This is a two-day beginner-level introduction workshop to the p5.js programming library: https://p5js.org/.

Participants will be guided through the first steps of computer programming: using variables, functions and parameters, conditions, and loops to structure the algorithm and decision trees; and media such as vector shapes, images, and typography to produce a procedural graphics drawing application.

Taking the work of Portuguese conceptual artists such as Maria Keil and António Quadros Ferreira as starting references, participants will produce a simple Truchet-based modular pattern system capable of exporting assets such as patterns for posters, game maps, or filtered images from the webcam.

Workshop Program

Day 1 (1 Feb. 10-12h GMT):

• Introduction (participants, instructors);
• Conceptual reference (visual references, modular concepts, and a quick overview of the processing “ecosystem”);
• Drawing with code instructions;
• Variables (different types);
• Functions and parameters;
• Conditions;
• Loops and nested loops.

Day 2 (2 Feb. 10-12h GMT):

• Quick recap.;
• Using Media (Text and Images);

• (optional detour: creating GUI controls)
• (optional detour: using the webcam)

• Using Arrays;

• (optional detour: using matrix transform)

• Saving and exporting the results.

Requirements

Participants must have access to a personal computer with a modern browser (e.g. Chrome), a stable Internet connection and a Microsoft Teams account to participate in the workshop.

The link to the Teams workshop channel will be emailed to the registered participants on the day before the workshop.

The workshop will be held in the English language, but it is suitable for Portuguese speaking participants.

More information

This workshop is part of the Processing Community Day 2021 @ Porto (https://pcd.fba.up.pt/2021/). The PCD21 is a free and open-participation event and part of a larger initiative: https://processingfoundation.org/advocacy/processing-community-day-2020. We welcome all members of the local and international community to join us. It aims to promote Creative Computation and Computational Thinking in the Arts and Design.

Additionally to this warm-up workshop. the program features a keynote conference of a guest speaker (to be announced soon!), and an exhibition (resulting from the call for works that is open until the end of January). Participation in all activities is free, but registration is required.

Instructor

Pedro Amado (Ph.D., MFA) is an Assistant Professor of Web Design, Creative Coding, and Typeface Design at FBAUP. Integrated researcher and member of the direction of the i2ADS research institute, a founding member of the ATIPO, and country delegate for the ATypI. Passionate for digital tinkering, amateur letterpress printer, he focuses his research and development activities on computational and post-digital typography and editorial design, as well as human-computer interaction. Additional info and links: https://linktr.ee/pedamado