Cultivating curiosity in creative coding with Matthew Ragan
SEP 26, 202531 MIN
Cultivating curiosity in creative coding with Matthew Ragan
SEP 26, 202531 MIN
Description
<p>In this podcast you will learn why curiosity matters more than technical skill. </p><p>In this interview, Matthew Ragan explores coding as a practice of sculpting and rehearsal, showing how collaboration with technology leads to more fluid and sustainable creative outcomes.Matthew Ragan is a California-based creative technologist, educator, and co-founder of SudoMagic. He has an MFA in interdisciplinary digital media and performance. His TouchDesigner tutorials are used by creatives worldwide.</p><p>Listen to this podcast to learn about:</p><ul><li>Why curiosity and patience matter more than technical skill in creative coding</li></ul><ul><li>What Matthew Ragan’s circus training revealed about working with technology as a collaborator rather than an obstacle.</li></ul><ul><li>Why “slow coding” offers a sustainable counterbalance to the culture of instant results.</li></ul><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>(00:00:00) Introduction and host's acknowledgment</p><p>(00:00:48) Guest introduction: Matthew Ragan</p><p>(00:01:15) The importance of curiosity in creative coding</p><p>(00:02:31) Exploring noise algorithms and sculpting</p><p>(00:05:08) Lessons from circus performance to coding</p><p>(00:07:17) Balancing creative and commercial projects</p><p>(00:09:15) Matthew's journey into coding</p><p>(00:22:03) Choosing the right tools and languages</p><p>(00:24:03) Advice for newcomers and final thoughts</p><p>(00:30:55) Conclusion and call to action</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>About Matthew Ragan</strong></p><p>Matthew Ragan is a California-based creative technologist, educator, and artist whose work bridges performance and technology. With a background in acting, dance, and circus arts, he brings embodied lessons of rehearsal and collaboration into his creative coding practice. He has shaped a generation of artists through his widely used TouchDesigner tutorials, and professionally he has led large-scale projects at Obscura Digital and the Madison Square Garden Company, including Art on theMart and the MSG Sphere. He is the co-founder of SudoMagic, a boutique software and design studio.</p><p><strong>Links from the podcast with Matthew Ragan</strong></p><ul><li>Visit Matthew Ragan’s <a href="https://matthewragan.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a></li><li>Explore Matthew Ragan’s <a href="https://matthewragan.com/teaching-resources/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">teaching resources</a></li><li>Visit <a href="https://sudomagic.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SudoMagic</a>, the studio he co-founded</li><li>Follow Matthew Ragan on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/raganmd" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li><li>See Matthew Ragan’s <a href="https://github.com/raganmd" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GitHub projects</a></li><li>Discover <a href="https://derivative.ca/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TouchDesigner</a>, the platform central to his teaching and creative coding practice</li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.python.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Python</a>, a core scripting language in his work</li><li>Watch Matthew’s masterclass for Interactive & Immersive HQ: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHsEBOm0NVc" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How to approach building a real project</a> on YouTube</li></ul>