Unveiling interactions among architectural sketching, parametric design, and digital fabrication using linkography

Abstract

ABSTRACT A design environment represents the context and ecosystem in which design activities are conducted. Today, architectural practice includes a range of design environments, including parametric design, CAM, and digital fabrication, in addition to sketch environments, which serve to ideate and manufacture the architectural entity. However, there is a lack of empirical studies that unveil interactions among these environments. Therefore, this article aims to answer the following question: What is the role of the design environments and the cognitive impact of the interactive dialog between the design environments on design productivity while considering the parametric design and digital fabrication as an integrated process? For this purpose, an empirical study comprising 11 architects with a minimum three years/projects of Grasshopper experience was conducted. Design tasks required a transition between sketch, parametric design and digital fabrication environments. Methodologically, data were obtained by concurrent and thinking-aloud methods, and the design process was analyzed using the linkograph method. The findings indicate that the synthesis process is more pronounced during the sketching phase and diminishes during the parametric design phase because of the cognitive gaps. On the other hand, the parametric design environment is observed as a supportive representational environment for recalling previous design actions.