Designed and presented an generative data visualization of donations to the University of Sydney at the official launch of INSPIRED – The Campaign to Raise $600 Million Dollars to Support the University of Sydney at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, which received the acknowledgment and gratitude of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence.

This generative code and animation were produced for the launch dinner of the University of Sydney’s INSPIRED campaign. The aim was to create a visualization of the donations made to the University using generative methods, while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing output and keeping with the theme of a growing jacaranda tree. Algorithms used include partitioning the data in order of donation size using logarithms; growing new branches on the tree over time according to the distribution of the data; and using a stack data structure to traverse the tree from branch to trunk, rendering the larger branches on top of the smaller branches. The algorithms were chosen, modified and tweaked to allow a balance between control over the structure and emergence of unexpected structures through randomness.

Code and post-production by Steven Bai and Sam Johnson. 

All algorithms were carefully considered during the development process, in order to maintain the design concept and to carry the concept throughout the entire development, which includes the post production. The animation was aiming to enhance the influential function of the university donation campaign, which is based on the generative design to optimise the experience of understanding data information.

(2013)