Hi, I'm Juan!

Juan holding a glowing cube

I like to program nice and whimsical things.

Sometimes I also build them.

For I have been exploring the creative and artistic potential of computers: creative coding, the development of tools that facilitate artistic creation, novel forms of interaction...

For I have been exploring the creative and artistic potential of computers: creative coding, the development of tools that facilitate artistic creation, novel forms of interaction...

I firmly believe that the education and propagation of Computer Science should not be solely based on text and mathematics (STEM). An approach that incorporates the arts (STEAM) can spark the interest of a much wider audience.

I believe that the best way to learn is by doing. I believe in theory and practice complementing each other, and in starting small projects that can grow... or become nothing. Additionally, if we can approach the task with a sense of humor and a bit of (nonsensical programming), the experience is even more enjoyable.

I believe in the power of open source, in the importance of sharing our results even if the code is not yet perfect, in seeking assistance and offering help to others, in leaving a personal project incomplete, or in having no personal projects at all, so that we can take a break and stretch our backs.

Work experience (Click to expand)

1999
2003
2017
2020
Ya.com
Tecnilógica
Accenture
Both

Sound and Music Computing

From 2019 to 2021, I studied for a Master's Degree in Sound and Music Computing at Aalborg University in Copenhagen. During this time, I not only learned how to operate a laser cutter, but also created a musical Ouija board and a constellation generator. Furthermore, I developed a library to perform real-time Laban motion analysis using PoseNet in the browser, a project to convert classical ballet movements into audio, and I used neural networks to:

  1. Create new bird songs
    Latent birds: A bird's-eye view exploration of the latent space, SMC 2020 conference, peer reviewed
    Examples
  2. Synthesize singing voices from speech
    Explorations of Singing Voice Synthesis using DDSP, SMC 2021 conference, peer reviewed
    Examples
  3. Create a TensorFlow based differentiable FM synth
    Differentiable FM synthesis, Master thesis
    Examples

Some of my favorite works

  1. En mi casa lo decimos así
    Generative ML Physical Object
    A book containing a compilation of over 700 verbs generated by a neural network.
  2. Tarot de Gepetè
    ML
    A tarot reading based on the Arnau-Kieślowski three-card spread.
  3. Celestial Cartography
    Generative Physical Object
    A microcontroller-based generative fabrication project.
  4. Digitisation of perforated disks
    Music Computer Vision
    Image-to-MIDI-to-audio transcription of musical cardboard discs.
  5. Lygia Pape homage
    Generative
    Generate images in the style of Lygia Pape.
  6. Ikea Guidance
    Physical Object
    Video mapping synched to objects in movement.
  7. Intangibles
    Music Computer Vision Generative
    Creative consultancy for an international art exhibition.
  8. Haydn's Philharmonic Game
    Music Generative
    Generate minuets in the style of Haydn.
  9. Magic Spaces
    Physical Object
    Use an Ikea pencil to add items to your shopping cart.
  1. Movistar Music Bot
    Music Generative ML
    Tool to generate music jingles for a TV channel.
  2. Music in Fifths
    Music Computer Vision
    Movement controlled rendition of Philip Glass' Music in Fifths.
  3. Neologismos
    ML
    LSTM network trained to generate new Spanish verbs.
  4. Nomenclátor
    ML
    LSTM network trained to generate names of imaginary Spanish cities.
  5. La Semana Marciana
    Event
    Coordination of the open week at the office, especially the creative side of it.
  6. Sitges Robot
    Generative ML Bot
    Markov-based Twitter bot.
  7. Telefónica sonification
    Music Computer Vision Generative
    Sonification of the building hall, based on the floor where the elevators are located.
  8. Stupid Hackathon
    Event
    Organization of the first Spanish Stupid Hackathon.
  9. Ypirquí
    Bot
    A Slack bot that mocks you.