circleswithout

CirclesWithout is an open-source project and artistic collective established in 2019 to explore generative graphics that move beyond traditional circle packing. The project develops tools, documentation, and community practices for producing layouts and illustrations in which circular constraints are deliberately altered or removed in favor of irregular, organic regions.

Origins and aims: CirclesWithout emerged from a collaboration of designers and developers who sought to study how geometric constraints influence visual language. It positions itself as a platform for experimentation, education, and collaborative production, rather than a single programming framework.

Software and architecture: The core offering is a JavaScript library that supports non-traditional circle packing, adaptive tilings, and hybrid layouts. It outputs scalable vector graphics and canvas renderings and integrates with common web workflows. The library is designed with a modular architecture, including a plugin system for custom layout algorithms and data adapters. The project is distributed under an MIT-style license and hosts documentation, examples, and tutorials on its public repository.

Usage and reception: CirclesWithout is used by designers, educators, and generative artists to prototype visuals that emphasize irregular geometry and spatial compression without relying on uniform circles. It has been featured in design talks and small exhibitions and has influenced related tools in the generative-graphics ecosystem.

See also: Circle packing, Generative art, Data visualization libraries, Algorithmic design.