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CoursesFootwear DesignProcedurally Performant Patterns
Full Access Workshop Mar 22 & 23, 2025 8 Hours
Add to favorites (14)

Procedurally Performant Patterns

This workshop focuses on using Houdini for procedural design of performance-driven patterns in Footwear and Industrial Design, from CAD processing to prototyping.

David Burpee
Verified Account

1 course·5.0

SideFX Houdini
Karma Renderer
SideFX HoudiniKarma Renderer

About Procedurally Performant Patterns

A dynamic and flexible approach leveraging Procedural Design of performance-driven patterns in SideFX Houdini for Footwear and Industrial Design Applications.

This workshop will establish a complete workflow from processing and importing CAD geometry, Algorithmic pattern design, rendering, animation, and export for Additive prototyping using SideFX Houdini.
What you will learn
  • 01

    Contexts, operators, and attributes within Houdini

  • 02

    Interoperability between CAD and Mesh workflows

  • 03

    Concepts for Algorithmic Design

  • 04

    Processing and exporting geometry for Additive Prototyping

  • 05

    Procedural material creation

  • 06

    Rendering in Houdini / Karma

Methodology
The workshop will provide an introduction to concepts within Houdini, such as the various contexts, operator types, attributes, and textual programming. We will cover a few common methodologies for interoperability between CAD and Mesh geometry workflows, including best practices for importing CAD geometry and preparing Mesh topology for downstream design processes.

This workshop will explore methods to integrate and combine multiple algorithms used in the design and creation of dynamic patterns used for outsole design, midsole or sidewall design in footwear, and other industrial design applications. We will include both visual and textual programming methodologies for advanced pattern creation.

This workshop will integrate performance data as an input to drive differentiation within pattern design, allowing patterns to adapt to various performance conditions. We will go beyond geometry creation, providing insight into leveraging the interconnected environment of Houdini to create procedural textures for product visualization and animation purposes. We will cover a basic rendering setup within Houdini utilizing the Karma rendering engine and some basic lighting, camera, and animation setups.

Finally, the workshop will provide an introduction to outputting geometry from Houdini for Additive prototyping. Ultimately, this workshop will take participants through a singular workflow covering multiple aspects of computational design in products and footwear, from design to visualization and beyond, highlighting Houdini's combinatory power within these domains.
Course Content
13 Lessons
Screenshots
Software & tools
SideFX HoudiniKarma Renderer
Highlights
Student projects
Dynamic Patterned Footwear

Dynamic Patterned Footwear

@mzdesign9

Procedurally Performant Patterns
Project

Dynamic Patterned Footwear

May 5, 2025

About this work

A Voronoi pattern wraps the surface of the shoe like an organic skin, evoking the clustered suction cups of an octopus.

SideFX HoudiniRhinoceros 3D
Marzio Assisi
Marzio AssisiProcedurally Performant Patterns
View project→
Instructors
David Burpee
David Burpee
1 Course5.0

David is a multidisciplinary Computational Design Leader from the PNW working across a broad spectrum of disciplines including Footwear, Apparel, Consumer Goods, Automotive, Medical, and Architectural Industries. He has delivered Advanced Computational Design, strategy, and training for companies such as Nike, FILA, PUMA, General Motors, EQLZ, Harry’s Razors, and more. He has over a decade of experience with a variety of products and projects in the market as evidence to the efficacy and broad applicability of his approach, methodology, creativity, and design thinking capabilities. He has built a variety of tools, workflows, and processes, used both internally and externally, for several of these companies.


Originally an Architectural Designer, David holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Southern California. He worked in the highrise and supertall domains with projects in Jakarta, the Philippines, China, as well as domestically in Los Angeles and greater Seattle areas. He leveraged Computational Design broadly in the Architectural industry on projects ranging from 1000+ foot tall towers, both built and speculative work for competitions, small installations, key architectural features, and many others.


David has a personal interest in biomimicry, generative and emergent systems, and bio-algorithmic design. He seeks to leverage advanced Computational Design to drive innovation in pursuit of realizing high-performance, creative, and sustainable solutions to the profound ecological and social challenges of our time. David is currently an independent Computational Designer and guest lecturer at the University of Washington MArch program.

Procedurally Performant Patterns FAQ

Showcase
Add to favorites (14)
Reviews
Purchase or enroll in this course to leave a review.
5.0avg·4 Reviews
4 Comments
Guest OidXRW
Guest OidXRW

Very well organized and very useful! Thank you. I learned a lot!

Apr 19, 2026
Marzio Assisi
Marzio Assisi

Super helpful! Thank you!

May 5, 2025
Rares Manolache
Rares Manolache

Amazing workshop! Learned a lot!

Mar 25, 2025
Guest tlxCKc
Guest tlxCKc

David shares a lot of knowledge, techniques, and covers a ton of ground in Houdini.

Mar 24, 2025
    Included in a bundle

    Footwear Design Bundle

    -20%
    €280.00€350.00
    View bundle3 courses