Visual Programming with TouchDesigner, Basel Academy of Art and Design

At the end of the workshop you will gain:

• a practical understanding of the TouchDesigner environment and its real-time, node
  based workflow.
• the ability to analyze audio signals and translate them into parameters for visual control.
• knowledge of the 3D rendering process skills in generating and manipulating point clouds using instancing techniques.
• the capacity to design and present an individual audiovisual project from concept to prototype.

This workshop is designed for artists, designers, and creative practitioners who are curious about real-time audiovisual art and want to integrate sound, and interactivity into their practice. No prior experience with TouchDesigner or programming is required. An interest in music and experimentation with digital tools is recommended.

This course focuses on three central areas: creating audio-reactive visuals, controlling interfaces with input devices, and building custom user interfaces inside TouchDesigner. You will apply iterative methods and hands-on experimentation to develop your own audiovisual project with a custom interface.

The course introduces techniques for analyzing audio signals and transforming them into data to drive animation, color, and form. Principles of rendering and instancing are explored and applied to generate and manipulate point cloud systems.

Along the way, you practice working independently with open-source documentation and examples, and discover how to connect technical processes with aesthetic choices. By the end of the course, you gain a solid understanding of generative environments and know how to follow your own interests and find the right resources to continue working with TouchDesigner.

Paulina Zybinska is a creative technologist working at the intersection of technology, perception, and embodied experience. Her work revolves around immersive media, live visuals, and interactive art, with a focus on the ethical and psychological questions raised by synthetic media. In her research, she looks at how Deepfakes could be used in therapeutic contexts and how machine learning shapes the way we form and recall memories. As krata, she performs as a VJ and live coder with the collective unsorted.

The continuing education programs are primarily aimed at individuals with an academic degree from a recognized university and relevant professional experience after graduation.Individuals with equivalent qualifications will be admitted if their eligibility for participation is demonstrated by other evidence.

For further questions, please contact the Continuing Education Department, Ralf Michel