'Starting with Nothing' and 'Ending up with Something' - Musical Improvisation and Parametric Spatial Design Improvisation
Jeremy Ham, Marc Aurel Schnabel, L Harvey, Daniel Prohasky · eCAADe proceedings · 2016
Musical improvisation is a complex field of the study of creativity wherein the musician - according to jazz pianist Herbie Hancock - improvises by 'starting with nothing' and 'ending up with something'. We explore a 'Musico-Spatial Design' creative practice design research project that uses parametric spatial design tools to research musical improvisation, then takes knowledge gained from this process to illuminate aspects of improvisation within parametric spatial design processes. Our investigation of musical and parametric spatial design improvisation provides insights into how both novices and experts engage in improvisation and how they don't really 'start with nothing' but bring into the design conversation a varying range of referents to inform designerly intent.