# Computational Mindset: Foundations for Innovation in Design > In order to master the tools of Computational Design - you need to change how you think as a designer fundamentally. Using Grasshopper as your tool, your medium, you must first realize that you aren’t 3D modeling anymore; you’re creating systems. And…from a systemic… ## At a glance - Format: On-demand course - Price: €93.50 (list €110.00) - Difficulty: Intermediate - Duration: 8 Hours - Schedule: Feb 15-16, 2025 - Instructors: Jak Drinnan - Categories: Architectural Design, 3D Modeling, Design Workshops - Software: Grasshopper 3D, Rhinoceros 3D - Students: 55 - Rating: 5.0 / 5 - Canonical: https://paacademy.com/course/computational-mindset-foundations-for-innovation-in-design - Enroll: https://paacademy.com/course/computational-mindset-foundations-for-innovation-in-design --- ## About this course "Computational Mindset: Foundations for Innovation in Design" teaches how to apply computational design principles using Grasshopper to solve complex design problems efficiently. ## What you'll learn - The key elements we build within Grasshopper, and the importance of a numerical basis for all parametric design. - Guidelines to structure your scripts efficiently - from simple to complex. - A deeper understanding of the topology of curves and surfaces. - Storyboard Sketching and Reverse Engineering methodologies. - How to keep your scripts, your thinking and your approach efficient and organized. ## Methodology Arming you with proven methodologies and the right mindset - this workshop will simultaneously develop your knowledge of Grasshopper and your Computational Thinking skills. By focusing on a handful of key principles, we will learn to apply this knowledge by planning and creating two complex design projects in Grasshopper. The approach we will practice can be used as a blueprint, a repeatable methodology to tackle any design problem you can imagine in Grasshopper more confidently in the future. These methods apply to all scales and typologies of design. We will work at an Architectural scale, but the principles can be applied to whatever design field you work in: Interior, Furniture, Jewelry, Product Design, etc. Working individually throughout this workshop, participants will first get up to speed with some key principles of Grasshopper and Rhino geometry through live presentations and demonstrations. We will then review and practice storyboard sketching and reverse engineering methodologies in order to define a repeatable approach that we can use every time we create a new project in Grasshopper. Finally, applying all we have learned, we will design, plan, and create two complex design projects in Grasshopper, practicing and showcasing all the concepts and methodologies we have encountered. ## Requirements - Students will also need physical sketching equipment—an iPad or tablet or a physical sketchbook with tracing paper and a variety of pens in different colors—in addition to access to Rhino and Grasshopper. True creation should be messy! ## Curriculum ### Session 1 - Introduction + PAACADEMY Updates (09:10) - Computational Design Fundamentals (24:07) - Grasshopper in Computational Design (47:52) - Parametric Grid Analysis (44:36) - Geometry Manipulation in Grasshopper (44:18) - Breaking Parametric Complexity (53:42) ### Session 2 - Parametric Design Principles (37:56) - Parametric Design Thinking (37:24) - Parametric Roof Design Workflow (47:51) - Optimizing Parametric Surfaces (57:56) - Paneling and Optimization Workflow (32:31) ## FAQ ### What software and physical tools will I need for this workshop? You will need Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper 3D, along with a sketchbook with tracing paper and colored pens. ### What core methodologies will be taught to help plan and organize parametric scripts? You will learn storyboard sketching, reverse engineering, script structuring guidelines, and how to analyze curve and surface topologies to create systemic parametric logic. ### What hands-on projects will we build to practice computational thinking? You will plan and create two complex design projects in Grasshopper that demonstrate how a repeatable computational build logic can be applied to architectural and multidisciplinary design scales. ### Is this workshop suitable for someone struggling with how to approach Grasshopper conceptually? Yes, the course is specifically designed to transform how designers think by teaching them to build adaptable systems and logic networks rather than just 3D models. ### What practical outcomes can I expect by the end of the workshop? You will walk away with a repeatable blueprint methodology for decomposing complex design problems, organizing efficient scripts, and confidently tackling parametric projects across various design disciplines.