture is experiencing a technological renaissance, tools, and workflows are emerging to enhance design capabilities, improve collaboration, and optimize project outcomes.

In this webinar, we will showcase a few examples of integrating cutting-edge technologies to streamline your landscape workflow and demonstrate how much one can achieve by using Rhino, Grasshopper, and Revit.

Join Simone, an architect and a BIM coordinator at the renowned Heatherwick Studio, as he presents some of his favourite Rhino and Grasshopper workflows for landscape design. Witness the seamless transfer of these elements directly into Revit. See how Nehama Schechter-Baraban effortlessly imports these designs using the innovative Environment for Revit® Rhino Assets tool, converting them into native Revit categories.

Speakers:

• Simone Berardelli: BIM Coordinator, Heatherwick Studio.
  With a decade of international experience, Simone excels as an Architect and a BIM Coordinator, his focus on BIM and architectural design is marked by attention to detail and collaboration. His practical approach and adaptability enrich diverse architectural projects.

• Nehama Shechter-Baraban: Landscape Architect and COO, Arch-Intelligence, a Revit expert, and an Educator.
  After nearly six years of experience leading landscape design projects, she joined Arch-Intelligence in 2019 with the aspiration to empower other landscape architects with this transformative technology.

Complete details and registration...

Getting to know… Dampere: A French Innovation Story!

In this new interview with ShapeDiver, Olivia Theilliere shares insights into her digital strategist role at Dampere. This renowned company specializes in perforated metal sheets for the architectural materials sector. Dampere operates from Paris and Lille, serving a wide European market. 

Olivia highlights the pivotal role of Grasshopper and ShapeDiver in transforming Dampere's design and production processes, discussing the integration challenges and the resulting benefits. Through customizable online configurators, these tools have significantly enhanced efficiency and customer engagement, reflecting the evolving digital landscape within the architectural materials industry.

Read the complete interview...

New book by Sigrid Brell-Cokcan and Robert Schmitt - Internet of Construction

Internet of Construction: A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Integration in the Construction Industry by Prof. Sigrid Brell-Cokcan and Prof. Robert Schmitt

The book Internet of Construction delves into the digital interconnection of value chains in construction. With the increasing prevalence of digital planning and automation, the harmonization of data usage poses a challenge due to numerous stakeholders and digital platforms. The book addresses this issue head-on, exploring strategies for connecting digital and automated construction processes and covering production workflows from prefabrication and intralogistics to on-site assembly. Drawing upon the scientific findings of the BMBF-funded IoC-Internet of Construction project, the book presents a thorough presentation and analysis of development from industry and research. It also highlights practical, informational, and economic aspects and provides insights and recommendations for planning offices, general contractors, and prefabricators. 

Internet of Construction is an essential resource for managing the complexities of digitalization and automation in the construction industry, extending the use of BIM, and advancing future-oriented technologies such as Rhino and Grasshopper. 

More information about the IoC book...

IoC project interview...

Grasshopper Level 1, 11-13 March 2024 (McNeel Europe)

L

Grasshopper Level 1

Online Workshop

Tutor: Ping-Hsiang Chen

11-13 March 2024

10 AM-5 PM CET

Hosted on Zoom by McNeel Europe

Ping-Hsiang Chen, a former computational designer at Zaha Hadid Architects, leads this three-day online course. This hands-on experience explores computational geometry and parametric design principles. After the completion of this course, participants will be able to: 

1. Have a good understanding of the parametric modeling principle.

2. Understand Rhino geometries and their properties.

3. Work with basic data structure.

4. Customize your modeling workflow.

5. Work with multiple models efficiently.

Day 1

• Introduction to Parametric Modelling and Computational Geometry Principle
• Grasshopper Basics (Interface, Data Types, Display Setting, workflow with Rhino, etc.)
• Numerical Operation (Series, Range, Random, GraphMapper, etc.)
• Transformation Methods
• Vectors and Planes
• Curve Properties and Parameters

Day 2

• Basic Data Structure
• Surface Panelization Methods
• Proximity Based Modelling
• Number Remapping
• Conditional Statement and Expression
• Geometry Morphing

Day 3

• Introduction to Digital Fabrication
• String, Tag and Formatting
• Data Visualisation
• Dimension and 2D Drawings
• Data Export to Excel
• Extend Rhino Function with Grasshopper Player

Course requirements: This course is for beginners in Grasshopper and parametric modeling. No Grasshopper experience is required, but having an intermediate level in Rhino is preferable. We welcome people from cross-disciplinary backgrounds in architecture, product design, jewelry design, engineering, fabrication, art, and more.

Online course fees: EUR 395,- (+VAT); full-time students and university teachers get a 50% discount (proof of status required). Please note that we will confirm your seat after your payment has cleared.

Max. number of participants: 25. If there is no quorum, the course will be canceled 15 days before.

Course language: English

Educational seats are limited. Sign up now by contacting Verena!

Rhino User Webinar: Next-level Workflows for Structural Engineers with Grasshopper and FEM-Design

Rhino User Webinar

Next-level Workflows for Structural Engineers with Grasshopper and FEM-Design

20 March 2024 at 4:00 pm (CET)

In this webinar, Strusoft will present their Grasshopper plugin for the structural engineering software FEM-Design. There will be an overview of the functionality, as well as user examples and a step-by-step demo.

Get a free FEM-Design trial version here.

Download the FEM-Design Grasshopper package through the Rhino package manager or from food4Rhino.

About the speakers:

• Johanna Riad works with user workflows in the Strusoft structural design software. She has a background in structural engineering, working primarily with tall buildings and large projects. She is a great Grasshopper fan, especially because of the software's flexibility. In her free time, she likes knitting and running.
  
  
• Marco Pellegrino is the product owner of the FEM-Design API and works on the development of both the Grasshopper and C# solutions. He has a background in structural engineering and worked for several years in the UK. He currently lives in Florence and enjoys traveling and drinking wine.
  
  
  Complete details and registration...