Some of my research entailed learning more about computational origami or combining origami with mathematic or scientific applications. It amazes me how much information you can find within the folds of an origami piece. And, as you could have guessed, a lot of math goes into inventing new forms. The logic gates in my series, AND and OR, reference flat origami patterns from "Flat Origami Is Turing Complete", a paper that came out this year.
I inevitably settled on computational thinking because this way of problem-solving is ubiquitous. Truly anyone of any age can explore these processes. Since Jeanette Wing’s paper “Computational Thinking” came out in 2006, there has been a major push for these skills to be taught to children early in their development. One reason is that the rise of technology in our ever-changing world is leading to more complex problems. Now, the challenge is developing a shared paradigm for these thought processes.
After realizing no precise definition for computational thinking exists, my motivations for the project shifted. Initially, I was only curious about representing something digital in an analog way. However, the ambiguity I encountered led me to believe in the importance of shining a light on this topic and for there to be more of a consensus on what computational thinking entails so that we can teach it. For now, Comp·you·tational is my brief on it.
Conveying these ideas through paper is a powerful tactile experience and illustrates the connections between digital and physical environments. Reading and flipping through the booklets is intuitive, which makes the content easy to digest.
The booklets are colorful and have random access, meaning you can pick up and read each one in any order, which partially alludes to childhood and self-guided Montessori learning. Combining these rainbow colors with minimal typography gives the booklets a sophisticated touch and appeals to a large audience. The reading experience is fun, engaging, interactive, and reflective.
I want to thank my instructor, Kristine Matthews, and my peers from the design program here at UW. Special thanks also go to Jayme Yen for her invaluable guidance, my friends Krista Matuska, Canon Cole, my sisters Broden Crotty and Piper Crotty, and the rest of my family and friends. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my capstone project with you; I could not have done it without you.