Programming for Artists: A Visual Language for Expressive Lighting Design

Programming is a process of formalizing and codifying knowledge, and, as a result, programming languages are designed for generalists trained in this process of formalization. Artists, whose training focuses on skill and tacit knowledge, are marginalized by existing tools. By designing visual languages that take advantage of an artist’s skills in visual perception and expression, we can allow that artist to take advantage of the expressive potential that modern computing offers. In particular, this paper will look at lighting design for interactive, virtual environments, and augmenting an existing programming language to allow artists to leverage their skills in the pragmatics of that medium.