Creative Coding: How to Get Things off the Ground

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January 3, 2020 Career, Programming

What makes creative coding different from regular coding is the desire and ability to express yourself more artistically. Coding comes in different types and volumes. Many programmers are coders who simply copy an existing template to come up with a practical software solution. Creative coders, on the other hand, are trying to express their original ideas in a more creative way, using APIs and various visual tools.

This term can refer to many different things, from data processing to special image editing. In this article, you’ll learn how to get things off the ground in creative coding.

The principle elements of coding

If you’re a newbie in the world of coding in general, it’s important to learn some basic terms in this niche. For starters, control structures are the elements of a program that decide what variables to implement, based on the given requests. Variables, on the other hand, refer to the principles of keeping data stored in a program. Requesting a variable will take you to stored data. Syntax is a group of rules applied in the grammatical system of every programming language.

Data structures are different strategies for saving and using data on your computer. Finally, tools are specific features that help you code at a certain level and speed.

Coding creativity going social

Being a creative coder means both using programming languages and APIs to deliver new solutions. An aspiring creative coder needs to consider working via both downloaded tools and online options. For example, Flickr isn’t only a reliable stock photo website. It also provides some useful features for creative coders. If you use the flickr.photos.search endpoint, you can filter the content on this website using more advanced criteria, like the location or license terms.

Similarly, Instagram offers some advanced options for coding artists. Every Instagram knows how to search this social network for images, videos, and hashtags. Still, it can give you some more advanced API options when you register for a creative coding project. Going by what the people behind this new master’s degree in interaction design teach us, modern creative coders need to handle a vast array of features. Using these two websites, as well as some other social channels, will certainly enhance your professional experience as a creative coder.

Authentic visuals on the go

Being a creative coder includes using some authentic visuals to deliver original solutions. Original inputs are an important part of this process. That’s why creative coders should implement as many original visual inputs as possible to form a stock of practical solutions. The easiest way to do that is to take photos with your own camera. Still, it’s not always easy to find the right photo motive in your environment for your design needs.

This is where stock photos can come in handy. One of the most practical advantages of these websites is their constant accessibility. By accessing and editing these photos on the go, you can get ahead of the curve and become more efficient in your creative coding projects.

Practical aspects of creative coding

Modern brands have been implementing creative coding to differentiate themselves from their competition. Some of them publish their solutions with integrated Javascript elements. This enables coding artists and designers to apply their creativity in these solutions. When a brand gives such a chance to programmers and designers, it becomes more attractive and interesting to them. If you would like to play with such options, visit the Adobe website or any other well-known brand to test your skills and creativity.

Apart from that, coding draws more attention in various industries. From virtual and augmented reality to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, every modern innovation includes coding. This only means that talented and educated creative coders will have a multitude of options at their disposal in the future.

Entering the world of programming can be a demanding task even for versatile designers. But it’s important to remember that a designer who can code is still a rare species. So, if you’re already working as a UI or UX designer, learning how to code will turn you into a wanted creative coder. Don’t hesitate to start learning creative coding even if you have no experience in either design or programming. Learning the basics of creative programming will put you on the right course from day one.

Article written by Jennifer Hahn Masterson, Lead Content Strategist at Spread the Word Solutions.