In 2015, I collaborated with the Carbone Smolan Agency (CSA) to create a series of generative art pieces for Boston Consulting Group’s new website. The goal was to develop a unique visual representation for each of BCG’s 40 consulting areas, resulting in 40 distinct generative art pieces, each driven by the specific language of the consulting area’s challenge statements.
To achieve this, I built a custom application using C++, OpenGL 3.3+, and Cinder. The application featured three different visual systems—Landscapes, Trails, and Voronoi—each designed to interpret and visualize the challenge statements in a unique way. For example, in one approach, the words from a challenge statement were used as nodes in a 3D force graph, simulated entirely on the GPU using transform feedback, a modern OpenGL technique for manipulating data buffers. This force graph then influenced a soft-body spherical mesh, which was shaded based on the distances between the nodes, creating a dynamic visual narrative around the core concepts.
In another system, the force graph was used to generate vortex and centrifugal force fields, which drove the motion of a particle system visualized as flowing ribbons. Each visual system was supported by custom GLSL shaders that created sophisticated lighting and shading effects, adding depth and dimensionality to the forms.
The application was designed to run in real-time, enabling the team at CSA to explore various configurations interactively and save out ultra-high resolution renders for both print and digital assets. To facilitate this creative exploration, I developed a new UI system specifically for Cinder, giving the team precise control over the visual elements and parameters of each piece.
The final result was a collection of elegant, data-driven visualizations that captured the complexity and individuality of each consulting area, providing a compelling visual language for BCG’s new digital presence.
Agency: Carbone Smolan Agency
Designer & Developer: Reza Ali
Project Lead: Katie Sharrow-Reabe & Sarah Lowndes
Output: High-Resolution Images & Custom Software (C++, Cinder, glNext)
Year: 2015