About Subdivisio

Subidivisio was developed as a thesis project by me, Adam Colestock, in the NYU Low-Res IMA program in 2020-21. The final thesis presentation explains a little bit more about the project and its development:

About the creator

I am a Chicago-based teacher and artist. I received a BA in Mathematics from Williams College and an MA in the Learning Sciences from Northwestern University. I have worked as a 4th-8th grade STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) and Coding integration teacher at the Francis W. Parker School for the past 10 years and have also enjoyed coaching our middle school robotics teams during that time.

I draw inspiration from the intricate designs and wildly creative engineering solutions that have evolved in nature as well as the innovative thinking of mathematicians, inventors and artists across different cultures and time. I develop general procedures, algorithms and frameworks that provide opportunities for discovery, experimentation, learning and making.

The story behind the project

What is algorithmic art? How can subtle beauty emerge from a simple rule? How can computational media make possible new and interactive processes for making art?

Subdivisio was developed as a means to open up more possibilities within my own creative practice and to share my process and the joy and curiosity it sparks in me with others.

I am drawn to the systematic study of patterns and structures and the beautiful forms that emerge in nature as the result of simple rules or processes. Over the past few years, I have been experimenting with a technique that uses the recursive application of geometric constructions to generate designs. I have found dynamic geometry software, which allows for rapid iteration through direct manipulation of points and lines, to be a powerful tool to assist this process. However, the tools I’ve been using provide limited aesthetic options and scripting opportunities as they were developed primarily as demonstration and learning tools.

In my job as a STEAM and Coding teacher, I try to provoke kids to ask questions, explore, play, make mistakes and engage critically with the world around them. I think powerful learning happens through hands-on engagement and making connections across disciplines. I try to promote agency by creating an environment that provides the tools and support for creative experimentation and inquiry.

Subdivisio distills the essential elements of my creative process and my educational philosophy into an interactive web app and creative tool. The tool introduces new features that allow me to refine and color designs much more efficiently. I have also made the tool available to introduce others to algorithmic art.