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Creative Programming for Digital Media & Mobile Apps

Dr Matthew Yee-King, Dr Mick Grierson, and Prof Marco Gillies

This course is for anyone who would like to apply their technical skills to creative work ranging from video games to art installations to interactive music, and also for artists who would like to use programming in their artistic practice.

This course will teach you how to develop and apply programming skills to creative work. This is an important skill within the development of creative mobile applications, digital music and video games. It will teach the technical skills needed to write software that make use of images, audio and graphics, and will concentrate on the application of these skills to creative projects. Additional resources will be provided for students with no programming background.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

* Write creative, audiovisual programs in the Processing environment that run on desktop and mobile

* Programatically manipulate sound in creative ways

* Display images and image sequences

* Generate interactive, algorithmic graphics

* Work with a 2D physics engine to create a basic game

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What's inside

Syllabus

Sonic Painter

This week we are getting up and running with the Processing IDE. We will show you the basics of writing Processing sketches then move onto some graphics and audio concepts. Mick will then introduce our first audiovisual example - SonicPainter, which allows users to interactively paint with synchronised graphics and sound.

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Examines hardware features like the accelerometer on students' phones

Teaches the basics of how to write Processing sketches

Explores sonic painting, which uses synchronized graphics and sound

Walks students through building a physics-based game using Box2D

Teaches the basics of working with images and video

Explores the popular and interesting topic of audiovisualizers, which have many applications

Covers algorithmic graphics, audio analysis, and using the accelerometer features of students' phones

Develops skills in writing creative, audiovisual programs in the Processing environment that run on desktop and mobile

Teaches how to programmatically manipulate sound in creative ways

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Reviews summary

Creative programming for media & apps

Based on the course description and syllabus, learners interested in the intersection of programming and creative arts would likely find this course valuable. It appears to offer a neutral introduction to creative coding using the Processing environment. Students would explore various applications, including creating interactive graphics and audio, building audiovisualizers, working with a 2D physics engine for games, and developing music applications. The course covers a range of topics, suggesting a broad overview rather than deep dives into specific areas. While it mentions resources for beginners, some parts, like the physics engine or WebAudio API, might be challenging for those with limited prior programming experience. The hands-on projects seem to be a central part of the learning experience.

Uses the Processing environment for creative coding.

"Processing was a good environment to start with for creative coding."

"Learning to use Processing for creative projects was a key takeaway."

"Some of the tools felt a little specific, not sure how widely used they are now outside of creative coding."

Pace may vary depending on prior programming skill.

"As someone new to programming, the extra resources were helpful, but some parts were still quite fast-paced."

"If you already know the basics of programming, this course lets you apply those skills in a creative way."

"I felt the course assumed some comfort with programming concepts."

Covers diverse areas like audio, visuals, and games.

"It was great to touch on so many different creative areas like music, visuals, and game physics."

"The course provides a broad overview of creative coding applications."

"While it covers a lot, I wished some topics like audio manipulation went into more depth."

Focuses on practical projects to build skills.

"I really enjoyed building the different projects like the SonicPainter and the drum sequencer."

"The hands-on labs where we created the physics game were challenging but rewarding."

"Working through the examples helped solidify the concepts taught in the lectures."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Creative Programming for Digital Media & Mobile Apps with these activities:

Review basic programming concepts

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Strengthen your foundation in programming to better understand the course material.

Browse courses on Programming Fundamentals

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Review your previous programming notes or textbooks
Take online quizzes or practice exercises to test your understanding
Consider working on a small programming project to apply your refreshed skills

Organize your notes, assignments, and quizzes

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Stay organized and improve your retention by compiling and reviewing your course materials.

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Create a designated folder or notebook for your course materials
Regularly add your notes, assignments, and quizzes to the folder or notebook
Take time to review and summarize your materials periodically

Complete tutorials on Processing.org

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Get hands-on experience with Processing, the programming language used in the course.

Browse courses on Processing

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Go to Processing.org and sign up for an account
Follow the beginner tutorials on the website
Experiment with the code and try to create your own sketches

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Read 'The Art of Computer Programming'

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Gain a deep understanding of algorithms and data structures through a classic computer science text.

View The Art of Computer Programming, Fascicle 7:... on Amazon

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Read and understand the first few chapters
Work through the exercises at the end of each chapter
Attend office hours or online forums for additional support

Join a study group or online forum for Processing

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Connect with other students to discuss the course material, share ideas, and get help with your projects.

Browse courses on Processing

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Find a study group or online forum that aligns with your interests
Attend meetings or participate in discussions regularly
Ask questions, share your knowledge, and collaborate with others

Coding challenges on Leetcode

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Practice coding problems to improve problem-solving skills and programming fundamentals.

Browse courses on Algorithms

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Sign up for a Leetcode account
Solve easy-level problems to get started
Gradually move on to medium- and hard-level problems

Create a Processing sketch that generates interactive visuals

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Apply your knowledge to build a project that demonstrates your understanding of the course concepts.

Browse courses on Processing

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Plan your project and decide on the visuals you want to generate
Write the code to create the visuals and make them interactive
Test and refine your project until it works as intended

Write a blog post or article about a topic related to the course

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Share your knowledge and understanding by creating content that deepens your comprehension of the course material.

Browse courses on Processing

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Choose a topic that you are passionate about and that aligns with the course content
Research your topic and gather information from credible sources
Write your blog post or article, ensuring it is well-organized, informative, and engaging

Career center

Learners who complete Creative Programming for Digital Media & Mobile Apps will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Mobile Application Developer

Mobile Application Developers create software for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging mobile applications that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile Application Developer

Web Developer

Web Developers create and maintain websites. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging websites that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use the WebAudio API to create synthesizers and other musical applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Game Developer

Game Developers create video games. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging video games that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Interactive Media Designer

Interactive Media Designers create interactive media experiences, such as websites, games, and mobile applications. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging experiences that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interactive Media Designer

Digital Media Artist

Digital Media Artists use digital technologies to create art. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging digital art that makes use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Media Artist

Multimedia Artist

Multimedia Artists use a variety of media, including images, audio, and graphics, to create art. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging multimedia art that makes use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Multimedia Artist

Video Editor

Video Editors create and edit videos. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging videos that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Editor

Audio Engineer

Audio Engineers create and edit audio. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging audio experiences that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging graphics that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software systems. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging software that makes use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Computer Scientist

Computer Scientists conduct research and develop applications in areas involving computers and computation. This course can help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging computer applications that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Scientist

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured. This course may help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging data visualizations that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design, develop, and maintain machine learning systems. This course may help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging machine learning applications that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Artificial Intelligence Engineers design, develop, and maintain artificial intelligence systems. This course may help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging artificial intelligence applications that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Robotics Engineer

Robotics Engineers design, develop, and maintain robots. This course may help you develop the skills needed to create interactive and engaging robotics applications that make use of images, audio, and graphics. You will also learn how to use a physics engine to create basic games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Reading list

We've selected 13 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Creative Programming for Digital Media & Mobile Apps.

Getting Started with Processing.py

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Provides a comprehensive introduction to the Processing programming language, which is specifically designed for artists and designers to create interactive and generative graphics.

Creative Programming for Digital Media & Mobile Apps

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Creative programming for media & apps

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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