The process produces formations rather than forms.





The rule above is part of the Conditional Design Manifesto, click here to read it in full.
On the 12th of May, 2009, we gave each other custom rules




Custom Rules

Edo:

I really like this idea that you can set up a bunch of fairly simple rules and when you execute those simple rules you create something that has properties that are not at all inferable from the original rules.
With this workshop we made custom rules for each other: very formal instructions how to draw lines. We made these rules using templates, printed on cards, from which we could create our own custom rules.
For example: "The start of your green line must be at a tip of the last drawn red line."
We could do this workshop multiple times, create other custom rules every time, and thus have very different results every time. The result of this evenings session is just one of many.
This workshop is based on a previous one we did.


Instructions:

  • Play with four participants.
  • Each participant has their own color pen: red, green, blue or black.
  • Each participant starts with 2 custom-rule-cards: 1x card type 1, 1x card type 2.
  • The participants take turns.

Each turn a participant first draws one straight line:

  • None of the drawn lines may cross other lines, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
  • Try to draw lines that work well with the other lines, within the given constraints.
  • The participant must skip its turn if (s)he can't draw a line without breaking any of the custom rules.

Then, only in the first two turns, (s)he must fill in a custom-rule-card and give it to the next participant:

  • Combine parts of sentences together, by underlining them, to create a custom rule.
  • Try to make a meaningfull rule that goes well together with the other custom rules.
In general, try to cooperate to create the most beautifull drawing.


Custom-rule-cards:



download custom-rule-cards pdf



A complete set of filled in custom-rule-cards, used for the session in the video:


Custom rules used for the session in the video:

For red:
Your red line must cross a blue line in the middle.
The direction of your red line must be parallel to the nearest black line.

For black:
The start of your black line must be at a tip of a green line.
The length of your black line must be the same as the nearest blue line.

For green:
The start of your green line must be at a tip of the last drawn red line.
The direction of your green line must be perpendicular to the nearest blue line.

For blue:
The start of your blue line must be on the last drawn black line.
The length of your blue line must be half the length of the last drawn green line.









Examples of a couple of test runs, each time with other custom rules: