This course teaches TouchDesigner, a node-based program for building real-time visuals. Students build a new network every week, starting with a simple color palette and working up to audio-reactive and 3D work. The semester ends with a live group performance.
This is a 3-credit course, following CalArts’ standard credit-hour policy: 45 hours of work per credit for BFA students, 60 hours per credit for Masters students. That comes to 135 total hours for BFA students and 180 for Masters students across the semester. In-class time adds up to about 25.7 hours over the semester. The rest is independent work: roughly 7.8 hours a week for BFA students, and roughly 11 hours a week for Masters students.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to TouchDesigner, a leading platform for interactive visual design. Students explore audio reactivity and dynamic visuals, introduction to 3D modeling and rendering, essential TouchDesigner components and workflows, and building interactive, real-time visual systems. No prior TouchDesigner experience is necessary.
A typical 1h50m session opens with a few minutes for questions, then moves straight into building that week’s network for the rest of class. There usually isn’t time for a separate lecture or homework preview; that’s part of why every session is recorded.
Masters students additionally build toward leading interdisciplinary teams on the required group final, independent research beyond what’s shown in class, and articulating the thinking behind spatial and visual work.
Each class gets recorded and the network isn’t shared as a file. Homework is: recreate that day’s network from what you saw (plus the recording if needed), then add one new operator you found and explored yourself. Due 11:59 PM the night of class, then submission closes, no late work.
Final project: identical structure and deadlines to Coding Music Fundamentals and Coding Art Fundamentals. See Final Project below.
Assignment: recreate today’s network, plus a new TOP you found on your own.
Assignment: recreate today’s network, plus a new operator.
Assignment: recreate today’s network, plus a new operator.
Assignment: recreate today’s network, plus a new operator.
Assignment: recreate today’s network, plus a new operator.
Assignment: pick one or two techniques from the network and fold them into your midterm piece.
A TouchDesigner piece with a custom color palette, at least one animated or reactive component, and the Week 3 or Week 5 technique and/or audio reactivity. No fixed time slot; scheduling is coordinated across all three classes.
Assignment: recreate today’s network, plus a new operator.
Assignment: recreate today’s network, plus a new operator. This week is also the deadline to have your final group formed (minimum 2, maximum 3).
Assignment: recreate today’s network, plus a new operator. Your group’s presentation slot for Dec 2 also goes out this week.
OSC/MIDI in from ChucK and openFrameworks classmates.
Shared remote day. A new pre-made “2D+3D Compile” reference network for final-project use, plus 1:1 help for cross-tool OSC/MIDI wiring. Specs for the Week 14 digital submission go out today.
In-person, required group performance, 1 to 6 PM. Your slot within that window was assigned in Week 10.
Recorded performance due, along with the required remote AI workshop, including a TouchDesigner-specific segment (attendance counts toward your final project grade, see Grading), and your Digital Expo portfolio.
This is a live group performance, in person, on Wednesday, December 2, within the 1–6 PM window. This matches Coding Music Fundamentals and Coding Art Fundamentals exactly. Solo projects are not allowed.
Attendance at the Week 14 AI workshop counts for 10% of your final project grade. If you miss it, you lose that part of your grade.
If you miss 3 or more classes without an excused absence, you will receive a No Credit for the course. Sign in every class. Sessions are recorded, so you can catch up on content after a missed class, but that doesn’t count as attendance credit.