The process of generating a design and then documenting that design to show others are two separate skills. But they are linked and improvements in one lead to improvements in the other.
Architecture professionals in modern times have simultaneously been engaged in two separate parallel processes; generating designs and documenting the design to enable it to be built. There are several other key activities like for example, managing contracts and overseeing the construction of the building. However, this article will only deal with the two key parallel activities of generating and documenting designs. We will look at the technological revolutions that have changed how these activities take place and what has been gained and lost during each technological leap.
- Generating a Design
There are distinct stages in the advancement of design generation in the modern times. There are also new technologies that have been developed that have caused this process to leap from the previous stage to the next. When a transition occurs, things are gained and lost and the people involved must adapt to the change to stay relevant.
Hand sketching – 3D Modelling – Coding – Generative AI
A description of each stage.
Hand sketching this has been around since premodern times but it is still being used today.
Key technologies of each stage (3D = Sketch Up, Rhino / Coding = Grasshopper3D / AI = ComfyUI, MidJourney)
There is a backlash online about the overuse of AI in design fields, but this technology cannot be unmade, and you must embrace it to stay relevant. Don’t be too precious about whether it is your idea or the computers. The point of architecture is to solve environmental problems in the real-world, ideas and technologies are just what help us get there. Focus on the entire process not just one piece of it. AI is not replacing human designers it is a copilot you must learn how to work along side of it and guide it produce useful outputs for solving problems. Yes some of the fun of Architectural design has been lost but what has been gained is the realization that design concepts are not the key focus of Architecture.
Also there are still things AI still can’t do, like plan a building create new passive environmental strategies.
- Documenting a design
Likewise with documenting a design to enable it to be built there are distinct stages that we have seen in modern times and again technological advancements have caused transitions to occur from each stage to the next.
Drawing boards – 2D CAD – 3D CAD – BIM
SJM Studio Leeds 