Vidler: "The Idea of Type"

Reference: Vidler, Anthony (1977). " The Idea of Type: The Transformation of the Academic Ideal, 1750 - 1830". Oppositions, 8, pp95 - 115

Associated Ideas -PLATONIC SOLIDS & geometries

Platos concepts also involved the 5 Platonic Solids in geometry.

Plato and the idea of TYPE -early notes

In his publication Design Thinking,  Peter G. Rowe discusses the conceptual tradition in Western Thinking of the idea of the "type". Formulated by Plato, it is a concept of there being 'one' and then 'the many' that are conceptually always related back to the 'one' that exists as a shared mental idea between human minds.

"The 'type idea' has exercised the minds of many in the Western philosophical tradition. From Plato's "ideas" to modern linguistic conceptions of a type as a shared mental object, the relationship of the "one and many" inherent in the type idea has been a subject for profound contemplation and impassioned dispute for centuries. A central issue concerns the ability of a type, which is one thing, to stand for or represent more than one thing. Our trees and their trees are all "tree".

In architecture today, type often stands at the centre of debate. It is widely recognised as fundamental to the formulation of significant and legible work, both for its "one and the many" properties and, by extension, for the sense of continuity of tradition that is offered.   According to the definition promulgated by the eighteenth century theorist Quatremere de Quincy, "the art of regular building is both of a pre-existing source,' and that pre-existing source is the idea of type."

From the 14th Century

gen - er - a - tive

Pronunciation: \ˈjen-rə-tiv, ˈje-nə-, -ˌrā-tiv\

Function: adjective

Date: 14th century

: having the power or function of generating, originating, producing, or reproducing

        

So, to 'generate' is the adjective that can describe both an original and a reproduction form
Ideas of repeat, multiplicity, numerous, singular, cloning as the outcome from the action


Why did the word originate in the 14th century?
 

gen·er·ate

Pronunciation: \ˈje-nə-ˌrāt\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): gen·er·at·ed; gen·er·at·ing

Etymology: Latin generatus, past participle of generare, from gener-, genus descent, birth — more at kin

Date: 1509

1 : to bring into existence: as a : procreate, beget b : to originate by a vital, chemical, or physical process : produce
2 : to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) Atlantic>
3 : to define or originate (as a mathematical or linguistic set or structure) by the application of one or more rules or operations; especially : to trace out (as a curve) by a moving point or trace out (as a surface) by a moving curve

Generative Design - what defines it?

Generative design describes a design method that is implemented in various design fields, and for the purpose of this research I will be mostly focusing on its use in Architecture and Art.   In essence, it is a method of design process what the output - the image, the sound, the architectural model, the animation - is generated by a set of rules or an Algorithm (normally by using a computer program).   It therefore offers a fast way of exploring design possibilities.

Typically generative design has

1. A design schema
2. A means of creating variations
3. A means of selecting desirable outcomes

In comparison to generative Art or cComputer Art which has been an output in this field in recent decades, Generative Design includes particular requirements that the design is informed with to be a successful contributor in the are of design, architecture or product design.  In architecture, generative Design is mainly applied for form -finding process and for the simulation of architectural structures.


The reason why generative design is becoming more and more important is largely due to new programming environments (Processing, VVVV, Quartz Composer, Open Frameworks,...) or scripting capabilities (Rhino scripting, Scriptographer ...) that have made it relatively easy – even for designers with little programming experience – to implement their ideas in this field.

Most generative design is based on parametric modeling, with some generative schemes using genetic algorithms to create variations. It is also the case that random numbers may be used.   In essence, Generative design has been inspired by natural design processes where by designs are developed as genetic variations through mutation and cross overs.  Mark Kirschners paper on Biology and Generative Form discusses this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generative_Design

Understanding Design Thinking

How has generative form informed design in history?

Generative processes can be said to have informed the design problem throughout the history of design thinking.