128KB at HEAD Geneve

How far can we get with 128KB?

Hey and welcome to the 128KB challenge workshop at HEAD! I’m Tim and I am thrilled to get creative with you in the next days (assuming its already december).

This workshop is designed as a vibrant and compact creativity training session. It is not only about working with code as a medium, tool, and phenomenon. It also emphasizes limitation as an amplifier of holistic creativity.

First of all, I’ll give you a few beginner friendly introductions into Processing. That’s the tool I work with and easy to learn (if you haven’t yet) and extremely versatile. If you don’t know Processing, but have worked with p5.js already, don’t worry. The transition will be quite easy.

In this workshop, we will generate, investigate and work with gif files. 128KB is the maximum file size of the rendered gifs. The workshop touches on many valuable concepts, from Creative Coding (obviously) to the Demoscene, Permacomputing, and Low Technology. The associated limitations and the resulting aesthetics raise many interesting questions. Here are just a few: Is the small GIF file a suitable antidote to the ubiquitous techno-maximalism? To what extent can the 128KB GIF be explored as a means of communication? What role does resolution play? What functions and effects does it have? Ultimately: How far can we get within 128KB?

Over the course of five days, we will think together, hopefully engage in meaningful discussions, and, of course, experiment.

I am very much looking forward to it!

Brief

Develop a series of experimental applications with Processing. Export motion graphics and convert them to gif fles with these formal parameters:

  • 128KB filesize max
  • 128×128 pixels max
    • Common Formats:
      • 9:16 → 72 * 128px
      • 16:9 → 128 * 72px
      • 9:16 → 72 * 128px
  • Use Processing or p5.js

Try out what ever interests you. Let yourself be free. Enjoy the absense of a briefing. Follow your intuition, create experiments that matter to you. Whatever it is. Get creative! But always stay within the rules.

Staying under the filesize of 128KB will be a obstacle, but don’t worry. We’ll work it out together.

In the end, submit your work(s) via e-mail using the template below.

Submit your work

Please send an e-mail to 128kb@timrodenbroeker.de, providing the following informations. Make sure you attach your gif animation(s)!

Title of your work: 
Your work title
 
Describe your idea, process and your output (400 words min)
Lorem Ipsum
 
Technologies used: 
Processing? p5.js?

Your name: 
Your Name

Your e-mail:
you@somemailprovider.com
 
Your website or a social media handle (website preferred): 
https://yoursite.com
Submit via E-Mail

Schedule

Monday128KB intro
Processing and p5.js basics
Open Workshop
Project Development
TuesdayImages and Typography in Processing
Open Workshop
Project Development
Wednesday3D in Processing
Open Workshop
Project Development
ThursdayWrapping up
Documentation
Case Study
FridayPresentations!

Resources

Inspo

All things related to Creative Coding

Demoscene, Low Tech and Permacomputing

Tools for editing, optimizing, remixing and dithering gifs