Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 163

Thinking something is design just because it looks real is wrong. Even if a computer program can copy a wave perfectly, that copy is not design.

Some art tries to make things look exactly real, like a photograph. This is amazing to see, but even if we call it art, we don’t call it design.

So, what Woojin took from the wave was just an idea.

He looked at the wave’s shape for ideas. He also looked at *how* the wave’s shape was made.

Woojin used these ideas and changed them to make a wave that showed what *he* wanted to say. This was design, not just copying a wave.

“A wave is energy moving through something. When different forces meet, they can mix and make new patterns. When they travel far away, the force disappears,” Woojin explained.

Woojin’s model looked very different from the other students’ work.

Models made by hand feel different from models made by computer programs and rules. They just have a different feeling.

It’s impossible to say which is better.

It’s like asking if apples or oranges taste better.

But if someone has never tasted an orange, they will be amazed by the sweet and sour taste.

They will feel new emotions from the orange that they couldn’t feel from the familiar apple.

Woojin’s model gave a fresh surprise to students who had never seen anything like it before.

Back in 2011, using computer programs with pictures to make models like this was very new. You couldn’t easily find it in magazines, even in his country or other countries.

As Woojin kept talking, the room became very quiet.

Everyone, except Professor Jo Woon-chan, just stared at Woojin’s work, their eyes wide.

“These wave properties can be used for many things in the world. It’s the same with relationships. We all have our own ways, and those ways can mix to create new patterns,” Woojin continued calmly.

Professor Jo Woon-chan leaned forward, a wide smile spreading across his face. ‘Interesting,’ he murmured, his eyes bright with curiosity.

Professor Jo was surprised by two things.

First, he was amazed that Woojin had made such a good model using a visual script – something Professor Jo hadn’t even started teaching properly yet.

Second, he was amazed that Woojin’s model had a clear idea and design behind it, not just good technology.

‘I wonder if he studied design somewhere else…’

Professor Jo had studied visual scripts for a long time. So, to him, Woojin’s model itself wasn’t amazing.

He knew he could make something similar in an hour or two.

What Professor Jo found truly amazing was *how* Woojin had created the model, the thinking behind it.

“So, if my design idea was ‘Wave,’ the theme is ‘Relationship.’ Relationships made by different ways mixing together. And the environment, which changes the relationship,”

Woojin pointed to his work on the screen.

On the screen, five waves rippled outwards like circles in a pond, each one glowing softly. As they spread, they bumped into each other, creating swirling new patterns where the lines met and danced.

Woojin had also added a hidden force between the computer programs.

The waves mixed and spread in a certain way, but when they got close to a line that Woojin had drawn, they disappeared, ignoring the rules.

The points that made up the model, which moved up and down with the wave program, slowly stuck to the surface as they got closer to Woojin’s line.

Woojin moved the pointer along the line and said calmly, “This is the environment, another thing that changes relationships.”

The final model Woojin created was strangely beautiful. It looked like waves spreading out, but then, as if by magic, parts of the waves simply vanished, leaving behind smooth, curved edges in the empty spaces.

By using the wave idea and program, Woojin designed a social idea called relationship in a creative way.

And it was also beautiful to look at.

So, this model was real design, not just copying a wave.

After Woojin finished, the room was silent for a moment.

It was more like a short explanation of his work, not a long presentation, but the students were very surprised by what they saw in that short time.

Then, for the first time since the presentations started, people clapped.

Clap- Clap clap clap-

It wasn’t loud applause, just simple clapping filled with the students’ honest feelings.

Woojin smiled awkwardly. After a moment, Professor Jo Woon-chan gave his review.

It started with praise.

“Woojin,” Professor Jo began, a wide grin on his face, “Excellent work! Really excellent.”

Woojin blushed slightly. “Thank you, Professor,” he mumbled, looking down.

“Grasshopper, wasn’t it?” Professor Jo asked, leaning closer to the screen.

“Yes, sir,” Woojin confirmed. “Grasshopper.”

“I haven’t even taught you yet, but you’ve already used it well.”

“I got some help from a friend in the Computer Engineering Department to create the program.”

Woojin scratched the back of his head, embarrassed by the praise. Professor Jo looked puzzled.

“Well, just because you know programming doesn’t mean you can use Grasshopper well… Anyway, you worked hard.”

Professor Jo left Woojin’s work on the screen and gave more explanations.

Because Professor Jo understood Grasshopper well, he explained Woojin’s program to the students in detail.

Because next week’s *class lessons* were about visual scripts, Woojin’s work was a great way to get the students interested and excited for the topic.

After about ten minutes, Professor Jo looked at Woojin again.

“But Woojin.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“All these programs and design ideas you used.”

“Yes.”

“Did you know it’s called Parametric Design?”

Woojin’s eyes widened. He had never thought about that.

The dictionary defines ‘parameter’ as a variable.

And the parameter discussed in ‘Parametric Design’ is very close to that meaning.

However, to talk about parameters in a way that is easier to understand, not just as an idea, it can be said that it is every ‘element’ that makes up a form in modeling.

For example, imagine a cylinder the size of a roll of toilet paper.

To make this cylinder, you need numbers for the circle’s size (radius) and the cylinder’s height. You also need numbers to say where to put it.

In parametric design, these three elements are each defined as parameters. By changing the numbers of these parameters, you can create different cylinders at different locations.

The basic shape of a cylinder is defined by a set of instructions, but by changing the numbers, you can create many different cylinders.

This is the basic idea of parametric design. It is also how Woojin designed the model for his assignment.

After the midterm assignment, Woojin went to Professor Jo Woonchan’s office. Professor Jo explained these ideas, which helped Woojin understand parametric design more easily.

He understood the direction for studying digital architecture, which he had admired, faster than he expected.

“So, it turns out I ended up doing the kind of design I wanted by accident,” Woojin said.

“That’s right,” Professor Jo replied.

“It was a lucky accident… Haha.”

Professor Jo chuckled at Woojin’s awkward laughter and said,

“It’s more than just luck; it’s quite an accurate direction, wouldn’t you say?”

“Really?” Woojin asked.

Professor Jo took a sip of his warm green tea latte, the steam warming his face. He smiled and set the cup down gently. “After your presentation,” he said, his eyes twinkling, “I knew it for sure.”

“Knew what, Professor?” Woojin asked, leaning forward.

“That you,” Professor Jo pointed a finger at Woojin with a smile, “are perfect for this kind of design.”

Like any field, to really study it deeply, your personality should fit well.

This is especially true if the field is new and not well-studied.

To create your own design by writing instructions and changing numbers, you must be interested in the process itself.

Professor Jo was very pleased with Woojin’s assignment.

The fact that Woojin had achieved these results even without a clear understanding of parametric design meant that his personality was well-suited to this field.

As someone who would study and research this field with Professor Jo in the future, Woojin had passed with flying colors.

Woojin felt Professor Jo’s approval and smiled happily.

He seemed to have been recognized for his talent in digital architecture, which had only been a vague dream in his previous life.

“That’s really a relief,” Woojin said.

Professor Jo asked, “A relief?”

“Actually, I was a little worried that I was wrong to be so confident,” Woojin replied.

“Wrong to be confident?” Professor Jo tilted his head, confused. Woojin smiled and continued.

“Do you remember what I told you before? About the pavilion that our studio was going to build in Wangsimni Parafield.”

“Ah, I remember that,” Professor Jo said.

Woojin continued, “The reason I wanted that pavilion so much was because I wanted to create something using parametric design.”

“Oho…?” Interest flickered in Professor Jo’s eyes as Woojin continued his story.

“So, after starting it, I was a little worried,” Woojin said.

“That you wouldn’t be able to do it well?” Professor Jo asked.

Woojin nodded. “Yes. I was worried that I would fail for pretending to know digital architecture without really knowing anything.”

Woojin looked relieved as he spoke. These were things he couldn’t easily say to anyone.

He always worried about failing, but as the owner of WJ Studio, he couldn’t easily talk about these things.

But Professor Jo was his teacher, and Woojin felt he could say anything to him.

So, Woojin felt more comfortable.

“Woojin,” Professor Jo said.

“Yes, Professor?”

“Digital architecture is still new around the world. Especially in Korea, it’s a completely new idea. Imitate? There’s nothing to imitate yet.”

Woojin knew about digital architecture from the future, but it was only a basic understanding.

In his previous life, he was only interested in the field and had never studied it.

So, Woojin nodded. “That’s… right.”

Professor Jo smiled as Woojin nodded and continued, “No matter who does it… trying digital architecture might seem reckless. A design that people don’t like cannot succeed.”

Woojin waited for his next words. Professor Jo swallowed and continued, “But how can we move forward if no one tries?”

“That’s a good point,” Woojin agreed.

Professor Jo grinned and added, “So, I think now is a good time to try. Maybe your work will be on the first page of Korean digital architecture history.”

When Woojin heard Professor Jo’s words, his heart began to swell with excitement.