Isoliner

a generative visual system

Isoliner is a generative tool designed to express a visual system through infinite graphical variations while keeping a set of unique identifying features.

It was initially developed for an adventure sports company that is divided into multiple business units (education, corporate, leisure activities & retail). The company asked for a brand identity that could be applied to different contexts and audiences. The company name is Cota Zero, which means ground zero in Catalan.

Role: Concept → Code
Year: 2011

Inspiration

“Contour maps”: In cartography, a contour line (often just called a “contour”) joins points of equal elevation (height) above a given level, such as mean sea level.

Wikipedia
Example of a map with contour lines.

Approach: Generating contour maps from solid shapes

A software was developed to generate contour maps without using real topographical data. Instead, the system plots maps from solid shapes by defining areas with the same level of brightness.

Flexibility

The software is able to map different graphical properties to the isolines (color, space, etc…) :

Mapping of colours

Playing with 3D views
Adding different shapes to the software

The system in use