Each week we chat about the tools of the trade with one outstanding creative to find out exactly how they do what they do. The questions are always the same, the answers, not so much. This week: Christopher WarnowThe Creators Project: Who are you and what do you do?
Christopher Warnow: I’m Christopher Warnow, a Berlin-based computational designer. I’m interested in the user illusions that come up in our heads when using interactive technology and all the data flying around. They can be shaped with information aesthetics or constructed with generative approaches. My primary medium is code. It is like a language and, if possible, I try to tell an interesting story and find the right poetry of a database.What hardware do you use?
Actually, often a pen and sheet of paper. I like the idea of loosely sketching forms and shapes and then trying to find a similar feel with code. And a MacBook because you are able to go to different sites, install installations, be in bureaus or work in woods. Last summer I bought me a projector. If car batteries would be lighter, I would go outside with it more often.What software do you use?
If possible, Processing because it makes sharing code and projects easy. It is an important thing for me to share knowledge. But I should do it more often, like Karsten Schmidt aka Toxi. He is an inspiration [in terms of] how to deal with code in a community. On more complex projects I use Eclipse and different frameworks like CreativeComputing by Christian Riekoff or Gestalt by TheProduct. Also, Actionscript with Eclipse and Cinder with XCode, but really seldom.
If money were no object, how would you change your current setup?
I would open a Generative Design Lab that produces books with best practices and invites companies to play with data, visualization, narrative, and aesthetics. The best thing would be to try things out, but not to have to find the one “best” solution—I’m more interested in the spatial and mental room for enthusiasm instead. There would be a laser that cuts out sentences like “What else can you do, recursively?”What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
Shoes that can jump 40 yards high. How would they reshape the city? You can have your house on a flying platform. It would be very bright in there and it leaves space on the ground for grass. How would you go for a jump with your dog?Is there a piece of technology that changed your life or inspired you?
The book ZX Spectrum 81+: A user’s manual. It contains a section about graphics programming that lists the code for a night sky with hills. Another code draws lines across the screen, which creates a moiré effect because of the low screen resolution. That was the first time I witnessed the possibility of creating metapatterns that are not present in the code. I was nine and what I wanted to say is that KITT from Knight Rider was the real inspiration. It had a Turbo Boost!What's your favorite relic piece of technology from your childhood?
Remote controlled cars that had the remote connected to the car with a cable. You had to go with the car instead of seeing it somewhere, driving along far away. The car was pulling me and it was like it wanted to bring me to new places.All images courtesy of Christopher Warnow.
Christopher Warnow: I’m Christopher Warnow, a Berlin-based computational designer. I’m interested in the user illusions that come up in our heads when using interactive technology and all the data flying around. They can be shaped with information aesthetics or constructed with generative approaches. My primary medium is code. It is like a language and, if possible, I try to tell an interesting story and find the right poetry of a database.
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Actually, often a pen and sheet of paper. I like the idea of loosely sketching forms and shapes and then trying to find a similar feel with code. And a MacBook because you are able to go to different sites, install installations, be in bureaus or work in woods. Last summer I bought me a projector. If car batteries would be lighter, I would go outside with it more often.What software do you use?
If possible, Processing because it makes sharing code and projects easy. It is an important thing for me to share knowledge. But I should do it more often, like Karsten Schmidt aka Toxi. He is an inspiration [in terms of] how to deal with code in a community. On more complex projects I use Eclipse and different frameworks like CreativeComputing by Christian Riekoff or Gestalt by TheProduct. Also, Actionscript with Eclipse and Cinder with XCode, but really seldom.
I would open a Generative Design Lab that produces books with best practices and invites companies to play with data, visualization, narrative, and aesthetics. The best thing would be to try things out, but not to have to find the one “best” solution—I’m more interested in the spatial and mental room for enthusiasm instead. There would be a laser that cuts out sentences like “What else can you do, recursively?”What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
Shoes that can jump 40 yards high. How would they reshape the city? You can have your house on a flying platform. It would be very bright in there and it leaves space on the ground for grass. How would you go for a jump with your dog?Is there a piece of technology that changed your life or inspired you?
The book ZX Spectrum 81+: A user’s manual. It contains a section about graphics programming that lists the code for a night sky with hills. Another code draws lines across the screen, which creates a moiré effect because of the low screen resolution. That was the first time I witnessed the possibility of creating metapatterns that are not present in the code. I was nine and what I wanted to say is that KITT from Knight Rider was the real inspiration. It had a Turbo Boost!What's your favorite relic piece of technology from your childhood?
Remote controlled cars that had the remote connected to the car with a cable. You had to go with the car instead of seeing it somewhere, driving along far away. The car was pulling me and it was like it wanted to bring me to new places.All images courtesy of Christopher Warnow.