Assessment of Correlative Digital Drawing Features in the Design Processes of Unstructured Creativity

Abstract

This research critically challenges the conventional perception of drawings as mere technical blueprints and delves into the intricate integration of design ideation, abstraction, and speculation with geometrical manipulations and semantic labelling. By focusing on unconventional architectural design studio experiments at the undergraduate level, the study aims to explore the role of creativity in speculative drawing. It adopts a 3-dimensional design thinking process that transcends the rigid constraints of traditional drawings and embraces the fluidity of representational norms. Furthermore, the paper elucidates on the pedagogical aspects of the design studio, including the unstructured creativity inherent in the design process. The methodology employed in this study is exemplified through different stages of the design studio, incorporating a variety of representations such as 2D, 2.5D, and 3D, encompassing scalar, geometric, and material transfigurations. To assess the outcomes of the studio, the research utilises correlation diagrams that establish connections between digital drawing features at different stages and the unstructured creativity manifested in the final design. These scatter and correlation diagrams capture the syntactic relationships between the objects within digital drawings. The findings of this study reveal insight on the nuanced interplay between intuitive, reflective, and retrospective aspects of unstructured creativity during the design ideation process. By unravelling the intricate role of digital design tools and methods this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how design ideation is generated and manifested through the dynamic interplay of the modulating compounds of drawing objects. It highlights the significance of meaningful, conceptual, and speculative representations that directly relate to the creation of buildable forms and architectural spaces. Through its critical insights, this study paves the way for advancements in the field of CAAD and offers valuable perspective for architectural education and practice.