Computational Art and Design

• 01 | Introduction
• 02 | If This Then That
• 03 | Loops & Arrays
• 04 | Working with Media
• 05 | 2D Transformations & Functions
• 06 | Objects & Classes
• 07 | No Class (workshop week)
• 08 | Advanced Animation, DOM Elements
• 09 | Working with Data
• 10 | Machine Learning | Project Proposals
• 11 | Websockets & Pen Plotters
• 12 | Project Work
• 13 | Project Work
• Absence Compensation
• Debugging
• Final Project
• Next Steps
• Showcase

Important links #

• MyCourses page (2026)
• Our OpenProcessing class
• p5js Home
• p5js Editor
• p5js Reference
• W3 Schools JavaScript Tutorials

Course Book #

• Code as Creative Medium
  • Available through Aalto

Other Resources #

• Awesome Creative Coding
• Nature of Code
• Critical Coding Cookbook
• Programming Design Systems - Online Book
• The Art of Computer Designing
• Generative Gestaltung

Content #

This course introduces creative coding not just as a tool but also as a creative medium in itself. The course consists of joint lectures for all students and additional excercise groups that students choose based on their previous experience, skill level, and interests.

Topics covered in the course:

• Historical and contemporary examples of computational art and design
• The role of computation in interactive, generative, and immersive artworks
• Fundamental computational thinking
• Data types and structures
• Flow control statements (loops, conditional execution)
• Basics of object-oriented programming
• Best practices (commenting, formatting, structuring)

Learning Outcomes #

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply their technical knowledge and skills in computational art and design to create artworks, experiences, services, tools, and other creative productions.
• Apply basic programming concepts and techniques, such as variables, functions, flow control, comments, types, objects and arrays.
• Describe, discuss, and demonstrate uses of code as a creative medium.

Course Schedule 2026 #

Week 1 | Introduction #

Week 2 | If This Then That #

Week 3 | Loops & Arrays #

Week 4 | Working with Media #

Week 5 | Functions #

Week 6 | Objects & Classes #

Week 7 (Workshop week) #

Period II #

Week 8 #

Week 9 #

Week 10 #

Week 11 #

Week 12 #

Week 13 #

Week 14 (Workshop Week) #