NMD 160 - Creative Programming

In this course, students will learn to use a creative process in programming a computer by developing code to generate images and sound, produce animations, manipulate text, and make media that respond interactively to user input. The class will use computing programs such as Processing, an artist-designed programming language designed for visual and interactive applications, as a basis for creating and developing software “sketches” that allow visual expression. Another environment introduced with be Pd (“pure data”, an open source version of Max/MSP), which is a visual programming language. Pd enables musicians, visual artists, performers, researchers, and developers to create software graphically, without writing lines of code. In the process, students will learn basic programming skills, including understanding and controlling how data is represented in computers (data types and structures), telling the computer how to make decisions on the fly (conditionals), how and when to repeat instructions (loops), structuring and organizing computer code (functions and objects), and techniques for debugging code.

This course is designed particularly for students in New Media, Arts, Music, Humanities, and Social Sciences interested in understanding better how computers work and in learning to create their own digital media, through students of all backgrounds are welcome. The course assumes basic high school math and no technical background.

Prerequisites: NMD 102 is strongly recommended.

Course Typically Offered: Spring

Credits: 3