#design-education

This was an interesting topic in design computing class. Geometric constructions based on strict relationships are becoming exciting in parametric modeling environments. I think muqarnas includes such a relationship. There is a primary method of modeling this shape, introduced by Mete Tüneri. His solution to a simple parametric muqarnas object includes a surface with six reference points, with two boolean differences (one cylinder and one box) creating the component. In Grasshopper, I tried to simulate his process by adding real-time…

Today’s subject was closely related to the one last week; the data list and data tree management. Creating suitable data structures for our purposes is one of the tricky parts of whole Grasshopper experiments. We’ve developed a grid of objects, somehow associated with another one (a curve). Strong emphasis was on the way of thinking, getting back and forth on the process, and the re-definition of data lists. Especially, this in-class exercise would help you understand basic design techniques in…

SPEC disappeared from our garden suspiciously. Hopefully, we’ve already finalized its parametric survey. Can create the original model by measuring exact corner coordinates. Then, it manipulated shape by creating diverse vectors for each shape. Emre has also tried a similar approach. Can be definition was too long, and did not use data trees, therefore it is slow. But it’s very effective at offering a solution for animation. I re-captured his frames for animation: Another innovative solution came from Yağız along…

Here are some of the results of first assignment, “Reptile Skin”. Generally, we couldn’t manage to develop innovative solutions to the problem. But this became a good starting point for understanding the method of “skins of components” in contemporary digital design. Before going into any control over the flow of data, it’s hard to maintain associative geometries. We usually feel stuck within the capabilities of the single commands or procedures. That’s why, digital design deals with “processes” much more intensively…

In recent years, computational approaches in architecture started to change the scope of the architect’s work. He/she is not any more a passive tool user instead, became a casual tool developer. Conventional CAD systems that focus on geometric representation of a designed artifact, are transforming into systems in which the design is represented as a parametric process. By increasing utilization of these systems in architectural design process, parametric modeling is integrated not only as a new medium of design representation, but also as a design method. Designing the design implies…

This is a rather traditional geometry exercise we used to make in MaxScript. Grasshopper is also quite capable of associative geometry and real-time parametric designs of objects. The exercise of designing a furniture family should be based on design research, followed by shape alternatives and sketches (both digital and hand), then might be finalized using this parametric design environment. However, the example presented here is one of the most simplistic solutions to furniture family. This may be further developed regarding…

Information Age has been transforming architecture, provoking its theoretical and methodological foundations. We might call this as a paradigm shift or not; it’s obvious that contemporary research fields and built practices lead architectural design into a certain revolution. Mainstream schools of design education are becoming more involved in this revolution, with a common purpose; the need to construct a logical connection between contemporary design theories utilizing methods called popularly as “digital architecture”, and all aspects and agents of a design…

Design computing in architecture is evolved enough to form a more spread out advance, instead of being an alternative way of thinking and practising. Contemporary architectural practice is beginning to push forward such a transformation. This also effects architectural education, that is beginning to focus on digital design paradigm especially at undergraduate level not only in experimental studios, but also in formal education. Design studios however, play an important role on this transformation. Experimental studios on “computerized” architectural design are…

Here are some basic references to Grasshopper’s handling of objects. As the most powerful and intuitive part of such Visual Programming Languages is the focus of dataflow, the critical part of it’s education lies at the fundamentals of data tree manipulations. Designers using these tools should understand and predict the type of data trees their parametric model would process. We’ll start with basic and the most important ones: Data tree conversion right on the input and output gates of any…

When an educational system does not meet the requirements of a paradigm, new teaching approaches start to emerge. Today, design computing pushes forward a similar transformation on architectural education. Design studio, as the dominant setting for architectural learning, is the center of this transformation. There are numerous researches, experiencing and defining this transformation from various perspectives as “cases”. However as Oxman (2008) highlights, we still need to define a general pedagogical formation for digital design instructors, taking one more step…