UI+ is a Grasshopper plugin for Rhino that introduces interactive canvas widgets to create custom interfaces for parametric models. UI+ serves as an extension for the Grasshopper visual programming environment within Rhino, specifically designed to enhance user interaction. It provides a suite of functional widgets that can be embedded directly onto the canvas. These components include sliders, toggle buttons, menus, and data graphs, which allow for more intuitive control over complex parametric scripts. By moving beyond standard input components, this toolset enables designers to build more sophisticated, dashboard-style interfaces, facilitating better workflow management and clearer parameter manipulation during the generative design process in professional computational architecture practices.

The download is a 369 KB file containing .ZIP files.

To implement this plugin, install the provided files into the Grasshopper libraries folder and restart Rhino. Once loaded, the new components appear within the standard component tabs. Users can drag and drop these widgets onto the canvas, connecting them to existing parameters to create interactive controls. Because these widgets replace or augment default input nodes, they require minimal reconfiguration of existing logic, allowing for rapid deployment and immediate testing of custom user interfaces.

This plugin is suited for computational designers, architects, and engineers working on complex parametric projects where clear parameter control is essential. It is particularly effective for developing interactive design tools for architectural competitions, facade rationalisation, or master-planning workflows where multiple stakeholders need to test design variations. By simplifying the interface, it bridges the gap between raw script logic and user-friendly interaction, making it invaluable for studio environments, research-led practices, and advanced BIM workflows that rely on high levels of automation and customisation.