The technological decade between 2010 and 2020 was mainly characterized by the global explosion of the Big Data phenomenon the implications that this has on society are still ongoing and are the subject of numerous studies. The amount of data generated in that period has proven infinitely more significant than that created in the previous millennia. The quantity of “input” is constantly increasing. Thus, the level of complexity consequently increases. The information we gather from different situations are stimuli that actively influence the places we live in, determining their space, geometry, sociability, and beauty. We can and must use them to design more consciously.

This workshop aims to equip participants with skills to find and manage all these inputs (design data) for more conscious design. Through a series of software and plugins, we will be able to capture and channel them and consequently control them. The more information we have as input, the better and more precise the results will be, giving us more assets at our disposal and enhancing our ability to “solve” problems in a targeted way.

This course will introduce participants to parametric, computational design, and sustainability principles.Enhance participants’ skills in Rhinoceros and acquire proficiency in Grasshopper 3D for analyzing and optimizing designs.Discover the practical applications of various Grasshopper plugins such as LadyBug, Galapagos, LunchBox, and others that will be announced.Explore the Grasshopper plugin’s capabilities in sustainability analysis, optimization, parametric facade design, and performance-driven design and how they can be applied in real-world projects.

Through a series of example projects led by Stefano Bastia, we will trace a reverse path to understand how a project is conceived, from the initial analyses to improving its performance. Participants will individually learn to develop and manage a small project through a series of exercises using Rhinoceros, with the support of Grasshopper.

The workshop is designed for Grasshopper’s first-timers. This workshop will teach you a workflow that allows you to control projects while considering different locations’ specific characteristics and contexts.