Day 72: Rules, Not Choices

Generative design defines rules and lets the rules produce the result. You decide the system — “every line is one unit thicker than the last,” “each shape rotates 15° from its neighbour” — and then follow it without intervening. The designer’s role shifts from making every decision to designing the decision-making.

Objective. Design a rule system and follow it to create a composition.

Write five rules, then follow them exactly to produce a poster for an architecture biennale.

• Write the five rules before you start designing
• Follow the rules without exception
• Show the rules on the poster as small text

• Five clearly written rules
• A result that follows them faithfully
• An interesting composition

Give your rules to another person and compare their result to yours.