An essay on illustrating complex information, from graphs to graphic novels
https://thentrythis.org/notes/2026/03/16/illustrating-complexity/
Then Try This
mastodon 4.5.18Non-profit and #OpenSource #research, #design and development studio for environmental and social purpose. (used to be called FoAM Kernow)
Deadline is just over 2 weeks away for our funded Cocoon residencies.
You can be from any background, and these are themed on moths and the viruses that infect them, very niche, but you can take it in any direction you like.
1-4 weeks long, up to £2300 fee, at our studio in Cornwall, remote or hybrid, for one person or groups. We've tried to make the application process as short and simple as we can.
Meet our Cocoon residents, who will be joining us and @b_longdon@ecoevo.social in autumn! Selected from a whopping 274 applications, the three residents will be exploring moths and the viruses that infect them...
A little while ago we were interviewed by the lovely Matt Dowse, a researcher on community technology. That research has now been published! It's a bit rare that people really just 'get' what we do and why, but we felt 100% understood this time, and he explains it better than we ever can.
Particularly love the reference to 'quiet and powerful activism', which feels bang on what we aim for 💚
Little workshop this weekend in Falmouth on behalf of The Poly.
Come play with Andean/Inca knotted string records (called Khipu), and walking robots made from braided textiles which you can control with more knots...
https://thepoly.org/whats-on/event/4368/poly-pop-up-woven-robots
(apologies for the typo riddled advert, we've asked for it to be fixed but no luck!)
If you're in Bristol, Dave will be taking part remotely in a panel discussion today at the Centre for Creative Technologies Showcase, talking about Then Try This.
It's free entry and happening at 1PM: Bristol Digital Futures Institute, University of Bristol, The Sheds 65 Avon Street Bristol BS2 0PZ
Deadline 6 April for our open call for local (to Sheffield) live coders to take part in a low-intensity residency...
It’ll happen over a weekend per month from May ‘til August, finishing with a public event early September. If you’re unsure whether you’ll fit in, or feel like an ‘imposter’, you are especially encouraged to apply!
https://patternclub.org/2026/03/02/open-call-live-coding-group-residency-in-sheffield/
Last winter, we ran a winter school as part of the Algorithmic Pattern project, in collaboration with Ray Morrison and Lucy Cheesman. With participants with diverse practices brought together via an open call, we explored patterns in origami, dance, music and video animation, taking an embodied approach to code.
Sheffield-based filmographer Eva Yap made a short (4 minute) film about the programme which captured the vibe beautifully...
Hello! We never did a proper #introduction.
We're an #OpenSource and #NonProfit #research, #design and #development organisation, based in #Cornwall in the UK. We actually care about stuff, and mostly work on #environment, #climate and #social projects.
We're all a bit #generalist, and many of our projects are rooted in rural issues, rather than being city-centric. Always open to collabs.
Most of us are on here: @nebogeo@post.lurk.org @amberfirefly@mastodon.green @yaxu@post.lurk.org @cassandreces@scholar.social and @kanderson_rs@toot.community
Pre-pre-pre-announcement that around the end of the year/early spring we'll be announcing some new funded residencies, based at our new studio in Cornwall to run around Aug/Sept 2026.
The theme this time is moths and their viruses - as part of @b_longdon@ecoevo.social's research grant on how viruses and their hosts co-evolve and what the limitations are on which ones can infect/be infected by which other ones.
As usual it'll be open to folks from any background, and anything goes.
🦋 <- pretend it's a moth
⭐ Cocoon Residences - Open Call ⭐
We have funded residencies for autumn, themed on moths and their viruses.
These are based at our studio in Cornwall, with our support, and working with our long-term collaborator @b_longdon@ecoevo.social
We have tried to make the application process as light touch as possible, and the residencies as flexible and well funded as we can, but if you spot any room for improvement just let us know and we will see what we can do.