Vibecheck: Building 3D Generative and Interactive Art with AI
Designed for beginner programmers, this workshop blends technical concepts with creative practice in generative and interactive art for the web. No prior experience with programming or AI is necessary.
In this 4-week beginner-friendly, online intensive, we’ll study 3D graphics programming concepts and build creative projects for the web with a mix of vibecoding and direct authorship of code. Incorporating technical vocabulary introduced during lectures and demos, we’ll craft prompts for AI code generation tools to build, refine, and debug creative projects. Scoping and project planning with AI tools will be an important topic of discussion throughout the class.
We’ll work with three.js to create animations and interactive experiences and discuss the results, building your design skills and ability to discuss creative work. We’ll also read and analyze code generated during your creative explorations to build your JavaScript coding literacy and get comfortable editing code directly.
Along the way, we’ll reflect on how AI tools impact the creative decisions, aesthetics, and scope for creative work.
Course Logistics
Dates:
Mondays, November 2 – 23, 2026
(Four sessions: November 2, 9, 16 + 23)
Times:
6 – 9 PM
Location:
Online
Cost:
$480
Experience Level:
Beginner
Scholarships:
Diversity Scholarships are available.
Apply by October 15, 2026 for a scholarship.
Prerequisites
No prior programming experience necessary.
Additional Information
- No refunds or exchanges
- View our FAQ here
- Contact [email protected] with any questions
What You’ll Learn
In this course, participants will:
- Write detailed prompts to vibecode generative art for the web and apply graphic design principles in color theory, form, typography to creative works
- Utilize technical vocabulary from computer graphics, animation, and user interface design to refine vibecoding results
- Use AI tools to debug issues in code and refine features
- Read and analyze code generated by AI tools
- Engage with artificial intelligence code generation tools and examine their potential, limitations, and risks
- Present and critique their own creative work and provide constructive feedback on the work of others
Course Outline
Week 1: Color and Form
- Introduction to key terminology in geometry for 3D graphics
- Introduction to writing prompts for creative work and reading code to analyze use of variables and functions
- Design expressive patterns by applying color theory to generative form
Week 2: Animation
- Create movement using easing and particle systems
- Write prompts to debug code and refine interactions
- Analyze use of objects and arrays in code
Week 3: Interaction
- Work with buttons, sliders, and standard user interface components to create rich applications
- Analyze user interaction code
Week 4: Systems
- Define rules for generative systems to create complex visuals
- Reflections on use of AI and creative authorship
About the Technologies
three.js is an easy-to-use, lightweight, cross-browser, general-purpose 3D library.
About Kate Hollenbach
Kate Hollenbach is an artist, programmer, and educator. She is passionate about using open source tools and teaching in interdisciplinary environments where art and technology meet. Kate is also a contributor to p5.js and serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Processing Foundation.
Before joining Gray Area, she was an Assistant Professor of Emergent Digital Practices at the University of Denver. In her creative practice, Kate creates video and interactive works examining critical issues in user interface and user experience design with a focus on user habits, data collection, and surveillance.
Her work is informed by years of professional experience as an interface designer and product developer. She has presented, published, and exhibited work in venues such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, SIGGRAPH, INST-INT, Piksel Festival, and Taper.
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