The visual language of “BC / AD / AI” is built on a foundation of geometric abstraction and color differentiation, establishing a unified yet diverse identity across the three volumes. The covers of each volume employ primary colors—deep blue, rust red, and bold green—to evoke the unique character of each era while maintaining a consistent visual thread. The circle and line motifs, drawing inspiration from sight lines and graphic notation used by experimental composers, act as a symbolic representation of the project’s exploration into the mathematical and computational roots of music.

The symposium posters for the Colburn School of Music, which promote the book release, extend this visual language into the realm of public engagement. Here, the design serves a dual purpose: it invites attendees to delve into the intricate relationship between computation and music, and it visually connects the ancient rhythms and modern algorithms that define the publication. The posters not only set the stage for a deeper exploration of these themes but also embody the convergence of historical and contemporary musical thought.

The design of the three volumes—BC, AD, and AI—reflects a deliberate approach to differentiate each era while maintaining a cohesive overall experience. In the “BC: Eternal Recurrence” volume, the use of royal blue paired with ancient circular diagrams and sacred geometry creates a visual language that resonates with the mathematical precision of ancient musical concepts. The typography, with its single justified column and modular structure, reinforces this connection, grounding the reader in the era’s tradition of intertwining mathematics with music.

At the heart of the project’s generative design lies the sacred geometry generator, an interactive p5.js widget that allows users to create their own sacred geometry forms. This widget, which operates similarly to the system used throughout the “BC” and “AI” volumes, invites the viewer to engage directly with the design process. Users can manipulate key parameters such as the number of inner circles, their size and placement, as well as line length and stroke weight to craft their own unique patterns. The widget animates the geometry by default, simulating the dynamic movements seen in the book’s designs, but this feature can be customized or turned off entirely for a static result. A Randomize button offers a playful way to explore new configurations, while an Export feature allows users to save their creations as SVG files for further use. This interactive tool not only demystifies the complex visual language present in the publication but also connects viewers with the project’s generative roots, giving them a hands-on experience of the computational principles that inform the design.

Transitioning into the “AD: Infinite Crescendo” volume, the visual language evolves to capture the increasing complexity of musical thought during the 19th and 20th centuries. The rust-red cover signals a shift towards a more intense exploration of musical structures, with modulating type and photographic interventions that reflect the evolving techniques of composers during this period. A gritty texture pervades much of the historic photography, as well as hand-constructed reproductions of scientific and mathematical diagrams and illustrations to further connote the eras involved.

Embedded within the pages of “BC / AD / AI,” the book’s AR experiences further emphasize the project’s fusion of music, design, and computation. The demonstration video showcases one of these interactions, where a piece by John Cage is brought to life through an iPad. As the device hovers over a photograph of Cage in his studio, animated musical bars dance across the page in response to the music, creating a visual representation of the piece’s structure. This augmented reality layer offers readers a more profound engagement with the material, transforming the book from a static object into an interactive medium that melds sound and sight. This experience reflects the book’s central concept: using modern technology to visualize and deepen the reader’s understanding of complex musical ideas, bridging historical music with contemporary digital tools.

The “AI: Unspeakable Music” volume takes a bold leap into the present and future of music, where computational methods and artificial intelligence redefine the boundaries of creativity. The bold green cover, combined with a layout that prioritizes clarity and modernity, introduces a new visual language that eschews imagery in favor of mathematical notation and renewed sacred geometry. This design choice not only highlights the sophistication of contemporary musical dialogue but also reflects the project’s overarching narrative: the evolving relationship between music, mathematics, and technology.

The AR-enhanced concert posters for the “Convergences: Computational Music through the Ages” concert at Walt Disney Hall extend the project’s exploration into the convergence of music, mathematics, and technology. By scanning the QR codes on these posters, viewers activate generative visualizations that respond to the pioneering sounds of composers such as Iannis Xenakis and Gyorgy Ligeti. These dynamic visuals are not just ornamental but are designed to reflect the mathematical and computational principles underlying the music itself, merging sound and sight into a singular experience. The accompanying “How to Use the Poster AR” video provides a straightforward guide on how to engage with this technology, walking viewers through the process of scanning the codes and triggering the corresponding visuals. The video also offers a brief glimpse of the AR content, enticing viewers to try the experience for themselves, and further reinforcing the project’s theme of blending traditional media with emerging technologies.

The CONVERGES music visualization experience offers a fitting conclusion to the project, synthesizing its various elements into an immersive, sensory encounter. This experience combines the ethereal sounds of Gyorgy Ligeti’s “Lux Æterna” with ancient sacred geometry, creating a visual and auditory journey that reflects the project’s exploration of computational music from the Pythagoreans to contemporary composers. By weaving together historical references with cutting-edge technology, CONVERGES encapsulates the project’s broader narrative—celebrating the enduring relationship between music, mathematics, and human creativity across the ages.