A generative design exploration that pays homage to the algorithmic process of early 19th century Jacquard looms.

Produced as a limited run of woven throws by Throw & Co.​​​​​​​​​​

The mechanical Jacquard loom was a revolutionary invention for textile designers, but the device would also later inspire the workings of the first modern computers. Jacquard looms were fed with encoded instructions on punched cards that helped to automate the weaving process.

In the 1920s, IBM used the same punched card design to drive early computers. The cards are a precursor to today's textual programming languages, and an important step in the history of computing.

Like punched cards, modern computer languages encode sets of instructions for the computer to execute. In WOVEN·​​​​​​​CODES, a computer program was developed that produces a unique textile design each time the software is run.

A select output from the algorithm has been produced as a limited run of woven throws in collaboration with Throw & Co, currently available for purchase in their online store. The throws are woven with a modern and computerized successor to the original Jacquard loom.

The art style and generative algorithm is inspired by the influential textile artist Anni Albers (1899 – 1994), who would have worked directly with early devices like the Jacquard loom.

Design & Code: Matt DesLauriers

Production: Throw & Co

Photography: Throw & Co and Anaïs Zamboni