Course Details

1. Distinguish the interrelation between digital tools and design process.
2. Use different analogue and digital media within the design process by knowing the implications and the advantages of each one.
3. Use of certain digital design systems through the presentation and application of techniques on a design project.
4. Identify theories on digital design through the presentation and discussion of built projects and the comparison to students’ proposals.

Presentation of Digital Design Tools and Techniques

Design process is approached as a continuous effort to generate, investigate, clarify, and describe a built form in accordance to an initial abstract design concept. Digital tools contribute in four major stages of this process.
These are a. abstraction, b. representation, c. transformation, and d.convergence.

A. Abstraction. Refers to the connections between the personal intentions of the designer and the external information surrounding the object to be designed. Digital tools: recording of data and spatial  information, generative diagrams to discover the form of the object, etc..

B. Representation. Refers to the finding of the physical and geometrical characteristics that correspond to design intentions. Digital tools: 2d geometrical drawings, 3d modelling, simulation of non geometric properties, structural diagrams exploring the articulation of the different parts of the object, etc..

C. Transformation. Refers to the continuous elaborations that are put forward in order for the initial spatial form to meet the requirements of specific contextual conditions. Digital tools: geometric transformational techniques such as lofting, bending, twisting, time-based techniques, such as morphing and animation, field parameters simulation, etc..

D. Convergence. Refers to the presentation of the final outcome taking into account the design surroundings. Digital tools: 3d rendering,rapid prototyping, 3d printing, etc..

Principles of Representation and Modelling Systems

Means of representation are seen as symbolic systems though which design knowledge and manifestations are externalised and manipulated. Drawing and modelling systems are developed on the basis of design and geometric conventions. The understanding of the principles of design systems determines their applicability and effectiveness.

Design Example with the Use of Digital Tools

The application of certain methodologies and techniques is approached with the design of a realistic project, using a specific modelling system. The system used is Rhinoceros, a NURBS modelling system. AutoCAD and Photoshop are also used for 2d drawings and presentation. The project is developed in two stages. The first stage is the accomplishment of a reference object,mainly in order for the students to understand the system. The second stage is where their knowledge of the system is applied to the design of a small structure.

• Lectures’ Notebook.
• Rhinoceros (NURBS Modelling) User’s Guide and Tutorials.

• Peter Cachola Schmal (ed.), Digital Real, Birkhauser, Basel 2001.
• Antoine Picon, Digital Culture in Architecture, Birkhauser, Basel 2010.
• Neil Spiller (ed.), Digital Architecture Now, Thames & Hudson, London 2009.
• Branko Kolarevic (ed.), Architecture in the Digital Age – Design and Manufacturing, Taylor & Francis, New York 2003.
• Stavros Vergopoulos, Apostolos Kalfopoulos (ed.), Architectural Design and Digital Technologies 2, Ekkremes, Athens 2007.

The taught part of the course is delivered to the students by means of lectures and computer-aided presentations. The students carry out examples of digital techniques. Lecture notes and presentations are available through the web for students to use in combination with the relevant textbooks.

Techniques are exemplified with a design project work worked out on an individual basis.Students are requested to design a small structure and to produce process diagrams, 2D drawings, 3D models and presentation renderings. The course instructor makes comments and discusses the students’ proposals and progress,at every stage of the process.