My Work  〉Shaper 2D

Shaper2D is a platform-agnostic Java application and applet for use in design teaching. It was designed to encourage a “learning by designing” approach to shape grammar education by employing a visually dynamic, interactive interface that facilitates quick design and experimentation.

The Problem

My MIT research sought to investigate an alternative approach to educational software design, based on the predominant thinking at that time that:

• the user is expected to learn to think about the problem the way the programmer thinks about the problem

• the interface reflects the internal structures of the program since they are the most fundamental description of the problem

Taking shape grammar software as the foundation for my research, I reviewed existing applications and discovered that their solutions:

• enforced a slow iterative and algorithmic approach: “plan, calculate, examine, redesign”

• implemented a static interface thus prevented users from exploring many designs quickly

• concealed the actual grammar process – crucial for understanding the rule formation and execution

The Solution

Shape grammar software needed to extend and complement paper-based shape grammar teaching by both clearly demonstrating the shape grammar process and providing an an engaging environment that encouraged shape grammar exploration.

Shaper2D addresses usability, interface and interaction issues by:

• implementing a dynamic and responsive interface

• allowing the quick exploration of many designs