Modern UI/UX design is built upon concepts much older than computers. This talk uncovers how ideas from the history of geometry continue to shape the ways we define and render interfaces today. Our main use case will be the curved line. We’ll trace geometric curves construction, from Greek straightedge and compass and other "cheats", to Renaissance engineers and artists, and all the way to the Bézier curves introduced in the 1960s, which now power every smooth shape rendered in SVG paths across the web. Through interactive demos, we’ll explore what can be constructed with these historic tools, the principles behind 2D graphics, and how browsers render them. Along the way, we’ll discover how we’re part of a long heritage of engineers that that shaped the way we do things. SVG and modern web design are just a small part of this evolving, intertwined legacy of geometry that guides how we experience and build our digital world. This talk is for developers and engineers of any background, who want to rethink how the interfaces around us truly work. Prepare to get inspired, and to discover how blending math, history, and art can lead to richer, more expressive, and, simply, more enjoyable digital environments.
Room: Room 2
Tue, Oct 28th, 9:00 - 9:30