The Digital Design Coach Enhancing Design Conversations in Architectural Education

Abstract

Changes in society, technology, and practice have created a significant demand for architectural graduates who can balance practical concerns with critical and abstract thinking. The current model of architectural education as it exists in academia, is hard pressed to supply this demand. This thesis seeks to redress this situation by connecting three maxims: 1) Strengthening the master-student dialogue is key to adequately exposing student designers to the issues involved in designing buildings that are fit for purpose, cost effective, sustainable and a delight to clients and users. 2) Sketching, a "designerly" way of thinking, is an integral part of this dialogue. 3) The computer in design education should directly contribute to helping students design buildings that are fit for purpose, cost effective, sustainable and a delight to clients and users. The thesis argues that due to the myriad of issues connected with architecture in today's society, the effectiveness of the student/master dialogue in architectural education has been weakened somewhat. At the centre of this dialogue is the sketch - a conversation between head and hand. The thesis will argue that by furnishing students with an "expert hand", the sketch becomes so empowered as to enrich the dialogue, raising the level of students' exposure to architectural issues. The suggested medium for this empowerment is the computer. Moving sketching into the digital realm as a direct means of thinking and learning is an innovative way of providing students with an "expert" digital hand. The sketch, for the student, becomes an intelligent conscious tool that supports and informs exploration. In turn, the empowered sketch presents the student with the many issues that comprise contemporary design problems. The result of this upliftment is a richer dialogue between student and teacher about architecture that is fit for purpose, economical and environmentally aware.