Sketching Versus Digital Design Tools in Architectural Design

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Sketching is a design tool that can be assumed to be ill-structured, does not offer exact solutions, is intuitive, and is open-ended in the initial stages of architectural design. Sketching creates an opportunity for architects to release their creativity and intuition, giving rise to spontaneous ideas and concepts in an organic and natural way. During the initial design phases, like in the conceptual stage of the design, designers receive aid from conventional sketching as their concepts and ideas can easily transform into tangible, real-world forms. With the development of digital design methods like CAD (computer-aided design) in pursuit of AI (artificial intelligence), it has been accepted that manual sketches are no longer the only method used in the design process, and the trend toward using new methods has begun. The diversity and evolution of tools used in architectural design, together with the integration of CAD, AI, and traditional sketching techniques, have contributed to the development of architectural design and facilitated enhanced collaboration, visualization, and efficiency across the design process. As a result, it has evolved to embrace the use of CAD, which was the first method adopted from these developments, as a basic skill in the field of architectural design education. This shift places a strong emphasis on the professional field of architectural design while also encouraging students to explore the innovative potential of CAD for design purposes. CAD presents architects with a robust platform that facilitates the creation of intricate designs and precise measurements during the initial stages of the design process. Following CAD, the development of AI-driven design tools motivates architecture students and designers to transform their concepts into concrete designs. Although it is known that each method mentioned has its own positive or negative aspects, it is not possible to say that any of them is used alone in architectural design processes. At this point, combining the design process with CAD and AI-supported design tools, as well as traditional manual sketching in architecture, helps develop a diverse and adaptable skill set in design. Integrating digital design tools into the architectural field emphasizes the enduring importance of traditional sketches, especially in terms of inspiration and conceptualization in architectural design, while also updating the design process. This document aims to explore the progression of employing diverse design tools, namely manual sketching, CAD, and AI-driven design tools, throughout the architectural design process. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of using computational design tools instead of traditional sketching with pen and pencil, aiming to juxtapose their respective benefits and drawbacks. In conclusion, although it is not yet possible to assert the superiority of one method over the other, it is evident that traditional sketching continues to hold significant relevance and effectiveness in the design process despite its long-term use.