https://www.marcotraverso.it Parametric/Procedural 3D Modeling and Concept Design Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:29:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametric-subd-car-body-template-in-grasshopper/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametric-subd-car-body-template-in-grasshopper/#respond Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:29:43 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=752 Introduction This project is part of my ongoing parametric modeling research, combining consultancy work with personal projects that test new 3D methods. It focuses on a Grasshopper definition that can generate a clean basic car body SubD geometry from a set of dimensions, parameters, and a few guiding curves or surfaces. The aim is to […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametric-subd-car-body-template-in-grasshopper/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/blender-add-on-live-link-between-rhino-grasshopper-and-blender/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/blender-add-on-live-link-between-rhino-grasshopper-and-blender/#comments Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:32:25 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=666 As part of my work with clients it is often necessary to integrate and automate the modeling and visualization pipelines. For many projects I'm using a combination of Rhino / Grasshopper for 3D modeling and design and Blender for rendering and visualization. To streamline the workflow, I've been developing a Blender add-on with a live […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/blender-add-on-live-link-between-rhino-grasshopper-and-blender/feed/ 1 https://www.marcotraverso.it/art-deco-inspired-wrist-watch-concept/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/art-deco-inspired-wrist-watch-concept/#respond Tue, 24 May 2022 15:29:38 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=579 The initial idea for this concept was to use number of 3D patterns to model a wrist watch with a retro, art-déco inspired style. The idea expanded and the final parametric model includes almost all the different components: the case, the full dial design, the bracelet and details such as the crown, case back with […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/art-deco-inspired-wrist-watch-concept/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-039-parametric-facade-with-glass-blocks/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-039-parametric-facade-with-glass-blocks/#respond Mon, 28 Jun 2021 13:50:36 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=563 This design is the result of an adaptation of a parametric definition created for something completely different: a steel bracelet for a wrist watch. It proves how interesting it is to experiment with quantity and scale - which I believe it's one of the greatest benefits that creative designers can get from working with parametric […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-039-parametric-facade-with-glass-blocks/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-038-led-display-segments-pattern/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-038-led-display-segments-pattern/#respond Tue, 22 Jun 2021 12:25:23 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=556 The idea for this pattern was to use the typical seven-segments LED display design as the basis for a geometric pattern, and to create an algorithm capable of varying the main geometric features along the surface without breaking the pattern continuity and producing a SubD-compatible output. Starting with an input mesh, the parametric model creates […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-038-led-display-segments-pattern/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-037-abstract-sci-fi-3d-shape/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-037-abstract-sci-fi-3d-shape/#respond Mon, 24 Aug 2020 07:35:37 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=538 This design is based on the same Grasshopper definition of the previous entry. In this case the Mesh Pipes have a bigger maximum radius and the effect is very different. The lighting effect was achieved by dividing the shapes in groups and assigning them different materials in Blender. The image was rendered in Cycles. The […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-037-abstract-sci-fi-3d-shape/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-036-abstract-shape-with-3d-wires/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-036-abstract-shape-with-3d-wires/#respond Thu, 09 Jul 2020 11:38:41 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=518 This type of geometry can be achieved using different techniques. In this case the base curves are generated from the intersection between a surface and a set of planes perpendicular to a spine curve. Since the wires diameter are very small, the images lose a lot of quality when resized, so here is a detail: […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-036-abstract-shape-with-3d-wires/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-035-3d-grille-pattern-using-subd/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-035-3d-grille-pattern-using-subd/#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2020 18:05:12 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=512 This grille was created using a Grasshopper definition based on SubD modeling. The geometry is built starting from curves, which are then converted to polylines in such a ways so that by connecting them the result is a clean, all-quad topology. In the above animation, the small jumps indicate the changes in the mesh topology […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-035-3d-grille-pattern-using-subd/feed/ 1 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-034-hexagonal-pattern-with-triangular-tessellation/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-034-hexagonal-pattern-with-triangular-tessellation/#respond Fri, 29 May 2020 13:05:54 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=501 This pattern design is based on an hexagonal grid. A consists of two steps: in the first one the hexagons are divided into triangles, and for a subset of them the triangles are further divided into four triangles using a triangle subdivision. In the second step, each triangle is used to generate a inner hole […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-034-hexagonal-pattern-with-triangular-tessellation/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametric-design-in-motion-interwoven-pattern/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametric-design-in-motion-interwoven-pattern/#respond Mon, 25 May 2020 14:21:19 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=494 I've always found fascinating the ability to demonstrate a parametric models by displaying the different shapes that an object can have through an animation. While this is relatively simple to do within the Rhino basic viewport, I explored different ways for doing it using a more advanced renderer and a more photorealistic look. The animation […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametric-design-in-motion-interwoven-pattern/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/custom-3d-printable-face-mask-based-on-3d-face-scan/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/custom-3d-printable-face-mask-based-on-3d-face-scan/#respond Mon, 04 May 2020 15:13:20 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=480 A web-based tool under development that allows to upload a 3D scan of a face and to generate a customized, 3D printable face mask. ]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/custom-3d-printable-face-mask-based-on-3d-face-scan/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/dsurf-design-and-digital-surfaces-for-distributed-manufacturing/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/dsurf-design-and-digital-surfaces-for-distributed-manufacturing/#respond Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:23:56 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=449 I had the pleasure to talk at the recent Seminar titled DSURF, organized by the BSc in Design and the MSc in Product Design at the Sapienza University in Rome. During my presentation I had the opportunity to show students some of the potential applications of computational design, from the more technical ones to the […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/dsurf-design-and-digital-surfaces-for-distributed-manufacturing/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/free-webinar-parametric-3d-modeling-techniques-in-rhino-and-grasshopper/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/free-webinar-parametric-3d-modeling-techniques-in-rhino-and-grasshopper/#respond Mon, 28 Oct 2019 16:04:09 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=461 This webinar was streamed on October 23, 2019. I presented present a number of real-world 3D modeling applications, including concept models and complex 3D patterns, showing different modeling techniques that use NURBS, Meshes (subdivision surfaces) and the new SubD geometries. My goal was to demonstrate some of the 3D capabilities of Grasshopper as well as […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/free-webinar-parametric-3d-modeling-techniques-in-rhino-and-grasshopper/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-032/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-032/#respond Thu, 26 Sep 2019 10:07:46 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=442 This is a little experiment - the first in a series - that combines generative shapes modeled with Grasshopper with an animation made with the new Eevee realtime render engine included in Blender 2.80. The original geometry is a variant of the Möbius generative shape, with the mesh extrusion extruded inwards. The geometry was generated […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-032/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/interactive-3d-parametric-tower-design/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/interactive-3d-parametric-tower-design/#respond Mon, 02 Sep 2019 17:41:38 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=429 After the recent car rim design, this is a new demonstration of a parametric model done with Grasshopper and published through the ShapeDiver platform. This time the parametric model is capable of generating a variety of tower designs, allowing to specify the overall shape and dimensions, the type of balcony pattern style - using different […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/interactive-3d-parametric-tower-design/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/interview-on-shapediver/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/interview-on-shapediver/#respond Wed, 12 Jun 2019 11:45:08 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=398 I've been interviewed by the team at ShapeDiver for their Designers Corner series: if you want to know a little bit of my background and my views on parametric design and  its relation with the automotive industry here is the full interview. Also make sure to check out the other episodes in the series. Thanks […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/interview-on-shapediver/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/interactive-parametric-car-wheel-design/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/interactive-parametric-car-wheel-design/#respond Fri, 26 Apr 2019 20:20:13 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=373 An interactive, parametric 3D model of a Car Wheel that shows how it's possible to publish Grasshopper 3D models online through ShapeDiver.]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/interactive-parametric-car-wheel-design/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/designing-3d-patterns-with-rhino-and-grasshopper-webinar-recording-video/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/designing-3d-patterns-with-rhino-and-grasshopper-webinar-recording-video/#respond Fri, 29 Mar 2019 12:23:08 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=361 Below is the recording of the webinar organized in collaboration with Novedge and held on 13 March 2019, for those who have not participated or want to watch it again. The webinar gives an overview of possible strategies and workflow for creating 3D patterns using Grasshopper for Rhino. The event has received a very positive […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/designing-3d-patterns-with-rhino-and-grasshopper-webinar-recording-video/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-031/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-031/#respond Thu, 28 Mar 2019 20:03:51 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=354 This is  variant of the recent diamond pattern. The diamond panels are similarly split into triangles, then one of the points is offset from the surface, with a distance driven by a point attractor. The different combinations of possible mesh subdivisions would also allow to create more organic, almost natural shapes starting from the same […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-031/feed/ 0 https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-030/ https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-030/#respond Wed, 20 Mar 2019 12:58:50 +0000 https://www.marcotraverso.it/?p=344 For today's entry I'm using a Grasshopper parametric definition to create an imaginary architectural structure. The mesh geometry created with Grasshopper was then imported in Blender 2.8, where I created a procedural material and setup a simple scene that gives the tower a rather menacing look. With this image - and new ones to come […]]]> https://www.marcotraverso.it/parametricdaily-030/feed/ 0