Will MacNeil: Found the Perfect Mixture of Houdini, Generative Design or AI | Forward Festival

Digital artist Will MacNeil from The Mill is on a quest to find new ways to tell stories visually and Houdini is his loved and trusted horse. In this talk, Will looks at his latest projects which range from a basic system for creating rips in paper to a realtime system for visualising brainwaves from an EEG. He’ll also talk about his determination to find meaningful and ethical uses for machine learning tools and demo a few of these. And of course Will also drops in a few of The Mill’s latest Houdini jobs. There will be something for anyone interested in Houdini, generative design or AI.

Working as a creative director in the experience team at The Mill, Will MacNeil orchestrates award-winning projects focusing on innovative image-making techniques across films, installations, and interactive media. Known for his exploration of AI applications and cutting-edge interactive interfaces, Will has led notable endeavors such as the EE Hope United generative shirt project and Art Fund’s National Art Pass, Art to Brainwaves, viral installation. His portfolio also includes contributions to high-profile events like the Winter Olympics closing ceremony and the Lush Spa Experience data visualization film.

00:17 Intro & Work Range
04:31 Using Houdini
15:29 AI and Creativity
26:02 AI in Practical Use
30:28 Training & Stereotypes
31:01 Human Creativity
33:12 Real-time Animation
34:54 Brain Activity & Data Vis
39:06 Real-time Design System
40:08 Art Gallery & Tour