# Grasshopper3D: Data Structures & Design Automation

> This workshop offers a deep dive into data-driven processes and algorithmic thinking like automation and generative design, allowing architects and engineers to work more creatively, efficiently, and accurately. We all encounter a series of repetitive tasks at some point in a pr…

## At a glance

- Format: On-demand course
- Price: €102.00 (list €120.00)
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Duration: 8 Hours
- Schedule: Apr 12-13, 2025
- Instructors: Aditya Jain
- Categories: Architectural Design, 3D Modeling, Design Workshops
- Software: Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper 3D, eleFront, HumanUI
- Students: 63
- Rating: 4.7 / 5
- Canonical: https://paacademy.com/course/grasshopper3d-data-structures-design-automation
- Enroll: https://paacademy.com/course/grasshopper3d-data-structures-design-automation

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## About this course

This workshop teaches data-driven automation and generative design using Grasshopper to streamline architectural workflows.

## What you'll learn

- Tree Structures: Understanding and manipulating data using trees with real-world applications.

- Lists and Patterns: Advanced data manipulation and generation.

- Build your own custom tools that can be called on the Grasshopper canvas like any other tool.

- Layer structure management and visualization using Elefront and HumanUI plugins.

- PDF export automation.

- Batch baking and animation.

## Methodology

This workshop isn’t just about learning Grasshopper—it’s about building smarter workflows that help you overcome common roadblocks in computational design. We will build 2 projects, a tower and a pavilion, with the objective of learning concepts related to data structures and layer management besides generative design. We will use HumanUI and Elefront for this.

This workshop will explore methods that can be adapted to different challenges, giving you the tools to automate and optimize your own processes. Exporting PDFs, 100 percent from Grasshopper, will be a helpful workflow that we will cover along the way. To eliminate repetitive tasks, we will learn how to build ghuser components and a custom toolbar and drop them onto the canvas like any other component. A quick 5-10-minute AI rendering workflow will help you generate quality iterations systematically.


This workshop is interactive, hands-on, and practical. Covering:





- Poll-Based Decisions – At key moments, we’ll put design choices to a vote. For example, when creating a custom Grasshopper component, you’ll choose between different approaches, shaping the direction we take.

- Quick Tips & Tricks – Throughout the session, we’ll pause for short knowledge drops—practical insights you can apply right away.

- Open Conversations – Dedicated Q&A time ensures we’re always addressing your real-world questions and challenges.




In this workshop you’ll get to apply what you learn. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a project that integrates key concepts, plus time for troubleshooting and refinement, so you walk away with solid working scripts.

To tie it all together, Aditya will share a Branch Technology facade project that showcases automation in action. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at their production process through a short digital tour, showing how these ideas translate into real-world fabrication.

## Curriculum

### Session 1
- Introduction + PAACADEMY Updates (17:00)
- Parametric Design with Data (54:34)
- Geometry Breakdown & Control (25:04)
- Facade Innovation Presentation (25:55)
- Advanced Panelization Workflow Guide (51:58)
- Automated Architectural Design Workflows (55:06)

### Session 2
- Optimizing Floor Plate Generation Workflow (56:22)
- PDF Automation in Grasshopper (58:42)
- Automating Grouping with Grasshopper (55:35)
- Dynamic Design & Metadata (33:42)
- Automating Grasshopper Design Logic (35:44)

## FAQ

### What software and plugins will I need to use during this workshop?
You will use Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper 3D, alongside the eleFront and HumanUI plugins for layer management and visualization.

### What real-world projects will we build to practice computational design and automation?
You will build a tower and a pavilion project to apply concepts related to data structures, layer management, generative design, and automation.

### What specific workflow automation techniques will I learn in this course?
You will learn to batch export PDFs entirely from Grasshopper, batch bake and animate, manage layer structures, and create custom tools and user components for your toolbar.

### Is this workshop suitable for someone completely new to parametric design?
While the course focuses on advanced data structures and automation, it also explores algorithmic concepts through scripting for mini-projects; basic familiarity with Grasshopper is recommended.

### What practical outcomes can I expect to achieve by the end of the workshop?
You will walk away with solid working scripts from an integrated final project, custom Grasshopper components, and automated workflows that streamline repetitive architectural design and fabrication tasks.