It's Parametrization, Baby!
Abstract
As a term used in several areas of knowledge, a parameter is a characteristic, attribute, or a measurable factor that helps to define something. The computer programs algorithms always used numerical parameters but more recently, so-called parametric programs employed in creative processes from different areas, potentiated that use. They allow the free association of a wide range of information to constituent elements of the work to be created, be it a film, an outfit, a building, a song or an urban fragment, facilitating change, production and fulfillment, with great control by the authors.
Beyond the understandings currently disseminated on parametric design and digital fabrication in architecture and design, some issues have interested us particularly. How these creative and production processes using parametric logics, change - or not - the architectural and artistic making of works that involve the unpredictable and seek to contemplate subjectivities? How are being used parametric computer programs in different areas of knowledge? With what purposes? What products - from body scale to the urban scale - are being designed with this new logic? How arises the question of authorship, since scripts are largely produced by others?
What levels of dialogue and engagement have been offered to individuals, groups and communities invited to interact with such means? What impacts, including conceptual ones, may such developments have on the design of public policies aimed at the city and life in it?
It is willing to broaden the debate around these questions that V! RUS 11 proposes a reflection on the formulation and implementation of the parameterization notion in emerging processes of design, production and use of environments, objects, spaces and artistic works. We seek to stimulate readings and discussions from theoretical academic research as well as studies and reports of trials and interventions, which transit between and dialogue with different fields of knowledge, including architecture, urbanism, the visual and performing arts, dance, film, music and sound studies, fashion, philosophy, computer science and mathematics, design, geography and urban planning, biology, medicine, economics, engineering, among others. We are especially interested, but not exclusively, in works that emphasize systemic, cybernetic and transdisciplinary approaches.
Thus, we recognize, as fields of interest of this call for papers, those related to: 1. the intervention methods in city spaces whose use of information on uses, services, products, etc., allow end users to give opinions or even organize to bring about changes in places and urban systems; 2. the creation methods of musical, audiovisual pieces, objects, graphic and tangible interfaces, and artistic works of various kinds that use numerical manipulation algorithms in the design, manufacture or application; 3. the parametric urbanism, including its techniques of urban and regional modeling as a support to urban planning and the spatial and social analysis; 4. the use of parametric programs and technologies for design and digital fabrication, and their possible outcomes; 5. the emergence of new clusters and construction techniques that provide greater accuracy, precision and control; and 6. the critical reflections on these and other developments related to the subject.
In addition to text, photographs and drawings, are welcomed videos, short films and animations, musical pieces and testimonials into audio files, art installations projects, architectural works, urbanism and design accompanied by critical reflection on their design, considering Nomads.usp interest in exploring the possibilities of using digital media for scientific diffusion.
Contributions will be received through the journal website until May 15, 2015, according to the guidelines for authors, available atwww.nomads.usp.br/virus/submissao_submission.php
Important dates
_ March 2015: First call for papers.
_ May 15, 2015: Deadline for receiving submitted articles.
_ 15 to 30 June 2015: Communication of acceptance and sending of adequacy requests to authors.
_ August 1, 2015: Deadline for receiving the corrections of the authors, and the English version of texts and image captions.
_ 10 to 25 September 2015: Sending reviewed texts in Portuguese and English to the authors for approval.
_ October 1, 2015: Deadline for receipt of final texts reviewed and approved by the authors.
_ November 2015: release of V!RUS 11.
