TouchDesigner 101 Intensive:
Creating Interactive Installations and Generative Art
Spots are limited, enroll by February 15 to secure yours!
Over the last several years, TouchDesigner has risen to prominence as a leading software tool used to create immersive experiences, interactive installations, performance tools for lighting/live shows, and generative visuals.
This intensive course focuses on an interactive installation and generative art perspective, and will cover methods of visual experimentation and project building for installations. Over the course of 12 weeks participants will learn TouchDesigner from the ground up, starting with foundational skills including the basics of the interface, node-based programming techniques, and best practices for development and organization. Once the foundations have been covered, participants will take a deeper dive into textures, 3D geometry (including procedural techniques and particles), rendering, UI building, utilizing Python within the software, and more.
The workshop is a great way for new users of TouchDesigner to build a foundational knowledge of the software and to start experimenting with the same techniques that are used by experienced developers and artists alike.
Over the course of the program, students will learn the technical skills and gain the creative inspiration to create an interactive artwork that will be on display at the Gray Area gallery.
TouchDesigner 101 Student Work:
Course Logistics
Enrollment Deadline: February 15, 2026
Dates:
◦ February 28 – May 16, 2026.
◦ 12-week long course, once a week on Saturdays.
Times:
◦ 10 AM – 1 PM PT / 1 – 4 PM ET / 5 – 8 PM GMT
Location: Online
Cost:
- $1800 for Live Online Access
- $900 for Audit Access (weekly recording access, released after each session)
- Payment plans available: 3 monthly installments. Email [email protected] for more information.
Scholarship: We also offer Diversity Scholarships.
Apply by February 15, 2026. Scholarship notifications will be sent within 1 week after the deadline.
Experience Level: No prior experience with TouchDesigner or Python is expected from participants.
Requirements:
▪ A laptop or desktop – Mac or PC. Check out the system requirements for TouchDesigner, found at this page: https://derivative.ca/UserGuide/System_Requirements to ensure your computer is ready for TouchDesigner.
▪ Get a Free License for TouchDesigner – Available by creating an account on Derivative’s website: https://derivative.ca. The free non-commercial license will be all you need for the workshop.
▪ Download, Install and Activate TouchDesigner – Before joining the first day of class, have the latest version of TouchDesigner downloaded, installed, and activated on your machine!
▪ Download and Install a Text Editor – Visual Studio Code is a popular free option.
▪ A three button mouse is highly recommended — the TouchDesigner interface is specifically designed to be used with a three button mouse with a scroll wheel. Laptop track pads will work in a pinch, but you’ll be much happier with an actual mouse.
▪ If using a laptop, make sure to have your power supply accessible. Depending on what you’re doing, TouchDesigner can drain your battery pretty fast!
Additional Information:
• No Refunds or Exchanges.
• View our FAQ here.
• Contact [email protected] with any questions.
Course Outline
- Week 1: February 28 Welcome, Introduction to TouchDesigner: UI, Workflow, Uses
- Week 2: March 7 TOPs: Shapes, External Media, Intro to Compositing, Intro to Effects
- Week 3: March 14 TOPs: Compositing and Effects Continued, Expressions; Intro to CHOPs
- Week 4: March 21 CHOPs: Device Input, Generating and Processing Control Signals
- Week 5: March 28 POPs: Procedural Geometry Techniques
- Week 6: April 4 POPs Cont., SOPs: Overview and Comparison to POPs, 3D Rendering: Rendering Pipeline, Applying Materials with MATs
- Week 7: April 11 Rendering Continued: PBR Material, Instancing, Particles
- Week 8: April 18 COMPs: Building UIs, Output to External Displays
- Week 9: April 25 DATs: Tables, Python Scripting, Retrieving API Data
- Week 10: May 2 Advanced Techniques: Render Picking, Physics Simulation
- Week 11: May 9 Advanced Techniques: Pose Tracking
- Week 12: May 16 Advanced Techniques: Tools for Projection Mapping
- Week 13: May 23 Extra Class/Rain Date if required
Educational Goals:
- Best practices for development and organization
- Experience working with 2D Textures and Effects, including:
- Incorporating external media, playback and cueing of video and audio files
- Techniques for creating generative artwork
- Experience creating and working with 3D Geometry, including:
- Procedural geometry tools
- Particle systems
- Instancing
- Experience rendering 3D Geometry, including the use of:
- Cameras
- Lighting
- Materials
- An overview of techniques for building user interfaces
- An introduction to using Python within TouchDesigner
Become a Gray Area Member for early access to our workshops and courses, and up to 20% off.
Gray Area Members enjoy extraordinary access to our interdisciplinary arts & education programs, while supporting our mission to catalyze creative action for social transformation. Get free admission, exclusive content, and more!
