Kickstarter

DesignBlocks is an open-source, web-based visual programming language that makes it easy to control lines, shapes, colors and images to create generative and interactive artworks. It uses the same visual grammar as the Scratch programming language, but has a vocabulary more suited for visual art and design. Inspired by Processing, DesignBlocks aims to make programming more accessible to artists and visually-minded people. This programming environment invites people to try commands and tinker with concepts to make programming more intuitive and discoverable, without relying on obscure syntax or discouraging error messages. The programs can then be shared and viewed through the public DesignBlocks website. With supplemental documentation and teaching materials, DesignBlocks can also be used to explore programming in an educational setting.

DesignBlocks has already been prototyped in Flash ActionScript and tested by a handful of artists and educators.  However, in order for DesignBlocks to become more robust and complete, it needs more features, plenty of bug fixes and it needs to be ported to JavaScript/HTML5 (for mobile access). This summer, I'd like to work on DesignBlocks to get it to a suitable state for widespread testing. There are some teachers already planning to use DesignBlocks in their classrooms this fall, and I'd like to get this new version ready for them and also make it more widely available.

• Port the current application and website over to JavaScript/HTML5
  
• Fix current bugs
• Add SVG output
• Test on portable Internet tablets that support HTML5
• Add a better commenting system to the website
• Make an offline version available for users without Internet access
• Create a forum for users to connect and support each other
• Begin user testing and collecting feedback
• Publish the source code under the GPL license
• Add a Spanish translation
• Update the support documentation

• Support test users over email
• Continue testing and collecting user feedback

Advisors: Casey Reas and Andrés Monroy-Hernández

Thank you for your interest in DesignBlocks!