If you like the idea of using machines for more individual products you would do us a big favor by telling others about it and this web page. Of course you can also contact us, especially if there was some problem or you have suggestions.
Companies and artists interested in becoming actively involved are welcome, in that case please read the corresponding cooperation section below. Last but not least we offer a range of services for businesses, for example integration with web pages and tailored Corporate Design solutions.

• Feedback, mailing list and general contact
• idiofact module for your webpage
• Artists/Designers - Call for cooperation
• Business - Services and cooperation

Your feedback is very important to us! Please send any comments to feedback@idiofact.de
There also is a mailing list for idiofact.de. Any news concerning this generative design webpage will be posted there, e.g. new design algorithms or new products among other things. To stay tuned send an e-mail to idiofact-subscribe@googlegroups.com. The archive is here.
This webpage was developed by Johannes Knabe, general and contact information is available here.

Got a blog or your own webpage and want to show idiofact to your visitors? The new iframe-demo gives you an eye catching interactive element for you page, while only using 222x222 pixels and a foolproof button-free user interface.
Try the example on the right - the designs of one generation are shown in a slideshow, if you click on one the next generation is generated on the basis of this selection.
Just copy and paste the following code in the source code of your page:

<iframe src="http://boxdemo.idiofact.com" style="float:right; 
margin-left:15px; margin-bottom:5px;" width="222" height="222"
scrolling="no" name="idiofactBoxDemo" frameborder="0"><p>
<a target="_self" href="http://idiofact.de" 
onclick="javascript:window.open('http://boxdemo.idiofact.com','_blank','innerheight=238,innerwidth=222,height=280,width=240,scrollbars=no,status=no,toolbar=no'); return false">
Try idiofact!</a></p></iframe>

Or use a link instead of the embedded iframe:

<p><a target="_self" href="http://idiofact.de" onclick="javascript:window.open('http://boxdemo.idiofact.com','_blank','innerheight=238,innerwidth=222,height=280,width=240,scrollbars=no,status=no,toolbar=no'); return false">
Try idiofact!</a></p>

Thank you very much!

Currently we only have one generative algorithm in use, which was invented by Mike Blow. It is very handy as it quickly leads to interesting patterns so users don't have to be very patient - on the downside complexity does not increase over generations as the design space is strongly restricted, risking to bore users after a while. We are in the process of developing more generative algorithms to have something for every kind of user.
If you have ideas for a generative algorithm why not cooperate! Possible techniques could for example be Context Free Grammars or Fractals as "phenotypes". The webpage's interface is constructed very general so there are almost no limits to what your algorithm can do.
Please write to artists@idiofact.de to discuss all further particulars!

Some words about our services first: Are you organizing a conference or any other event where people might expect to get give-aways like badges, stickers, T-shirts? We can help you make them more special this time - individualized items get participants involved and will be valued higher. Whether on our web page, on yours or on the spot, our algorithms can be combined with your Corporate Design! Inquiries to business@idiofact.de please.
The idea of computer assisted design for personalized consumer goods is far more general than 2D pictures. This is why we look to cooperate with companies that are willing to pioneer this market. T-shirt design was only chosen as testbed as it was easy to implement; There are many companies that print shirts for you so there was no need for own hardware. Furthermore designing images one is almost unconstrained in the available primitives - from pixels you can make every form.
But with more and more people shopping online and the machines/robots involved in the creation of consumer goods becoming more versatile individualized consumer goods become possible - at almost no extra cost. Observing the constraint of keeping the goods intended original funtionality/ies and the available design primitives, there is still a huge range of alternative products possible that are neutral to function.
However it is not feasible to have the consumer - or somebody else working on her behalf - re-programme the production machines every time. Also to create such an indivdual design must not take too long in order to be acceptable by consumers. We propose to use Evolutionary Algorithms with user-controlled selection to bring affordable individual design to everyone. If you like the idea and are interested in discussing how this could enrich your business please send an e-mail to business@idiofact.de. Pretty much every product comes into question, from obvious ones as other textiles (e.g. knitwear) to cars.