Jonathan Denning
Associate Professor
Department Co-chair
Computer Science Engineering, Taylor University
1846 Main St., Upland, IN 46989
jon.denning@taylor.edu | +1.765.998.4931
https://gfx.cse.taylor.edu/jon
Interests
Creation and editing workflows
- Computer graphics: 3D artist tool development and appearance editing
- Computer science: code design and editing
Alternative visualization techniques
- Accelerated, efficient, and artist-friendly ray marching
- Aperiodic tiled textures
Education
Ph.D., Computer Science, Dartmouth College June 2014
- Focus: computer graphics, 3D artist content creation and design workflows
- Advisor: Dr. Fabio Pellacini (Sapienza University of Rome)
- Thesis: ModFlows: Methods for Studying and Managing Mesh Editing Workflows
- Enrolled in MS Program, F09; transfered to PhD Program Summer 2010
B.A., Computer Science + Mathematics, Tabor College May 2009
- Graduated Summa Cum Laude (GPA: 3.9)
- Advisors: Glen Diener, Dr. Frank Brenneman, Dr. Timothy Frye
Publications
Books
Stefan Brandle, Jonathan Denning, Jonathan Geisler, Roman Lysecky, Frank McCown, et al. Web Programming. zyBooks. Web. Aug 2016. 10k+ total subscribers. link
Leading Journals: SIGGRAPH + ToG
Jonathan D. Denning, Valentina Tibaldo, Fabio Pellacini. 3DFlow: Continuous Summarization of Mesh Editing Workflows. ACM Transactions on Graphics (SIGGRAPH), 34 (4), 2015 Jul.
Jonathan D. Denning, Fabio Pellacini. MeshGit: Diffing and Merging Meshes for Polygonal Modeling. ACM Transactions on Graphics (SIGGRAPH), 32 (4), 2013 Jul.
Xiaobo An, Xin Tong, Jonathan D. Denning, Fabio Pellacini. AppWarp: Retargeting Measured Materials by Appearance-Space Warping. ACM Transactions on Graphics (SIGGRAPH Asia), 30 (6), 2011 Dec.
Jonathan D. Denning, William B. Kerr, Fabio Pellacini. MeshFlow: Interactive Visualization of Mesh Construction Sequences. ACM Transactions on Graphics (SIGGRAPH), 30 (4), 2011 Jul.
Other Journals
William B. Kerr, Fabio Pellacini, Jonathan D. Denning. BendyLights: Artistic Control of Direct Illumination by Curving Light Rays. Computer Graphics Forum (Eurographics Symposium on Rendering), 29 (4), pp. 1269–1277, 2010.
Thesis
Jonathan D. Denning. ModFlows: Methods for Studying and Managing Mesh Editing Workflows. Dartmouth College Computer Science Ph.D. Dissertation, 2014.
Posters
Austin E. MacKay, Jonathan D. Denning. rpTextures: Systematic Layering for Large Texture Generation. SIGGRAPH 2017 Poster, 2017 August.
Technical Reports
Jonathan D. Denning, Fabio Pellacini. 3DFlow: Continuous Summarization of Mesh Editing Workflows. Dartmouth College Computer Science, TR2014-757, June 2014.
Jonathan D. Denning, Jiawei Ou, Fabio Pellacini. SculptFlow: Visualizing Sculpting Sequences by Continuous Summarization. Dartmouth College Computer Science, TR2014-759, June 2014.
Jonathan D. Denning, Fabio Pellacini. CrossComp: Comparing Multiple Artists Performing Similar Modeling Tasks. Dartmouth College Computer Science, TR2014-760, June 2014.
Jonathan D. Denning, Fabio Pellacini. MeshGit: Diffing and Merging Polygonal Meshes. Dartmouth College Computer Science, TR2012-722, May 2012.
Research
Taylor University
Studying 3D artist content creation and design workflows F14–Now
Studying computer science students programming workflows F14–Now
Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Summer Scholarship 2015
Undergraduate Research 2015–Now
- Human-computer interactions in virtual reality
- Understanding how undergraduate computer science students work
- Extremely large texture mapping using relatively prime numbers
- Democratizing balance of MOBA-like video games
- Exploring expressiveness of tiled texture mapping
- Using neural networks to optimize filters for noisy path-traced images
- Accelerated, efficient, and artist-friendly rendering of Boolean scenes in GLSL
- Generating and rendering solar system interactively in GLSL
- Using genetic algorithms to improve 2D RoboCup players
- Exploring novel meta programming language
Dartmouth College
CS Graphics Lab F09–S14
- Studied 3D artist content creation and design workflows
- Retargeted and visualized measured materials
- Studied perception of lighting and shadows
- Released software and collected data as open source
Tabor College
CS Practicum F08–S09
- Developed a system to analyze video sequence data by finding piecewise flow
Math Readings and Research S09
- Studied Ramsey Numbers through Coxeter Groups and Cayley Graphs
- Presented findings at Kansas Section of the Mathematical Association of America, May 2009
Recent Industry Experience
Autotroph, CG Cookie, Orange Turbine 2014–Now
- Developed artist-centered mesh editing tools called RetopoFlow
- Technical Director for Eat Sheep short film F21
- Developed wizard to semi-automate custom 3D eye mask for Ellio Labs 2021–Now
- Code review of Blender add-on for Roblox 2023
Blender Institute Jan22–Jul22
- Developed retopology mode, tools, functionality (report)
Teaching Experience
Taylor University, Courses
COS143 Interactive Webpage Development W16
COS170 Introduction to Game Engine Design Su17–Su19
COS265 Data Structures and Algorithms F14–F20, F22–Now
COS310 Current Literature Survey Su16, F16–F19, F22–Now
COS320 Algorithm Design S18, S20, S24
COS350 Computer Graphics F14–F20, F22–Now
COS351 Computer Vision S16, S18, S20
COS370 3D Animation S24
COS382 Language Structures S15, S17, S19, S23
COS424 Surfaces and Modeling S15, S17
COS45x Directed Research, Research 1/2 2015–Now
COS486 Game Engine Architecture S19, S21, S23
COS49x Computer Science Senior Capstone F22–Now
SYS214 Principles in Human-Computer Interaction F14–F16, S18–S19
SYS270 Game Studies S16
SYS394 Information Systems Design S15
Taylor University, CRAM / Summer Honors / Summer Institute / Summer Camp
COS170 Introduction to Game Engine Design (Honors) Su17–Su19
xxx Video Game Development Summer Camp Su23
Taylor University, Workshops and sessions
Text Files to Web Pages, Technology for Teaching S16
Time Management (Freshmen), CSE Winter Retreat 2015–Now
Graduate School (Freshmen, Seniors), CSE Winter Retreat 2015–Now
Game Development S16
Other University Courses
COSCx77 Computer Graphics, Dartmouth College F11, S13, S14
CS100 Computer Literacy, Tabor College S09
Teaching Assistantships
COSC37 Computer Architecture, Dartmouth College S11
(various) Elementary Statistics, Discrete Math, Programming 1 and 2, Tabor College 2007–2008
Professional Courses, Instructor
Excel Training for Faculty and Staff, Tabor College 2008
Computer Literacy and Office Products Courses, Sorb Computers LLC 2007–2008
Mentoring
Taylor University
Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Summer Scholarship
Tory Harter, Justin Powell 2015
Undergraduate Research
Emily Mannlein, Dawson Ochs 2024
Nathan Erickson, Noah Gegner, Micah Groeling, Lance VanErmen 2023
Jacob Banks, Caleb Collier, Alex McFarland, Logan Roth, Robert Swanson S21
David Deng, Jacob Haimes, Lauren James, Cordell King 2020
Benjamin Fritzeen, Ryan Jones, Jake Masters, Benjamin Ryker, Connor Wagner 2019
Andrew Olin 2018
Austin MacKay, David Nurkkala 2017
Michael Monroe, Nathaniel Katzenberger, David Nurkkala, Adam Pogwizd 2016
Keith Bauson, Tory Harter, Justin Powell 2015
Undergratuate Projects
Jared Sennese 2023–2024
Christopher Gearhart 2016–2018
other
Pre-engagement / Lifestyle and Choices Mentoring 2016–Now
Tabor College
Academic Mentoring 2008–2009
Lifestyle and Choices Mentoring 2008–2009
Academic Service
Chairing
Foundational Core Committee, Taylor University F18–S19
Computer Science and Engineering Department, Taylor University F18–S21, F22–Now
Committees
Foundational Core Committee, Taylor University F15–S21
Volunteering (select)
Taylor Brightspace Ambassador 2023
GameJam, Taylor University F14–Now
CodeCon, Taylor Programming Contest S18–Now
Computer Science Research Symposium, Dartmouth College 2013
Graphics and Vision Group lunch meetings, Dartmouth College 2010–2011
Various volunteering, Dartmouth College 2010–2014
Teaching Assistantships, Peer Tutoring
COSC37 Computer Architecture, Dartmouth College S11
(various) Elementary Statistics, Discrete Math, Programming 1 and 2, Tabor College 2007–2008
(various) Peer Tutoring for Math and Computer Science courses, Tabor College 2007–2008
On-going Education
Taylor University
Teaching squares / triads 2014–Now
Strong participation in Bedi Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence workshops 2014–Now
Participation in Technology for Teaching workshops 2016
Professional Service
Reviewing
ACM SIGGRAPH / SIGAsia 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020
Pacific Graphics 2015
ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) 2013
Journal of Graphic Tools (JGT) 2013
Eurographics (EG) 2013
Presentations
Conference Presentations
Blender Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands Oct 2022
A study on automating eye mask creation, link
Blender Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands Oct 2022
Co-presented with Jason van Gumster
Beginning developer workshop, link
Blender Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands Oct 2019
Add-on Development Panel, link
Blender Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands Oct 2018
CookieCutter: A CG Cookie Blender Add-on Toolkit, link
Celebration of Scholarship, Taylor University May 2018
Poster presentation with Andrew Olin
Student Process Visualization
ACM SIGGRAPH 2017, Los Angeles, CA, USA Aug 2017
Poster presentation with Austin MacKay
rpTextures: Systematic Layering for Large Texture Generation
Technology for Teaching, Taylor University, IN, USA May 2016
Text Files to Web Pages
ACM SIGGRAPH 2015, Los Angeles, CA, USA Aug 2015
3DFlow: Continuous Summarization of Mesh Editing Workflows
Blender Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands Oct 2014
Co-presented with Jonathan Williamson (CG Cookie)
Developing and Designing Powerful Modeling Tools
Blender Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands Oct 2014
Mesh(Flow|Git): Understanding and Managing Mesh Editing Workflows, link
ACM SIGGRAPH 2013, Anaheim, CA, USA Jul 2013
MeshGit: Diffing and Merging Meshes for Polygonal Modeling
ACM SIGGRAPH 2011, Vancouver, BC, Canada Aug 2011
MeshFlow: Interactive Visualization of Mesh Construction Sequences
Kansas Section of the Mathematical Association of America, Pittsburg, KS May 2009
Studying Ramsey Numbers with Coxeter Groups and Cayley Graphs
Invited Talks
CS/Math Invited Talk, Marian University, Indianapolis, IN, USA Mar 2020
Maths and Algorithms Behind Photo-Realistic Images
Frank S. Brenneman Lecture Series, Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS, USA Apr 2015
The Maths and Algorithms Behind Photo-realistic Graphics
Frank S. Brennenam Lecture Series, Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS, USA Apr 2015
Using Monte Carlo Integration to Solve the Rendering Equation
Science Seminar, Taylor University, Upland, IN, USA Oct 2014
Open-source Mindset and Science
Workshops
Blender Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands Oct 2022
Co-presented with Jason van Gumster
Beginning developer workshop, link
Blender Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands Oct 2019
Add-on Development Panel
Funding / Grants
BCTLE Sabbatical, Taylor University 2022
BCTLE Mini-Grant, Taylor University 2018
Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Summer Scholarship, Taylor University 2015, 2024
Critical Thinking Mini-Grant, Taylor University 2015–2017
Sabbatical
Full-time, full-year sabbatical, Taylor University Su21–Su22
- Orange Turbine Jun21–Jul22
- Technical Director for Eat Sheep short film
- Developed wizard to semi-automate custom 3D eye mask for Ellio Labs
- Blender Institute Jan22–Jul22
- Developed retopology mode, tools, functionality (report)
Technical Experience
Artist Tools Developer, Autotroph / CG Cookie / Orange Turbine 2014–Now
Developer, Blender Institute Jan 2022–Aug 2022
Programming Intern, Bradbury Company, Moundridge KS S09
Freelance Web Developer 2008–2009
Office Mgr. + Computer Tech, Sorb Computers LLC, Hillsboro KS Jan 2006–Sep 2008
Computer Tech, USD383, Manhattan KS Oct 2004–Dec 2005
Tech Support and Admin, iTAC, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS 2002
Project Mgr. + Software Developer, Vortron Computers / Shazzam LLC, Junction City KS 1999–2002
Skills: C, C++, C#, Python, Java, JavaScript, \(\LaTeX\), MATLAB, UNIX tools, OpenGL, GLSL, WebGL, BASH, PHP, HTML, CSS, Blender
Interviews
Pawlowski, Emily. Big dreams compete with little time at Game Jam 2019. The Echo, Upland, Indiana, April 25, 2019. Online.
Koenig, Laura. Creative coding. The Echo, Upland, Indiana, September 30, 2016. Online.
Mumford, Brecken. Please play games in class. The Echo, Upland, Indiana, February 19, 2016. Online.
Hutchins, Seth. Gaming class being featured at Taylor. Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, February 15, 2016. Online.
Mumford, Brecken. Save and continue. The Echo, Upland, Indiana, November 13, 2015. Online.
Chen, Nysha and White, Elise. Game Jam 2015. Taylor University Media Communications, November 2015. Online.
Dalton, Alexandra. Faculty Spotlight: An Interview with Jon Denning. Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science (DUJS), Vol. XV, No. 3, pp. 5–7, S13. Online.
Overstake, Grant. Tabor's Jonathan Denning's Passion for Computer Programming Leads to Dartmouth College. Tabor College News. April 2009. Online.
Extracurricular Activities
Hosted computer-generated movie nights 2016–Now
Hosted GameJam competitions 2014–Now
Hosted computer programming competitions S21, F22–Now
Hosted game programming workshop S16
Hosted paintball excursions 2010–Now
Assisted hosting board game events 2015–2017
ACM ICPC Coach 2017
Assisted programming contest practice 2015–Now
Honors and Awards
Graduated Summa Cum Laude (GPA: 3.9), Tabor College May 2009
Natural and Mathematical Sciences Division Award, Tabor College May 2009
Excellence of Work Award, Votron Computers and Consultation May 2001
First Place, Adv. Division, Kansas State University High School Programming Contest Nov 1998
First Place, Adv. Division, Kansas State University High School Programming Contest Nov 1997
Fourth Place, Adv. Division, Kansas State University High School Programming Contest Nov 1996
References
Available upon request