ACS Fall 2018 Lecture Series
The Applied Computer Science Lecture Series features practitioners from a wide range of creative and scientific fields, all of whom incorporate applied computer science and technology at the core of their professional inquiry. Open to the entire Woodbury community, the lectures aim to foster dialogue around the increasing role of technology in society, its application across a diverse range of professional practices, the resulting explosion of creative and expressive modes of production, and the ethical and moral dilemmas that have emerged as technology has evolved.
Watch the lecture series videos .
Brandon Kruysman and Jonathan Proto Rethink Design Technology
Brandon Kruysman and Jonathan Proto are San Francisco based designers working at the intersection of design and technology. Leveraging expertise in computational design, robotics, and interactive environments, the studio has extensive experience in bringing conceptual ideas to physical form across a range of scales. Their work has been displayed internationally, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and most recently the ‘Maker, Maker’ exhibit at the Shenzhen Biennale showcasing a robotically fabricated chandelier prototype. In 2013 Brandon and Jonathan collaborated with folks at Bot & Dolly on the award winning short film, “Box” where they choreographed two industrial robot arms with projection mapping canvases to create a live action performance.
John Carpenter & Justin Shrake on Spatial Computing and Virtual Worlds
The lecture series welcomed John Carpenter and Justrin Shrake. John is an interactive digital artist and designer whose work explores the use of gesture with complex data and spaces. Based in Los Angeles, he works for Oblong Industries as an interaction designer and is a visiting professor at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, MA+P. Prior to joining Oblong, John worked at Morphosis Architects (2005-2011) and the Biological Imaging Center at the California Institute of Technology (20012005). Justin Shrake is a Los Angeles based software developer working on largescale, multiuser, multimachine, multiscreen, distributed, interactive realtime computer graphics. He leads engineering efforts for the Client Solutions team at Oblong Industries where the team deploys installations across the world. Justin holds a degree in mathematics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Behnaz Farahi Discusses Moving from Fashion to Architecture
Behnaz Farahi is a designer and creative technologist based in Los Angeles working at the intersection of fashion, architecture and interaction design. Trained as an architect and specializing in 3D printing and physical computing, her ultimate goal is to enhance the relationship between human beings and their environment by following morphological and behavioral principles inspired by natural systems. Behnaz is a recipient of a number of prestigious awards including the 2016 World Technology Design Award and the 2016 Innovation By Design Fast Company Design Award.
Joshua Walton Discusses Blurring the Physical and Digital
Joshua Walton has spent his career blurring the lines between the physical and digital. Prior to his role as Design Architect for Microsoft HoloLens and Windows Holographic he co-founded the LAB at the Rockwell Group, an interactive architecture group. Joshua has worked with award winning museums, design firms, and interaction studios in New York and San Francisco. In 2000 he was part of a team that received the presidential teaching award for their work with at-risk youth in San Francisco. Joshua received his Masters degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art where his work focused on non-linear narrative in new media.
Sorob Louie Explores Interactive Programming
Sorob’s diverse background in electronics and interactive programming, fused with a strong interest in emerging technologies, guides his passion for creating experiences that explore the possibilities of communication. Through 3D design and animation, prototyping, research, and programming, his work as an interactive developer supports multiple aspects of the development process. Sorob holds a BS in Digital Arts from the University of Oregon and continues to expand professionally through his work.
Guvenc Ozel Combines Architecture, Research & Technology
Güvenç Özel is an architect, technologist and researcher. He is a lead faculty member and Program Advisor of IDEAS, a multidisciplinary research and development platform in UCLA Department of Architecture and Urban Design, and the principal of Ozel Office, an interdisciplinary design practice located in Los Angeles, USA. His work is at the intersection of architecture, technology, media and research on urban culture. A native of Turkey, Özel studied architecture, sculpture, and philosophy in Bennington College. In addition, he holds a Masters of Architecture degree from Yale University, where he graduated with multiple awards. Prior to establishing his own practice and research, he worked in the architecture offices of Rafael Vinoly, Jürgen Mayer H. and Frank Gehry, among others. His projects and experimental installations were exhibited in museums and galleries in the USA and Europe such as Istanbul Museum of Modern Art and The Saatchi Gallery in London. He formerly taught at Yale University, Woodbury University and University of Applied Arts in Vienna.
Peter Sistrom on the Intersection between Art and Design
Peter Sistrom is an artist and designer currently living in the Los Angeles area. He is trained in architecture and works to use his skills and design sensibilities learned in the field to enhance his creative endeavors. Primarily, these are focused on creating meaningful statements concerning the human condition by applying cutting edge technology in combination with age-old truths.
Jose Sanchez on Designing an Architecture for the Commons
Jose Sanchez is an Architect / Programmer / Game Designer based in Los Angeles, California. He is the director of the Plethora Project, a research and learning project investing in the future of on-line open-source knowledge. He is also the creator of Block’hood, an award-winning city-building video game exploring notions of crowdsourced urbanism. He has taught and guest lectured in several renowned institutions across the world, including the Architectural Association in London, the University of Applied Arts (Angewandte) in Vienna, ETH Zurich, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure D’Architecture in Paris.
Catherine Griffiths on Visualizing Algorithms
The ACS lecture series welcomed Catherine Griffiths, a PhD candidate in Media Arts + Practice at the University of Southern California, School of Cinematic Arts. Catherine’s lecture entitled Visualizing Algorithms presented her research at the intersection of design, computation and critical studies, for the visualization of algorithms in the context of machine learning and the ethics of algorithms debate. Catherine is the principal at Isohale, a design studio working with new technologies and creative code to develop cinematic visualizations of scientific data and environmental processes. Previously, she worked for architecture and engineering firms on design visualization and pilot studies for coastal technology projects. She has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the University of the Arts London, and a master’s degree in Architecture from The Bartlett, University College London.
Reza Ali Talks Experiments in Generative Art & Creative Design Tools
Reza Ali is a computational designer, software (graphics | ui | ux) engineer, and (visual | spatial) artist. Reza is deeply passionate about graphic & motion design, computational geometry, novel creative | design tools, visual & spatial computing & communication and all things generative, procedural, computational, and algorithmic. Reza is currently freelancing for Apple. He was previously at Google full-time as a UX Engineer inside of Daydream, and before that, he was writing Drone Navigation Software at Skycatch, a full-time artist residence at Autodesk, YCAM. He has also completed commissions for Dolby, Ok Go, and other companies. In 2010 Reza earned a Masters of Science in Multimedia Engineering (with a focus in Visual and Spatial Arts) from Media Arts and Technology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Nicholas Hanna Talks Performative Devices
On August 22, 2018, the lecture series welcomed Nicholas Hanna, an artist, designer and inventor who builds performative devices. He make objects, devices and installations that explore the aesthetic and affective potential of technology. His background is in architecture, (McGill + Yale). He also holds an MFA in Design Media Arts from UCLA. While he was living and working in Beijing in 2009, he shifted his attention from architecture to the creative applications of technology, and created his first art projects in China.