metaphorz

I am often fascinated by the variety of data and information visualizations that one finds

when scouring the web, but enough about data. Let's talk process. If we were to give

Max patch to a good designer, what would it look like? Are there visual design

guidelines for publicly presenting a patch?

I ask because I have asked my students to create beautiful, design-cognizant max patches.

1) Avoid cobwebs -- patch cords should not cross objects

2) Use color appropriately to designate categories (can be appied to cords or objects)

3) Use sub-patching to create clean hierarchy

4) Use bpatching to create hierarchy and, furthermore, to create unique iconography

So, my goal is not to hide the wiring but just the opposite -- to highlight it and thus, communicate

the idea of "process" to the public. But, at the same time, we probably can and should learn

from the design community on how to achieve this.

I have searched around, but haven't found much yet. If any of you have what you would

consider beautiful, effective visual patching, please respond so that I and my students can

I am often fascinated by the variety of data and information visualizations that one finds
when scouring the web, but enough about data. Let's talk process. If we were to give
Max patch to a good designer, what would it look like? Are there visual design
guidelines for publicly presenting a patch? 

I ask because I have asked my students to create beautiful, design-cognizant max patches.
Some approaches I have suggested are:

 1) Avoid cobwebs -- patch cords should not cross objects
 2) Use color appropriately to designate categories (can be appied to cords or objects)
 3) Use sub-patching to create clean hierarchy
 4) Use bpatching to create hierarchy and, furthermore, to create unique iconography

So, my goal is not to hide the wiring but just the opposite -- to highlight it and thus, communicate
the idea of "process" to the public. But, at the same time, we probably can and should learn
from the design community on how to achieve this.

I have searched around, but haven't found much yet. If any of you have what you would
consider beautiful, effective visual patching, please respond so that I and my students can
learn from your examples.


the-beauty-of-the-max-patch

http://www.creativeapplications.net/theory/patch-schematics-%E2%80%93-the-aesthetics-of-constraint-best-practices-theory/

http://peterelsea.com/Maxtuts_basic/Neatness%20Counts.pdf

http://www.creativeapplications.net/theory/patch-schematics-%E2%80%93-the-aesthetics-of-constraint-best-practices-theory/
and:  http://peterelsea.com/Maxtuts_basic/Neatness%20Counts.pdf

@PROF_LOFI: great examples. I am putting these links online for the students to read. I also like Kay's intro to GraIL at

the start of the first link (visual languages in 1968!).

@PROF_LOFI: great examples. I am putting these links online for the students to read. I also like Kay's intro to GraIL at
the start of the first link (visual languages in 1968!).


The Beauty of the Max Patch