Generative Artwork with HTML5

Wdd Logo.
December 09, 2010

It seems like we’re still just scratching the surface of what HTML5 is capable of, and different people and organizations come up with new uses and ideas all the time. MIX Online teamed up with Joshua Davis, the well-known digital generative artist, to create an open source HTML5 Canvas-based JavaScript library called Okapi. The technology behind the Okapi toolset was originally created for Endless Mural, an online art exhibition where users can create generative art. The creators were working on some HTML5-based apps for the beta launch of Internet Explorer 9, and Okapi became part of that project. The interface is slick and works really well, beautifully showcasing Okapi’s capabilities as well as the capabilities of HTML5’s canvas element. The great thing about Okapi is that because it’s open source, you can use it for your own creative projects. The framework makes it possible to create generative art in a way that was never before possible without a browser plugin. It works in any canvas-enabled browser (most modern browsers fall into this category). MIX Online is currently running a fantastic contest with Endless Mural where you can win $500 or a skateboard. All you need to do is follow them on Twitter, create and save a drawing in Endless Mural, and then send them a tweet about it. Just a quick warning: Endless Mural can be very addictive, so be prepared to potentially spend hours playing around with it. Just don’t spend too long: entries must be received by December 15th. Here are a couple of example murals I created after playing around with the program for a little while:  Have fun creating your own images with Endless Mural, or creating your own generative art project with Okabi!

WDD Staff

WDD staff are proud to be able to bring you this daily blog about web design and development. If there’s something you think we should be talking about let us know @DesignerDepot.

Read Next

3 Essential Design Trends, June 2023

This month we are focusing on three trends within a bigger website design trend – different navigation menu styles and …

15 Best New Fonts, May 2023

The choices you make when selecting a typeface have more impact on your design than almost any other decision, so it’s …

10+ Best Tools & Resources for Web Designers and Agencies (2023 updated)

Having the ability to envision a tastefully designed website (i.e., the role creativity plays) is important. But being …

20 Best New Websites, May 2023

This month, there are tons of great new agency websites to get excited about. 3D animated prisms are a popular theme, a…

How to Find the Right White Label Website Builder for Your Agency

Web design agencies face a lot of obstacles in closing the deal with new clients. One of the most common ones is the ar…

Exciting New Tools For Designers, May 2023

There are hundreds of new tools for designers and developers released each month. We sift through them all to bring you…

3 Essential Design Trends, May 2023

All three of the website design trends here mimic something bigger going on in the tech space, from a desire to have mo…

10 Best AI Tools for Web Designers (2023)

It’s time to stop worrying if AI is going to take your job and instead start using AI to expand the services you can of…

10 Best Marketing Agency Websites (Examples, Inspo, and Templates!)

Marketers are skilled in developing strategies, producing visual assets, writing text with high impact, and optimizing …

15 Best New Fonts, April 2023

Fonts are a designer’s best friend. They add personality to our designs and enable fine typography to elevate the quali…

20 Best New Websites, April 2023

In April’s edition, there’s a whole heap of large-scale, and even full-screen, video. Drone footage is back with a veng…

Exciting New Tools For Designers, April 2023

The AI revolution is having a huge impact on the types of products that are hitting the market, with almost every app b…