Conversational interaction is central to architectural design practice. New information and communication technologies (ICT) change the designer’s traditional way of communicating and interacting. In this paper we investigate how communication in the design process might be supported using ICT. With this aim, we study a text-based Skype conversation between a design teacher and a design student. We consider this conversation as part of an architectural design process and analyse it using linkography. From the linkograph analysis, specific features are identified that apply specifically to text-based Skype interactions. We conclude that online text-based Skype interaction can be one of the many possible interactions by means of communication media (sketching, conversation, modelling, and so forth) during the design process, and provides a distinct set of characteristics that might be considered by the designer.

1. Reasoning processes involved in
ICT-mediated design communication
Pieter Pauwels
Department of Architecture and Urban Planning
Ghent University, Belgium
Jolanda Morkel
Department of Architectural Technology and Interior Design
Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
Rens Bod
Institute for Logic, Language and Computation
University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

2. the design process
information /
experience
The designer as a reflective practitioner – D. Schön, 1983

3. internal conversation
external interaction
conversation and critique

4. an array of media
…
software
construction process
meetings
experience

5. CASE STUDY

6. the design conversation
in the case study
• Design student – design teacher
• Skype chat for design ‘critique’
• CPUT, South Africa
• Duration: about 1 hour
• Content: 128 skype chat messages

7. “[D]esign a small, low tech, low cost, sustainable, multi-
functional and easily assembled shelter structure that will act
as the prototype for a public landmark facility. This landmark
may be repeated in a variety of community locations. These
‘communication hubs’ will provide sheltered places and
landmarks that will offer the relevant communities access to
information as well as opportunities for learning, communication
and social interaction. [..] A masonry service core of 1m2
and
5m high must be lockable after hours. Its main function is the
provision of a wi-fi spot. [..] The remainder of the structure
must contain gum poles and marine ply as the main
materials -these are provided for free.” [10].
design brief:
the community hub

8. reference projects

9. case study result: section

10. case study result: 3D model

11. the design conversation
in the case study
• Design student Andy – design teacher Elisa
• Skype chat for design ‘critique’
• CPUT, South Africa
• Duration: about 1 hour
• Content: 128 skype chat messages
=> Design moves and design episodes can be
identified

12. internal conversation
external interaction
conversation and critique

13. design moves and design episodes
Definition of a design moveby Goldschmidt:
“a step, an act, an operation which transforms the design situation relative to the
state in which it was prior to that move.”
Definition of a design episodeby Seitamaa-Hakkarainen:
“segments of activity aimed at reaching a certain goal; [they] are usually decisions
concerning design elements. Each episode contains a unique goal (design element)
that will be structured and solved during an episode. When the goal is accomplished or
changed, that design episode ends.”

14. LINKOGRAPH STUDY

16. the linkograph
Pauwels P, Morkel J, Bod R (2014)
Additional Data NordDesign2014 Article.
http://users.ugent.be/~pipauwel/experimentaldataskypemorkelpauwels2013.html

17. general linkograph statistics
104 design moves
306 links
Link Index: 2,94
10 design episodes:
1.the new idea design moves 11-20
2.web browsing design moves 21-28
3.plan and section design moves 29-40
4.Skype invite design moves 41-44
5.dynamic vs. classical design moves 45-64
6.central position of tower design moves 65-79
7.plan-section relationship design moves 80-91
8.floor-roof design moves 92-98
9.context design moves 99-104
10.conclusion plan-section design moves 105-114

19. design episodes
within design episodes

20. layering design episodes

21. diverse design episodes over time
time
…
ICT
sketching
…

22. ..., then it is possible to distinguish various such high-level design
episodes and explain the design process as a sequential process of
high-level experiments, in which new configurations and ideas come up
and are tested. As such, also the previous weeks and months of
the ideation process, which resulted in the ‘dancing ship’ concept, may be
considered and combined with the studied Skype conversation for a more
holistic analysis of the complete design process.
conclusion

23. USE the available array of media
…
software
construction process
meetings
experience

24. …
software
construction process
meetings
experience
Thank you
Pieter Pauwels – pipauwel.pauwels@ugent.be