Taking its cue from the world of Architecture and Design, the concept of algorithmic thought emerged from the convergence of two synergistic principles, computation and form generation. We live in a world built from the integration of codes, algorithms and protocols which are designed to achieve objectives defined by the user, by implementing a definite sequence of steps decoded by a computer. This is the purpose of an Algorithm, to encode the sequence of instructions necessary to generate a specific output.
In recent years designers and architects have sought out algorithms as a means of generating shape and form to predict the dynamic nature of its performance through time. This represents a future framework for design and sustainability, as it incorporates a new paradigm called “Algorithmic Thought.” The new paradigm comes from the utilization of computation as an essential element in the design of a complex system of many interconnected components. Computation is the processing of information and interactions between elements which constitute a specific environment, as it provides a framework for negotiating and influencing the interrelation of datasets of information, with the capacity to generate complex order, form and structure. I conceptualize computation as the use of the computer to process information through an understood model which can be expressed as an algorithm. This new Algorithmic thought approach can allow for the exploration of new ideas and augment the cognition of designers thus increasing their ability to solve complex design challenges. Designers have used Algorithms for example when modeling the landscapes in which their projects will be placed. Algorithms can be used to generate fractal geometric patterns very similar to the natural landscapes of the World, allowing for a realistic simulation of the environment. The new paradigm not only transforms the way that we imagine design concepts but also dynamics of complex systems. We are moving from an era in which designers use software to one in which they design software, the processes that generate form using computation. Algorithmic thought is also laying the foundations for the emerging field of Biomimetic Design.
Nature is a dynamic ecosystem built from integrated layers that builds patterns similar to algorithms. Algorithmic thought seeks a dynamic approach to designing complex systems by focusing on the processes for generating form by seeing nature as a decentralized architecture built from patterns of algorithms that construct three dimensional objects and environments. The new approach of Algorithmic Thought can also free system designers from the constraints of conventional approaches. Computerization simply seeks to automate preconceived notions of design, while the new approach uses algorithmic formulas of the computer to build innovative structures, which can lead to unexpected results. When a designer writes a computer program to solve a problem, further alternatives can be explored by modifying the program, sketching by algorithms.
The new approach of Algorithmic Thought emerged from the field of design but I believe that it can actually be applied to creating any complex system because codes, algorithms and protocols can be adapted to any situation in the future and help in the scientific and artistic discovery of optimal solutions.
Nolan JT Nahar
Futurist
Evolutionary Cyberneticist
Digital Philosopher
2021
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