Present at an SFCDI Gathering
Visual programming has reshaped how designers approach complex geometry, turning intricate structural problems into readable, node-based workflows. By replacing repetitive manual steps with visual logic, practitioners can iterate faster and explore more design options within the same working day. The result is a more transparent process, where decisions about form, performance, and fabrication remain visible to the whole project team rather than buried in lengthy scripts that only a few specialists can interpret.
San Francisco has long served as a meeting point for architects, engineers, and software developers experimenting with parametric tools. The citys mix of academic research, startup culture, and large-scale building projects creates a natural audience for conversations about computational methods. Local gatherings tend to focus on practical workflows, comparing how different visual programming environments handle tasks like solar analysis, structural optimization, and data-driven modeling for the built environment.
Monthly community events offer an accessible way to stay current with emerging techniques without committing to a full conference. Presenters often share live demonstrations rather than polished slide decks, which makes the technical content more approachable for newcomers. Attendees can follow along with screen captures, replay recorded sessions later, and return to demonstration files at their own pace, extending the value of a single evening well beyond the scheduled time slot.
Speakers who share their work with the community typically highlight real projects alongside experimental research, giving the audience a balanced view of what visual programming can accomplish in practice. Case studies often explore how parametric thinking influenced early design decisions, how teams coordinated between disciplines, and how automated documentation reduced errors during construction. These honest accounts of challenges and revisions help others avoid common pitfalls in their own workflows.
Submitting a proposal to present is an opportunity to contribute to a shared body of knowledge that supports the wider community. Sessions range from introductory overviews of node-based logic to advanced explorations of simulation, optimization, and digital twin workflows. By documenting and presenting their methods, contributors help ensure that computational design remains an open, collaborative discipline rather than a collection of isolated techniques held within individual studios.
SFCDI brings together programmers, developers, architects, engineers, and designers who meet monthly in San Francisco to exchange workflows and case studies in computational design. We welcome professionals who want to present their work to this community of visual programming enthusiasts.
Past sessions have featured speakers such as Achintya Bhat, Zigmund Rubel, Arturo Tedeschi, Phil Langley, Satoru Sugihara, Dave Alpert, Michael Hoppe, Mac Dean, Robert Otani, and Ehsan Iran-Nejad, covering subjects from stadium design and digital twins to AI in MEP engineering.
Topics We're Interested In
- Visual Programming
- BIM Coordination
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital Twins
- Generative Design
- Structural Optimization
Presentations can draw on real project workflows, research, or case studies relevant to architecture, engineering, and construction practice.
Who Should Speak
Professionals and practitioners working with visual programming, digital design tools, or computational workflows in the building industry are encouraged to propose a session.
What to Prepare
A short outline of your topic, the tools or methods involved, and how it connects to computational design practice helps us plan each monthly gathering.
Get in Touch
If you would like to propose a presentation for a future SFCDI meeting, reach out through our contact page or connect with us on social media.