180: Campfire Series - ‘The Dynamo Story’, with Ian Keough

In this special Campfire Series episode, Ian Keough joins the podcast to tell us the incredible origin story of Dynamo. He takes us on a journey through its evolution from a simple idea to becoming an essential tool in computational design.

In this conversation, Ian shares stories about Dynamo's development, including the challenges of transitioning from an independent project to becoming part of Autodesk, the technical hurdles they faced, and how the community played a crucial role in its success. We also discuss how Dynamo has transformed careers, created a new class of computational designers, and helped countless architects and designers learn programming. It's a story of innovation, perseverance, and the unexpected impact one tool can have on an entire industry.

Watch this Episode on YouTube:

Episode links:

Connect with the Guest

Ian Keough, widely recognized as the "father of Dynamo," is a leading figure in the AEC industry. Most recently he serves as the CEO and founder of Hypar, a platform designed to transform building design through computational methods.

• Ian Keough on LinkedIn
• Ian Keough on GitHub
• Hypar website
• Hypar on LinkedIn
• Ian Keough on the Getting Simple podcast

Books and Philosophies

• Hackers & Painters by Paul Graham
  • Amazon Link
  • Discusses how programming is a form of craftsmanship, aligning with the development of open-source tools like Dynamo.
• The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
  • Amazon Link
  • Explores iterative development and innovation, relevant to how Dynamo evolved in the AEC industry.

AEC Design Tools

• Dynamo for Revit
  • Official Website
  • Learn more about Dynamo, its history, and how it has transformed computational design in BIM workflows.
• Dynamo GitHub Repository
  • Dynamo Source Code
  • Explore the open-source repository of Dynamo and see its development over time.
• Dynamo Forum
  • Official Dynamo Community
  • Join discussions, ask questions, and explore shared Dynamo scripts.
• Hypar
  • Hypar Official Website
  • The next step in computational design automation, co-founded by Ian Keough.
• Digital Project
  • Wikipedia Link
  • CAD software based on CATIA V5 developed by Gehry Technologies, a company founded by the renowned architect Frank Gehry.
• Autodesk FormIt
  • Official Website
  • FormIt is an intuitive 3D sketching and modeling application designed for architects and designers to conceptualize and iterate building designs during the early stages of a project.
• AutoDesSys form•Z
  • Official Website
  • Tutorial videos Evan created in 2024 coinciding with the release of form•Z Pro v10.
  • form•Z is a comprehensive 3D modeling software renowned for its precision and versatility, catering to architects, designers, and digital artists.
• Microstation
  • Wikipedia Link
  • MicroStation is a comprehensive CAD software developed by Bentley Systems, tailored for infrastructure design and widely utilized in the architectural and engineering sectors.

Parametric & Visual Programming Tools

• ParaCloud GEM
  • ParaCloud GEM (5) Elements
  • ParaCloud GEM was an early generative design software application designed to populate mesh components over design models, facilitating the creation of intricate 3D structures.
• Grasshopper for Rhino
  • Grasshopper3D Website
  • A major influence on Dynamo’s development and a key tool in computational design.
• Food4Rhino
  • Food4Rhino Plugin Marketplace
  • A repository for Rhino and Grasshopper plugins, expanding their capabilities.
• Generative Components by Bentley
  • Generative Components Overview
  • A predecessor to Dynamo, used for parametric modeling in large-scale infrastructure projects.

Autodesk & Industry Insights

• Revit API Documentation
  • Revit Developer Center
  • Understand the API behind Revit and how it enables computational design workflows.
• Project Fractal
  • Autodesk Project Fractal
  • A research initiative exploring generative design with Dynamo.

Related TRXL Episodes

For more Campfire Series episodes and insights on computational design tools, open-source development in architecture, and innovative AEC technologies, check out these related episodes:

• TRXL 003: ‘A Local Maxima’, with Ian Keough
  • An early conversation on TRXL with Ian.
• TRXL 048: ‘How it Started; How it’s Going’, with Ian Keough and Clifton Harness
  • A discussion on the evolution of startups focusing on new tools in AEC.
• TRXL 175: ‘Realtime Decision Making’, with Ian Keough and Keith Fine
  • Exploring decision-making in design automation.
• TRXL 144: ‘The SketchUp Story’ with Brad Schell
  • The story of SketchUp, another influential AEC software.
• TRXL 176: ‘The Rhinoceros Story’, with Scott Davidson
  • A deep dive into the history of Rhinoceros3d.
• TRXL 095: ‘Super Janky’, with John Pierson
  • John is a Dynamo superuser.

About Ian Keough:

Ian's early work at Buro Happold identified a need for mobile applications to leverage BIM data. His software goBIM was acquired by Vela systems for their Vela Field product, which later became Autodesk's BIM 360 Field. His open-source visual programming language Dynamo has a worldwide community and now ships with Revit. He co-founded Hypar with Anthony Hauck in 2018 with a vision to deliver the worlds building expertise to everyone, instantly.

Connect with Evan

• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Twitter/X