Robert Hodgin did a presentation that anyone could appreciate: designers, developers and general public alike. Robert Hodgin went to school for design, but his work using the “Processing” programming language gained him some fame because “magnetosphere” project was adopted as the current iTunes visualizer; he actually performs live in conjunction with Zoe Keating.

Robert Hodgin took the time to explain the process behind his projects and, with his wealth of experience, he gave the audience some interesting advice: don’t automatically disregard your bugs because sometimes those accidents could be the start of brilliant ideas. Hodgin’s descriptions of his “flock simulators” and mimicking other natural phenomenons with programming always related back to his inspiration from the real world (fishes flocking, waves moving) and it would lead him to make statements on natural design that are empowering to any designer - as if nature is just a very sophisticated program run on infinitely more sophisticated computers. Indeed, all programmers may be playing god within their programs and their highest apex of inspiration isn’t within programming at all. Robert Hodgin continued to express his anxieties of learning a new language, but the door that opened as a result of it. He now uses “Cinder” to create his work in the C++ language and makes more complex designs.

He recently just published his first application on the iPad: it’s a fresh and interesting way to access the music on your iPad demonstrated here. Planetary is a free download on the app store.

Robert Hodgin websites:

www.flight404.com

www.barbariangroup.com

www.roberthodgin.com (currently under construction)