Agent Based Dreamcatcher

In this sketch, agents weave and wrap together to replicated the motions of actual thread. These threads then join at a number of central points. The only limitation given to the artist was to not draw the outlined curve generating the agents, but simply the agents themselves.

With this project, I aimed to simulate the creation of a dream catcher.  This involved the simulation of how thread weaves together.  That being said, I was able to simulate the movement of thread by applying a number of different agent forces.  Agents repel and attract each other at different radii to create a weaving effect, a distinct effect that is seen in many dream catchers.

I believe the outcome of this project somewhat supported the theory.  Many people, however, got the impression that this was a simulation river system beginning at a single point and expanding outward (similar to a watershed).

When the drawer is presented with the prompt, they have a number of decisions to make.  For example, "Do I trace the agents?", "Do I move from the inside of the shape out, or visa versa?", "When do I stop working on this piece?"  These decisions, outlined the result of the the final sketch.

Unfortunately, I think this project didn't take a user's drawing skill into effect as much as I would've hoped.  Most people that tried using my sketch ended up tracing the agents, creating a very cool, yet easily repeatable image.

I believe this project failed in it's original intention.  Most people didn't align with the idea that the sketch represented a dream catcher, but instead believed I created a way to simulate rivers or neurons.  I think this is an interesting result that prompts further investigation.

Sketches below are done by Kevyn McPhail and Brian Yang

Video for Project: http://youtu.be/I0LdJH46i44