Introduction & Inspiration

On one of the last days of the year in 2023 we received some devastating news: because of our use of AI in creating our buff design, the November Project leadership team had decided to disqualify us from the competition and go with the second most popular design instead of ours. Fortunately, we ended up being selected as the design for 2025, but it was a long road to get here.

My inspiration to participate in the 2023 November Project buff design challenge stemmed from a shared passion for community fitness with fellow NP member, Naomi Leeds. As someone who has always been fascinated by the intersection of movement and technology–I’m a software engineer and I’m currently building a fitness app called Move Journey (https://site.movejourney.app)–I saw this as an opportunity to blend my technical skills with my love for the NP community. Move Journey is designed to support users in their fitness journeys using AI, from personalized assessments to automated workout tracking and community challenges.

Similar to the spirit of November Project, Move Journey emphasizes community and encourages users to connect and motivate each other. I believe technology, especially AI, can play an effective role in enhancing fitness experiences and fostering a sense of community. This blog post details the design process behind our buff submission, highlighting the AI tools and techniques we employed. I hope our journey inspires you to think about innovative ways technology can support November Project’s mission. Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts on the official November Project Instagram post (and mention @scottjgilroy) or connect with me directly on X (@ScottJGilroy). Let’s explore the future of fitness and technology together!

Prompting for Design Concepts

With our shared passion for community fitness and a sense of technology-inspired optimism, Naomi and I embarked on brainstorming design concepts. Our initial ideas revolved around themes that resonated with November Project’s core values: community, inclusivity, and year-round commitment to fitness. And maybe a donut and a dog or two. We turned to ChatGPT to expand our brainstorming and refine our concepts.

One of our early prompts focused on generating graphical buff design ideas that incorporated the November Project logo and reflected its 12-year history.

Suggest 10 graphical buff design ideas for the 2023 November Project Buff Design Competition. Include a variety of approaches and concepts for the designs. Each design must incorporate the November Project logo. This is the 12th year of November Project. See https://november-project.com/the-10th-anniversary-buff-design-contest/ for some previous designs. Some of my design ideas to get you started:
Dogs of NP
Dogification of everything NP
12 months, November through October
High fives collage
For each design, describe the design and explain the concept behind it.

ChatGPT gave us ten design ideas, from “Anniversary Flames” symbolizing the community’s energy to “Dog Stars of NP” celebrating the NP’s dog-loving culture. None of them led directly to a design that we used, but they certainly helped move the creative process forward. Indeed, it was when I was trying to get a specific, consistent art style to use for some doodles that I came up with a separate new concept for a buff design: the idea of a November Project Rube Goldberg Machine.

We stumbled upon the idea of Rube Goldberg machines while trying to create other images

NP Rube Goldberg Machines

While exploring these initial concepts, we were particularly drawn to the idea of a “November Project Rube Goldberg Machine.” This whimsical concept embodied the playful spirit of NP and offered a unique way to visualize the chain reactions of motivation and support that drive the community. We experimented with AI prompts to generate intricate line art illustrations of these machines, incorporating elements that represented the November Project’s year-round activities and diverse community.

Black and white whimsical line art illustration of a wide landscape Rube Goldberg machine inspired by November Project's commitment to year-round outdoor fitness. The machine activates with a bed jettisoning a person, transitions through a mechanical high-fiving hand, and onto a shoe applicator. The design incorporates a canoe paddle, “NP” Letters, -30°C badge, megaphone, variety of body shapes, camera, iconic building, snowflake icon, staircase, and social media icons. Below the machine is a large box with the words 'NOVEMBER' and below that 'PROJECT'.

Black and white, highly detailed line art illustration of a Rube Goldberg machine themed around community fitness. It starts with a bed being tipped by an alarm clock, prompting a boy in a headband to commence push-ups. His movements tilt a park bench, causing a rain jacket to slide and nudge a coffee cup. The spilled coffee creates a stream leading a dog with a medal to chase a canoe paddle up stairs. A girl wearing a funny hat jumps, releasing a 'what time is it?' poster. This leads to a stadium where participants are giving each other high-fives beneath a 'rise and grind' sticker, and the scene concludes with a snowflake icon, emphasizing year-round activity.

Black and white whimsical line art illustration of a wide landscape Rube Goldberg machine with diverse ethnicities and body sizes, themed around November Project's community fitness. The machine starts with a bed ejecting a person of Asian descent with a medium build, followed by a mechanical high-fiving hand, a shoe applicator. The machine incorporates shoes, a dog, water bottle, spray paint, t-shirt worn by a Hispanic person with a larger build, funny hat, hill, running trail, a Black boy doing push ups, high-fives, coffee, a cow bell, a maple leaf, hiking boots, and an alarm clock.

Black and white whimsical line art illustration of a wide landscape Rube Goldberg machine themed around November Project's community fitness. The machine starts with a bed ejecting a person, followed by a mechanical high-fiving hand, a shoe applicator. The machine incorporates shoes, a dog, water bottle, spray paint, t-shirt, funny hat, hill, running trail, a boy doing push ups, high-fives, coffee, a cow bell, a maple leaf, hiking boots, and an alarm clock.

Black and white line art illustration of a Rube Goldberg machine focused on community fitness. An alarm clock buzzes, causing a cat to swipe at a water bottle, which spills onto a hill. This flow nudges a shoe into a pathway, leading to a boy in a mask doing push-ups. His movements shake a tree, dropping a maple leaf onto a sidewalk chalk drawing. A woman in a reflective vest performs squats, releasing a series of dominoes that bump into a park bench. This activates a skipping rope, causing a girl in winter gloves to jump. High-fives ensue, releasing motivational music notes. A 'just show up' banner waves, with a trophy placed nearby. A sunrise beams over an outdoor amphitheater, hinting at early morning workouts.

Generate a striking, black and white illustration reminiscent of a Rube Goldberg contraption, with a landscape aspect ratio that highlights a Rube Goldberg machine aimed at community fitness. In this whimsical contraption, an assortment of characters interact through intricate mechanical mechanisms. It all starts with a 40-year-old black woman gracefully emerging from a door, her exuberant golden-doodle companion tailing closely behind. As she dashes down a set of stairs, she cleverly passes a short wooden baton to a 30-year-old, athletically-built black man. This transfer activates a series of interconnected gears and levers, causing him to smoothly transition into a push-up position. Adjacent to this impressive display, a 50-year-old, heavy-set Asian man receives the baton and embarks on a brisk sprint down a steep urban road with sidewalks flanking both sides. His momentum engages a complex network of ropes and pulleys that ultimately lead to a pivotal moment. At the bottom of the hill, a 60-year-old, incredibly fit ultramarathoner of Hispanic descent eagerly accepts the baton and initiates a deep squat while his enthusiastic 7-year-old grandson joins in. This synchronized action triggers a grand unfolding of a colossal flag bearing the inspirational message 'JUST SHOW UP.' The flag rises with an elaborate mechanism and points the way forward. Continuing the chain reaction, a 25-year-old transgender man of average build high-fives his best friend, who shares a similar physique but represents a different ethnicity. The energy generated by their high-five sets off a catapult that launches a star toward a 21-year-old white woman proudly showcasing her extraordinarily well-developed biceps, humorously labeled 'Thunder' and 'Lightning.' The entire scene is a marvel of mechanical ingenuity, all in the spirit of community fitness.

Black and white line art illustration showcasing a Rube Goldberg machine with fitness communities. Boston's Zakim Bridge anchors one end, with athletes running beneath a 'Boston Strong' banner. A man doing push-ups activates a lever, sending a ball towards New York. The Statue of Liberty holds a torch which lights a fuse leading to fireworks in Central Park. Participants in the park react, with one in a funny hat tilting a water-filled platform, directing water flow towards Edmonton's section, where the Muttart Conservatory houses a waterwheel.

Black and white line art drawing in the style of Rube Goldberg. On the top, a bold banner reads 'NOVEMBER PROJECT'. The bottom displays a whimsical Rube Goldberg machine. A Middle Eastern woman turns a wheel, releasing a seed into a pot. Sunlight through a magnifying glass makes a tree grow, with diverse people in workout outfits emerging from its branches. An iconic building tilts, rolling a water bottle that activates a t-shirt press. A cat chases a laser pointer, running on a treadmill connected to a conveyor belt moving funny hats. A man gives high-fives, spinning a wheel that creates 'rise and grind' stickers. A girl wearing sunglasses bounces a ball, triggering a mechanism that releases coffee cups. A hill with people doing burpees sends a cartwheeling figure down, activating a 'game time!' poster display.

Photo of a wide Rube Goldberg machine where a tesla coil generates lightning on the left, igniting a fire that heats a heater, producing extreme heat. The heat causes a water bottle to release steam, powering a fan to create wind. The wind pushes a boy with a tan skin tone doing push-ups, causing him to press down on a spray paint can, painting a 'just show up' slogan on a wall. The paint fumes rise and activate an umbrella on a mechanical arm protecting a woman with a dark skin tone performing squats from sprinklers that simulate rain. The runoff from the sprinklers forms a puddle, where a young girl with a medium skin tone is seen jumping over. Her jump triggers a hill to tilt, causing a shoe to roll down, which hits a stroller, setting off a snow machine. People of various ages, genders, and body sizes workout beneath the snow using a mitten-applicator. In the background, there's a stadium with a flag showcasing a 'stronger every day' sticker.

Black and white line art illustration, reminiscent of Rube Goldberg, depicting a playful machine for the birth of a November Project community. A woman plants a seed in a pot labeled 'Community Growth'. As she waters the seed, it sprouts, pulling a rope that releases a series of kettlebells from a shelf. The falling kettlebells hit a trampoline, launching a bird carrying a banner that reads 'Wake Up and Workout!'. The bird's flight causes a series of bells to ring, waking up a cat which dashes across a park, unraveling a banner that announces 'Free Workouts Here!'. Diverse individuals, lured by the banner, start to gather, engaging in activities like jumping and stretching. A tree with various fitness icons as fruits grows in the center, symbolizing the flourishing fitness community.

Wide landscape black and white line art illustration in the style of intricate detailed drawings presenting a Rube Goldberg machine themed for weatherproof outdoor fitness. At the start, a wind-up toy dinosaur with a dinosaur mask activates a large fan blowing wind. The wind pushes a water bottle causing it to tip and spill water onto a platform. The weight from the water makes the platform sink, activating sprinklers which simulate rain. The collected rainwater triggers a snow machine that starts producing snow. Amidst this snowy scene, a mechanical arm with an umbrella protects a man with a medium-dark skin tone doing push-ups. Adjacent to him, a mitten-applicator device applies mittens to an elderly man with a light skin tone doing squats. A young girl with medium skin tone jumps on a trampoline, causing a shoe to fall and press a button which releases a “game time!” poster. A dog running on a treadmill turns a maple leaf-shaped gear, causing a hill with a running trail to elevate, revealing stairs underneath. As a funny hat is blown by the wind, it triggers a mechanism releasing a sweat band. In the foreground, a “weather proof” sticker is prominently displayed, while a mechanism displays a “you've got this!” speech bubble. Throughout the machine, there are motivational banners, music notes indicating workout music, and a park bench. The scene is complemented with a city skyline in the background.

In Edmonton's fall-themed segment of the Rube Goldberg machine, athletes run up a hill, pushing a boulder which triggers a maple leaf-shaped pendulum with a 'Rise and Grind' sticker. As it swings, it knocks a cartwheeling athlete into a chute, sending them sliding towards San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge has cables acting as pulleys. Athletes in rain jackets run on treadmills powering a lift, elevating an athlete in a dinosaur mask. The coffee in their cup spills, forming a stream leading to Los Angeles, where it waters a plant near the Hollywood Sign.

Black and white whimsical line art illustration in the style of Rube Goldberg, in portrait orientation. The tableau ignites with an ejector-seat sofa propelling a boy with a coffee cup. As he lands, he startles a spray-painting robot, which hastily paints a 'stronger every day' sticker. This cascade sets off a mechanical high-fiving hand, initiating a domino effect of circuit icons and gears. As the chain reaction unfolds, a spring-loaded hug machine attempts to embrace a girl holding a hydration pack. The backdrop showcases a park bench, a stopwatch, and participants in a huddle circle.

Black and white line art illustration of a wide landscape Rube Goldberg machine. At the start, a black woman energetically pedals a stationary bicycle. Her efforts power a tesla coil that emits lightning. This electrical surge causes a wig to be blown away by an artificially generated wind. The wig's movement pulls on a string attached to a rain jacket, making it pour water into a bucket. As the bucket overflows, it tilts a sidewalk panel, prompting a snowman to roll and activate a mechanism that produces gusts of wind. The scene incorporates elements like a “let's get a little bounce” speech bubble, a trophy activated by the wind, a camera flash caused by the lightning, and a handshake-driven turbine.

Black and white line art illustration of a wide landscape Rube Goldberg machine. A wig is blown away by a fan, pulling a string attached to a rain jacket, which then pours water into a bucket. When the bucket is full, it tilts, pouring water onto a platform where sunglasses magnify the sunlight, generating heat and causing an evaporation effect, simulating rain. This heat also melts a block of ice, causing a canoe paddle to drop and hit a bell. A nearby cat, startled by the bell, jumps onto a platform, releasing a “let's get a little bounce” speech bubble. The movement of the speech bubble causes a trophy to tilt, focusing sunlight through a camera lens, producing a brief flash of lightning. A bicycle wheel, powered by the movements of handshake gestures, turns a mechanism generating wind. Throughout the machine, water bottles replenish thirsty participants and music notes set a rhythm for workouts.

Black and white line art illustration, Rube Goldberg style, showcasing a fun and elaborate mechanism for starting a fitness community. An Asian woman activates a fan, sending dandelion seeds that cause a dog to sneeze. This sneeze catapults a chicken into a coop, where another chicken lays an egg. A large egg arrives on a conveyor belt, only to be smashed by a hammer. A Hispanic boy in running shoes steps out of another hatching egg. Integrated are a camera on a robotic arm, a spray paint can machine, and another robotic arm placing diverse individuals into a stadium. Elements include a funny hat, a dinosaur mask, a breakfast plate, a hill with a 'just show up' banner, a dog next to a 'game time!' poster, a trophy, sunglasses, a water bottle, and a woman performing squats near a stopwatch.

Black and white line art illustration showcasing a Rube Goldberg machine centered on fitness community initiation. Initiated by a woman blowing dandelion seeds, it triggers a chicken to lay an egg. An egg cracks open revealing a black boy with running shoes. A camera attached to a robotic arm documents the scene. Nearby, a machine filled with cans of spray paint operates. Another robotic arm carries people, dropping them in a stadium. Integrated elements include a dog with a medal, a hill with stairs, a side walk chalked with directional arrows, a boy doing push-ups under a 'weather proof' sticker, a woman squatting near a 'stronger every day' sticker, and a girl jumping over a cartwheel. Posters exclaiming 'heck yeah' and 'let's get a little bounce' are pinned. The machine concludes with a stadium where a 'just show up' slogan banner waves and a sunrise illuminates the background.

Black and white, detailed line art illustration in the style of Rube Goldberg, in portrait orientation. A bed's mechanism propels a boy wearing a beanie into a series of whimsical contraptions. This cascade activates a mechanical high-fiving hand which, in turn, nudges a coffee cup. The spill from the cup directs a cat to chase a 'you've got this!' banner. As the banner unfurls, it triggers a shoe applicator that humorously attempts to place athletic socks on a dog. The scene transitions to an outdoor park setting where participants joyfully celebrate, framed by a whimsical city skyline.

Black and white whimsical line art illustration of a wide landscape Rube Goldberg machine promoting outdoor community fitness of November Project. The machine features a bed launching a person into a shoe applicator with a mechanical hand for high-fives. The contraption integrates a dog, sweat band, stairs, sidewalk, a woman performing squats, hugs, donut, medal, costume, a cartwheel, an umbrella, winter gloves, a snowman, and “weather proof” sticker.

Hong Kong's finale in the Rube Goldberg machine integrates its skyline with the Bank of China Tower acting as a beacon, drawing athletes towards Victoria Harbour. As they gather, they set off fireworks that ascend and then descend onto a series of trampolines. Athletes bounce, activating a series of interconnected mechanisms, from seesaws to pulleys, leading to a grand light show. The harbour's water acts as a conveyor, where boats with athletes row in sync, generating waves that set off a final celebratory sequence, symbolizing the global unity of fitness communities.

Black and white whimsical line art illustration in the style of Rube Goldberg, in portrait orientation. The scene initiates with a bed's mechanism ejecting a surprised boy into the air. Landing, he tips a coffee cup, setting a dog into chase. This action activates a mechanical high-fiving hand which nudges a water bottle down a hill. As it rolls, it prompts a girl in a dinosaur mask to jump, revealing a 'rise and grind' sticker. The chain of events leads to a whimsical shoe applicator trying to fit shoes onto a cat. The background showcases a city skyline with a “weather proof” sticker, and a 'just show up' banner.

Create a black and white whimsical line art illustration of a Rube Goldberg machine with the theme of "Seasonal Fitness Rube Goldberg Machine". Wide landscape aspect ratio. The machine is wide, filling the canvas. Step 1 - Spring: A boy, dressed in a t-shirt and running shoes, begins by doing push-ups on the sidewalk. His determination is contagious, and a crowd gathers around to high-five and hug each other. Step 2 - Summer: A woman in sunglasses and a funny hat leads a group to a park where they perform squats and jumping exercises. They pass around water bottles and enjoy coffee and donuts for a post-workout treat. Step 3 - Fall: The group, now in costumes for a fun run, takes their strollers and wheelchairs up a hill, which triggers a "weather-proof" sticker to release and flutter down to the ground. Step 4 - Winter: The "heck yeah" speech bubble above their heads motivates them to conquer the snowy weather. They build a snowman and put on winter gloves, preparing for the cold. A participant dons a dinosaur mask for a playful touch. Step 5 - Spring: Wearing rain jackets and wielding umbrellas, they push forward and begin a spirited "race everything" with stopwatch in hand, counting down to the next workout station. Step 6 - Summer: At the stadium, they find a giant flag and take turns waving it. A pet dog joins the workout, running beside a participant with a "rise and grind" sticker on their water bottle. Step 7 - Fall: A megaphone-wielding leader organizes a stair workout for the group, encouraging everyone to keep up the pace. They help each other up, symbolizing a "helping hand." Step 8 - Winter: They find a park bench covered in snow and use it for various exercises. Lifting weights and holding yoga poses, they create a beautiful and memorable scene in the winter landscape. Step 9 - Spring: A man with a reflective vest blows a whistle to signal a switch to resistance bands and kettlebells. The city skyline serves as a picturesque background. Step 10 - Summer: Moving towards a trailhead marker, they continue their workout, with a diverse group showing off different body shapes and sizes. Step 11 - Fall: With an inspirational quote board nearby, they stretch on exercise mats, sweat droplets visible as they put in the effort. Step 12 - Winter: The final stage takes place at an outdoor amphitheater, where they cheerfully gather around for a group photo. They hold a trophy for the positivity award and share a healthy snack while wrapped in warm hats and athletic socks. This whimsical Rube Goldberg machine showcases athletes of various backgrounds and fitness levels engaging in different activities throughout the seasons, all driven by motivation, support, and a sense of community.

Black and white whimsical line art illustration in landscape orientation of a Rube Goldberg machine themed around community fitness in the early morning sun. The machine is filled with diverse athletes of different abilities, genders, ages, and races/ethnic backgrounds engaging in spring fitness activities. They interact with various props such as shoes, dog, water bottle, a boy doing push ups, a maple leaf, an umbrella, “heck yeah” speech bubble, Megaphone for verbal motivation, Bouncing Balls symbolizing 'The Bounce', Camera for group photo, Iconic Building as a local landmark, Stopwatch for HIIT, High-Five, Music Notes for workout music, and Outdoor Park Setting.

Los Angeles' section of the Rube Goldberg machine displays the Hollywood Sign, where athletes in sunglasses jog on a conveyor belt. As they run, the belt turns a gear, raising a platform with a megaphone-wielding motivator. A dog's wagging tail pushes a button, releasing a balloon that floats towards Chicago. The Chicago skyline and Willis Tower overlook athletes in Millennium Park. As they squat, weights lift, activating a pendulum. A figure with a stopwatch times the swings, with each tick releasing a small ball towards Washington, D.C.

Wide black and white line art illustration in Rube Goldberg's style, emphasizing movement and diversity. An African man, lured by a dangling medal, starts a stationary bike, powering the machine. This causes a European woman, drawn by a “let's get a little bounce” speech bubble, to do jumping jacks. Her movements release a funny hat that rolls down, activating a “what time is it?” poster. This leads an East Asian girl to do a cartwheel. A coffee cup spills, causing a Hispanic man to slip into a push-up pose, activating a mechanism which scares a cat into jumping on a “stronger every day” sticker.

Wide landscape line art illustration of a black and white Rube Goldberg machine. The sequence starts with a black woman energetically pedaling a stationary bicycle, which powers a tesla coil to generate lightning. This lightning activates a mechanism causing rain. As the rain pours, an Asian man in a raincoat does lunges, each lunge causing a bucket to fill with rainwater. Once full, the bucket tips, rolling a ball down a ramp, activating a fan producing wind. A Hispanic woman in athletic gear uses this wind to aid her in high jumps. Her jumps push down on a platform that releases snow. Nearby, an elderly Caucasian man in winter attire practices tai chi, his movements shifting snow onto a heated plate. The plate warms, simulating extreme heat. A Middle Eastern woman in breathable sportswear does yoga under this heat. As she switches poses, she activates a lever that releases a cold blast, simulating extreme cold. A group of diverse individuals, including an individual in a wheelchair, are seen doing group exercises, adapting to each weather condition.

Black and white, highly detailed line art illustration in portrait orientation of a Rube Goldberg machine centered on community fitness in the early morning sun. Include a range of athletic abilities, genders, ages, and races and/or ethnic backgrounds engaging in various fitness activities throughout the four seasons. Include fitness equipment in the design but also outdoor fitness-related props/gear such as water bottles, bikes, towels, sweatbands, running shoes, bike helmets. Have some of the athletes high-fiving or hugging. Athletes can be jumping, sitting, lying down to do the exercises and can be seen doing Parkour on the Rube Goldberg machine.

Black and white, detailed line art illustration in landscape orientation of a Rube Goldberg machine representing community fitness in the early morning sun's glow. The winter scene displays athletes of varied backgrounds and athletic proficiencies engaging in cold-weather fitness activities. The design amalgamates fitness tools like weights, water bottles, bikes equipped for snow, warm hats, and sweatbands. Some athletes share moments of hugging or high-fiving, while others are in motion, resting, or even performing Parkour on the snowy parts of the machine.

Black and white line art illustration reminiscent of Rube Goldberg. The canvas presents a vast machine centered on weatherproof outdoor fitness. On the far left, a heater produces scorching temperatures; nearby, a middle-aged woman of Middle Eastern descent, with a petite stature, adjusts winter gloves using a mechanical contraption. Adjacently, a powerful fan whips up wind, and a young girl of mixed-race descent in her early 20s, with an athletic physique, performs squats while a t-shirt flutters by. The center stage is taken by sprinklers imitating rain, under which a man of South Asian descent in his 50s, with a muscular build, skips rope. To the rightmost, a machine churns out snow, and a woman of Indigenous descent in her 60s, with a fuller figure, places a 'weather proof' sticker on a snowflake. Interwoven throughout are elements like shoes, a cat, a 'heck yeah' speech bubble, a coffee cup, a bicycle, a stretching figure, a rain cloud, and a 'stronger every day' sticker, each contributing to the machine's function.

Black and white line art illustration, Rube Goldberg style with a generous white margin at the top and bottom, illustrating a mechanism for establishing a fitness community. A Latin American child blows a whistle, catching the attention of a bird. The bird drops a seed into the ground which grows into a tree where people are seen doing pull-ups on the branches. The weight of the people bends a branch, activating a machine that dispenses water bottles. A “stay hydrated” sign lights up, and a nearby group begins a synchronized dance.

Wide landscape line art illustration in black and white of a detailed Rube Goldberg machine. A black woman on a stationary bicycle sets the scene in motion, her pedaling energizes a tesla coil that releases lightning. This electrical discharge sets off a rain simulation device. Under this artificial rain, an obese woman and a South Asian teenager practice martial arts. Their kicks activate fans producing wind. An Aboriginal duo uses this wind for resistance in their tug-of-war game. Their tugging causes a compartment to open, releasing machine-made snow. A Caucasian group, dressed in winter gear, have a snowball fight amidst this snow. A nearby lamp emits extreme heat, under which a Middle Eastern couple practices tai chi. Their movements activate a mechanism that releases a cold spray. The entire scene is animated, with diverse individuals adjusting their exercises to each mechanically-created weather condition.

Black and white line art illustration, reminiscent of Rube Goldberg, illustrating an intricate machine for the inception of a fitness community. A young Native American child places a seed in a planter and waters it. The seed sprouts and grows into a large tree. A squirrel, hopping between the branches, triggers a series of ropes and pulleys, causing a nearby machine to churn out sweatbands and sneakers. Diverse individuals, represented as fruits, sprout from the tree's branches, each in different workout poses. Below, a group gathers for a group photo, while a “heck yeah” speech bubble emerges from the crowd. A side walk chalk arrow points towards the tree, and an outdoor amphitheater hosts a gathering in the background.

The Rube Goldberg machine's segment for Washington, D.C. features the U.S. Capitol. Athletes work out near the National Mall, with a circuit board transferring energy to light up a path. A signed race document acts as a wind sail, propelling a cart towards wintery London. The London Eye rotates, powered by athletes in winter gear doing group cheers. A flag waver sends snowflakes towards a chute, sliding them to Hong Kong. The skyline, including the Bank of China Tower, overlooks a park. Athletes holding hands form a human chain, passing energy through each stretch, culminating in a grand finale light show over Victoria Harbour.

Wide black and white line art illustration of a Rube Goldberg machine in the style of Rube Goldberg, focusing on movement and diversity. An ejector bed launches a Pacific Islander man onto a treadmill, powering a mechanism in the Rube Goldberg machine. His movement makes an Indigenous woman rise from her ejector sofa, lured by a “game time!” poster. As she moves, a Latina woman in a sweat band rings a cow bell in the machine, startling a cat which chases a pair of socks. This leads to a sidewalk where an Asian boy is prompted to do push-ups. His actions cause a “weather proof” sticker to activate, releasing a spray paint marking a running trail. A Middle Eastern woman, seeing the trail, does a yoga pose, releasing a bouncing ball that hits a “you've got this!” speech bubble.

Black and white, highly detailed line art illustration in landscape orientation of a Rube Goldberg machine emphasizing community fitness under the morning sun. The scene captures athletes from various backgrounds, ages, and athletic capabilities participating in summer fitness activities. The design integrates fitness gear like dumbbells, kettlebells, water bottles, bikes, and towels. Some athletes exchange hugs or high-fives, while others jump, sit, or lie down for exercises, with a few performing Parkour stunts on the machine components.

Some of the more interesting images came from unintentionally creating scenes which were not machines at all.

Black and white, intricate line art illustration capturing the essence of November Project's fitness community. The scene ignites with a bed vibrating due to a fitness tracker's alarm, causing a girl in a rain jacket to leap. This propels a spray paint can, painting a 'let's get a little bounce' speech bubble on a wall. A boy in a funny hat begins push-ups, which activates a skipping rope. This causes a series of dominoes to topple, leading to a stadium where participants celebrate with high-fives. A 'race everything' sign is in view, and the entire scenario is set against a backdrop of an iconic building, emphasizing community.

Black and white, detailed line art illustration in portrait orientation portraying November Project's fitness spirit. Initiated by a bed's vibration from a fitness tracker's beep, a boy in a dinosaur mask engages in push-ups. His actions set a ball in motion, leading a woman wearing athletic socks to squat, unveiling a 'rise and grind' slogan. A girl in a rain jacket leaps, activating a megaphone broadcasting the 'you've got this!' message. The depiction segues to an outdoor park setting, where participants high-five beneath a motivational banner, with a sunrise in the background symbolizing early morning workouts.

Black and white, intricate line art illustration capturing the essence of November Project's fitness initiative. A wig falls onto a skipping rope, causing it to swing and knock over a water bottle. The spill causes a dinosaur mask to slide, startling a cat, which pounces on a 'weather proof' sticker. A boy with sunglasses does push-ups, shifting a kettlebell. A girl in athletic socks starts to jump, making a 'rise and grind' speech bubble appear. Nearby, a hill showcases a 'race everything' sign, with a stadium in the background. A leading figure with a raised hand signals for a group cheer pose, and the scene culminates with a sunrise, marking the beginning of outdoor workouts.

Black and white, detailed line art illustration in portrait orientation showcasing the essence of November Project. Sparked by a bed's tremor from a whistle's blow, a girl in athletic socks starts push-ups. Her movements dislodge a coffee cup, causing a spilled stream which a dog chases up a staircase. At the pinnacle, a woman in a wig begins squats, triggering a 'you've got this!' speech bubble. The depiction shifts to an outdoor park, where participants wearing sneakers and beanies high-five beneath a motivational banner, with a sunrise in the backdrop.

Black and white, intricate line art illustration in portrait orientation capturing November Project's fitness essence. The tableau ignites with a bed jolted by an umbrella's snap, propelling a boy in hiking boots into push-ups. His movement triggers a spray paint can, illustrating a 'let's get a little bounce' speech bubble. This cascade leads to a stadium where a diverse crowd rejoices with high-fives. A 'race everything' sign takes center stage, with the entire scene culminating with an iconic building in the background, underscoring community.

Black and white, intricate line art illustration in portrait orientation capturing November Project's fitness community essence. Sparked by a bed's jolt from an umbrella's snap, a boy in hiking boots engages in push-ups. His movement activates a spray paint can, sketching a 'let's get a little bounce' speech bubble. This chain leads to a stadium where a diverse crowd rejoices with high-fives. A 'race everything' sign is prominently displayed, and the entire scene culminates with an iconic building in the background, emphasizing community.

We took two of our favorite machine illustrations, made various manual edits, and put these together with the NP logo for a design that we really liked.

DALL·E 2023-10-29 08.15.21 - Growing a Community 02

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Naomi actually surprised me by having some custom buffs made for the two of us with this design.

Rube Goldberg NP Buff stacked 2 refinement

Scott wearing the "Rube Goldberg" buff that Naomi had printed

We got this design ready to submit, but we also decided to prepare an alternate design. This turned out to be a fortunate choice.

Crowd Sourced Doodles

We briefly considered crowdsourcing doodles from the NP community to capture the diverse artistic expressions of its members. However, due to time constraints and logistical challenges, we decided to continue exploring AI-generated designs.

We began refining some alternative designs, focusing on the “12 Months” concept. To achieve a consistent art style, we experimented with different AI prompts and image generation techniques. We also created a shared document to collaborate on refining the selected images and ensure alignment in our creative vision.

We went through many iterations and started to get a feel for how we wanted the design to look and what approaches might work for prompting.

Seasons Prompts and Selected Images

To capture the essence of November Project’s year-round activities, we crafted separate prompts for each season. These prompts incorporated specific NP symbols, activities, and phrases (pulled from our list of 157 items), resulting in a diverse collection of doodles that represented the community’s spirit throughout the year. We carefully selected our favorite images from each season to assemble the final buff design.

Meta-prompt for the per-season prompts:

Prompt for 4 images, each with a cartoonish style monochrome line art design. Each canvas features evenly spaced and similar-sized icons and symbols, with 7 items across each row. Create a series of prompts for 4 separate images, each prompt associated with one season of the year, and each depicting a set of 7 items customized for the specific season, with multiple variations of those 7 items in rows down the canvas. Choose items related to the outdoor community fitness group November Project such as shoes, dogs, water bottles, spray paint, t-shirts, funny hats, sweat bands, hills, stairs, trails, side walks, a boy doing push ups, a woman performing squats, a girl jumping, high-fives, hugs, coffee, donuts, medals, costumes, canoe paddles, a cow bell, puppies, stroller, wheel chair, stadium, flags, socks, a maple leaf, hiking boots, a band aid, a cat, a cartwheel, an alarm clock, an umbrella, sunglasses, a wig, a dinosaur mask, winter gloves, a snowman, and other symbols related to November Project. For one of the items, pick one of these phrases as speech bubbles, doodles, or signs: “weather proof”, “heck yeah”, “what time is it?”, “game time”, “let’s get a little bounce”, “race everything”, “just show up”, “rise and grind”, “you’ve got this”, and “stronger every day”.

Wide cartoonish monochrome line art design, in the style of classic doodle art, on a white background capturing Winter's essence and its association with the November Project. The canvas presents distinct doodles, each separated by clear white gaps. Doodles represent: a snowman, winter gloves, hills, a cow bell, a wheelchair, a girl wearing a funny hat, and donuts. Among these doodles, a sign reading 'you've got this' is distinctly visible.

Wide cartoonish monochrome line art design, in the style of classic doodle art, on a white background capturing the essence of Spring for the November Project. The canvas features distinct doodles, each separated from its neighbors by clear gaps of white background. Doodles represent: a shoe next to a trail, a boy doing push-ups, a water bottle, a spray-painted t-shirt, a cat with an alarm clock, stairs leading to a high-five, and a woman holding an umbrella. Among these, a speech bubble with the phrase 'weather proof' stands out.

Wide cartoonish monochrome line art design, in the style of classic doodle art, on a white background representing Summer for the November Project. The canvas displays distinct doodles with clear gaps of white background between each item. Doodles feature a sun icon, sunglasses, a girl jumping over an agility ladder, a bicycle, an umbrella shading a picnic spot, a water bottle, a skipping rope, an athletic sock with a sneaker, an outdoor amphitheater, and the 'just show up' slogan prominently featured.

Wide cartoonish monochrome line art design, in the style of classic doodle art, on a white background themed around Autumn and the November Project. The canvas showcases distinct doodles, each with clear gaps of white background between them. Doodles represent: a maple leaf, hiking boots, a stroller, a man giving hugs, a stadium with flags, sweat bands, and coffee in a cup. Among these, a speech bubble with the phrase 'just show up' is highlighted.

Layout and Design Challenges

The layout process involved arranging the selected doodles in a visually appealing and cohesive manner. We experimented with different compositions, aiming for an organic layout that reflected the dynamic energy of November Project. We encountered challenges in maintaining a consistent art style and ensuring that all the elements were clear and recognizable.

Submission

At this point, after several days of rushed iterations, we had something ready to submit. We knew the design had a lot of imperfections, but we were happy to have something to contribute. Little did we know that at this point we were really just at the beginning of the process. In mid December 2023, Rob McDougall contacted us to let us know that our 12 Months design had been voted the most popular of the submissions by the November Project co-leaders from around the world. I explained that we had a laundry list of minor tweaks that we thought could make the design even better, and asked if he would be open to accepting some refinements.

To address some of the omissions, redundancies, and other opportunities for improvement from the version of the design we had submitted we began a process of meticulously replacing select elements in the design. We generated additional images and selectively extracted individual doodles to replace or improve specific elements. We also focused on refining the overall composition and ensuring that the final design was visually balanced and impactful. I was enthusiastic about spending a significant portion of my holiday break making improvements to a design that would be worn by hundreds of fellow NP participants.

Can you spot the plank guy from the lower right corner of this image in the final design?

In several cases, we had some very specific ideas that we wanted to include in the design. For example, we knew we wanted a mother with a baby to represent the many strong mothers of NP. We tried again and again to get a suitable image.

Some had no baby. Several had the wrong art style, or too much detail. Eventually we landed on something we could use, and with a bit of editing the woman in this image got incorporated into the final design.

Did we include elements of November Project in our design that resonate with you? What would you have included that we missed?

AI Controversy

After another week of intense work, late nights, and countless AI prompts, we finally had a design we were proud of. We arrived at a design with dozens of improvements over what we had submitted initially. The design incorporated a vast array of representative symbols from our “12 Months” concept, resulting in a unique representation of November Project’s spirit, community, and year-round activities.

But then we got the big news: in light of the fact that we had used AI to help generate our design, the NP leadership team decided it would be unfair to the other participants in the design competition to allow our entry to be accepted. This was a huge disappointment, especially after putting in the extra hours to refine the design and after sharing with friends and family our excitement about having been selected. Knowing that the design might still have a future helped take away some of the sting, and fortunately our effort wasn’t wasted.

Final Design and Reflection

Fast forward to November 2024. Rob contacted us again and let us know that November Project was using our design for a customer merch fundraiser. With a few additional refinements (including inverting the colors), a version of our design was used to create some custom shirts and other gear.

The design was also selected for the buffs for 2025. We went with the white on black color scheme and added some pops of yellow to avoid repeating the “black on white” scheme used by Camille Le Gall in her city skylines design for the 2024 buff.

The Role of AI and Technology in Design

While AI played a significant role in our design process, it’s essential to acknowledge both the benefits and potential drawbacks of using AI in creative endeavors. As a software engineer, I’m excited about the potential of AI to enhance creativity and accessibility in design. However, it’s important to be mindful of the ethical considerations surrounding AI, including issues of bias, accessibility, and environmental impact. This raises the question: Does the value of unlocking creative use cases like this justify the costs?

Conclusion

Our journey through the November Project buff design challenge was a testament to the power of community, creativity, and technology. By leveraging AI tools and embracing a collaborative spirit, we were able to create a design that captured the essence of November Project. We hope this blog post has inspired you to explore the potential of AI in your own creative pursuits and to continue supporting the November Project’s mission. We’re excited to see how technology can shape the future of fitness and community. Please continue to share your ideas and join us in this exciting journey! I’m optimistic that technology can continue to empower all of us to do more creating and more connecting.

November Project Buff