What software and plugins will I need to complete this course?

You will need Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper 3D along with the Lunchbox, Parakeet, Kangaroo, Weaverbird, and Mesh+ plugins.

Is this course suitable for beginners with limited Grasshopper experience?

Yes, it is a beginner-friendly course designed to build a foundational understanding of computational design across core areas like surface paneling and physics simulation.

What specific modeling and design workflows will I learn for each plugin?

You will learn surface paneling and attractor-point brick walls in Lunchbox; pattern generation in Parakeet; catenary and soap-film minimal-surface simulations in Kangaroo; and mesh smoothing in Weaverbird and Mesh+.

What real-world architectural applications and structural elements are covered in the lessons?

You will learn to model architectural elements such as parametric brick walls, structural panel truss systems, window and mullion layouts, and thallus patterns on surfaces.

What practical outcome will I achieve by the end of the course?

You will build a single, integrated Grasshopper script that combines all five plugins to perform paneling, pattern generation, force-based transformations, and mesh refinement in a single workflow.

May 7, 202510 lessonsBeginner

FREE with Full Access May 7, 2025 Pre-Recorded Beginner 10 lessons 5.0 Rating

Grasshopper Essential Plugins for Beginners 101

Name: Grasshopper Essential Plugins for Beginners 101
Price: 30.00 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.00 (2 reviews)

Grasshopper Essential Plugins for Beginners 101 is a course on PAACADEMY that introduces five core Grasshopper plugins for Rhinoceros 3D: Lunchbox for surface paneling and truss generation, Parakeet for generative pattern creation and curve manipulation, Kangaroo for physics-based simulation including catenary surfaces and soap-film minimal surfaces, and Weaverbird and Mesh+ for mesh smoothing and manipulation. Each session focuses on one plugin area, and the course concludes with a bonus integrated workflow session where all four plugin families combine in a single parametric script.

This course includes

On-demand · 3h 55m
Full lifetime access
Certificate of completion
Downloadable course files
7 design tools
Private Discord community
Included with Full Access
May 7, 2025

Grasshopper plugins are powerful extensions that enhance the capabilities of Rhino’s parametric design environment. These plugins offer specialized tools for tasks like geometry manipulation, surface paneling, pattern generation, physics simulation, and mesh editing. By integrating plugins into Grasshopper, designers can automate complex processes, create data-driven models, and push the boundaries of parametric design, making them essential for architectural, engineering, and fabrication workflows.

This beginner-friendly course series offers a hands-on introduction to parametric modeling using four essential Grasshopper plugins: Lunchbox, Parakeet, Kangaroo, Weaverbird, and Mesh+. Each session focuses on a core area of computational design: surface paneling, generative patterning, physics simulation, and mesh manipulation. The series culminates in a final workflow that integrates all tools into one powerful script.

Whether you're new to Grasshopper or seeking to expand your plugin toolkit, this series builds a solid foundation for data-driven design strategies, offering practical, adaptable workflows ready to integrate into architectural, fabrication, and digital modeling projects.

Create panels on surfaces (Lunchbox)
Develop Trusses using surface points
Set up surfaces in Parakeet
Create unique patterns with various shapes
Create a catenary surface
Develop a soap-film simulation
Manipulate Meshes with Weaverbird
Smooth Forms with Subdivisions

This Course Includes:

Lunchbox

Lunchbox can be used to break down large surfaces into unique units of form, generating manipulations or operations. In this course, we will use Lunchbox to create a brick wall from a surface, then manipulate it using an attractor point function. Then, we will explore the more unique truss structures Lunchbox can provide, and use panelization throughout a script to generate walls, windows, and mullions.

Parakeet

Parakeet enables designers to create unique patterns on surfaces. From generating simple patterns to more complex networks, we will experiment with the setup Parakeet requires to create a pattern. We will also explore some tools built into the plugin that can be used outside of pattern generation to manipulate curves, making advanced techniques easier, such as 3D print file generation. We will progress from the basics to advanced manipulations, and include some bonus tools you shouldn’t miss.

Kangaroo

Architects have utilized physics to generate form for centuries, from Gaudí’s catenary curves to Frei Otto’s experimentation with soap film minimal surfaces. Kangaroo allows Grasshopper to simulate many physical properties and generate meshes that can be manipulated within your form-making process. We will start with a simple catenary surface, then generate a minimal surface mesh using a soap film, and finally create a thallus pattern using curves on a manipulated surface.

Weaverbird & Mesh+

Weaverbird and Mesh+ are not designed to create forms on their own; however, when used in conjunction with other plugins, they become extremely powerful. We will start by exploring the utility these programs offer in smoothing meshes or adding unique manipulations to mesh surfaces. Then, we will utilize all the plugins used previously in this series —Lunchbox, Parakeet, and Kangaroo—to generate a single workflow where Weaverbird and Mesh+ integrate within the script, enhancing the capabilities of each individual program.

Bonus Session: Integrated Workflow

In the final session, all four plugins combine in a single parametric design workflow. Participants will apply surface paneling, pattern generation, force-based transformations, and mesh refinement in one comprehensive script, demonstrating the strength of combining these tools to produce complex, intelligent geometries.

Jacob Lehrer

Verified Account

4 Courses5.0

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Jacob Lehrer is an architectural designer and researcher dedicated to exploring the intersection of architecture, technology, and ecology. Currently an M.Arch II candidate at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI_Arc), he holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology and is an Advanced Study Fellow from MIT. His professional background spans from co-founding LMDA LLC, where he led design development for animal care facilities, to managing operations and space planning as a Project Coordinator for the MIT Mathematics Department. Jacob views architecture as a problem-solving discipline, leveraging his diverse experience to bridge the gap between abstract algorithms and physical space. A triple-accredited LEED AP (BD+C, O+M, ND), Jacob combines a deep commitment to sustainability with advanced technical proficiency in tools like Python, Rhino, Grasshopper, and KUKA robotics. His recent work includes developing the "Sentient Environment Engine," a custom computer vision algorithm for analyzing occupant behavior, and fabricating mathematical sculptures for MIT’s permanent collection. Whether teaching PAACADEMY parametric design workshops or publishing research on the ethics of language models, Jacob focuses on using computation to create built environments that are responsive, efficient, and tailored to their specific contexts.

Purchase or enroll in this course to leave a review.

5.0avg2 Reviews

2 Comments

Mert Nalıncıoğlu

It was educative

Jun 20, 2026

Yagmur

Excellent course for beginners!

Jun 16, 2025

Grasshopper Essential Plugins for Beginners 101

About Grasshopper Essential Plugins for Beginners 101

This Course Includes:

Lunchbox

Parakeet

Kangaroo

Weaverbird & Mesh+

Bonus Session: Integrated Workflow

Grasshopper Essential Plugins for Beginners 101 FAQ