What are some best practices for documenting and sharing your parametric design process?

1 Plan your goals and scope

Before you start coding or modeling, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your parametric design, and what are the constraints and parameters that will guide your decisions. Planning your goals and scope will help you focus your design process, avoid unnecessary complexity, and communicate your intentions to others. You can use tools like mind maps, sketches, diagrams, or flowcharts to outline your goals and scope, and keep them updated as you progress.

2 Choose the right tools and platforms

Depending on your design goals and scope, you may need to use different tools and platforms to create and share your parametric design. For example, you may use software like Grasshopper, Dynamo, or Processing to create your parametric models, scripts, or animations, and platforms like Shapeways, Thingiverse, or Sketchfab to share your 3D prints, models, or interactive views. You should choose the tools and platforms that best suit your needs, preferences, and audience, and learn how to use them effectively and efficiently.

3 Document your code and model

One of the most important aspects of documenting your parametric design process is to document your code and model. This means adding comments, annotations, labels, or descriptions to explain the logic, function, and purpose of your code and model elements. Documenting your code and model will help you understand, debug, and modify your parametric design, as well as make it easier for others to follow, reuse, or adapt your work. You should document your code and model as you go, using consistent and clear language and formatting.

4 Organize your files and folders

Another important aspect of documenting your parametric design process is to organize your files and folders. This means naming, sorting, and storing your files and folders in a logical and structured way that reflects your design process and goals. Organizing your files and folders will help you access, manage, and backup your parametric design, as well as make it easier for others to find, view, or download your work. You should organize your files and folders as you go, using consistent and descriptive naming conventions and hierarchies.

5 Showcase your results and insights

The final step of documenting and sharing your parametric design process is to showcase your results and insights. This means presenting your parametric design in a way that highlights its features, benefits, and challenges, and reflects your design goals and scope. Showcasing your results and insights will help you demonstrate your skills, creativity, and learning outcomes, as well as inspire, inform, or engage others with your work. You can use tools like screenshots, videos, slides, or portfolios to showcase your results and insights, and add captions, titles, or summaries to provide context and narrative.

6 Share your work and feedback

The last but not least best practice for documenting and sharing your parametric design process is to share your work and feedback. This means publishing, distributing, or exhibiting your parametric design to reach your intended audience, and soliciting, receiving, or giving feedback to improve your work or learn from others. Sharing your work and feedback will help you gain exposure, recognition, or opportunities for your parametric design, as well as build connections, collaborations, or communities with other parametric designers. You can use platforms like blogs, forums, social media, or events to share your work and feedback, and be respectful, constructive, and open-minded in your interactions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?