Traditional versus digital media in architectural conception and its reflexes in cognition

Abstract

This research aims to relate the cognitive processes of architects during architectural conception using traditional and digital media. Empirical data were collected from: (1) two groups of subjects using both media in order to perform two videotaped isomorphic tasks (designs); (2) questionnaires and (3) analysis of verbal retrospective protocols of these tasks. These groups were observed at Brazil and at England. The analysis of a coding scheme of the design behaviour of each individual (segmentations and categorisations of the cognitive actions) allowed a relational study of the design activities in terms of the primitive cognitive actions adopted by them in each design media. The results indicated that traditional media still have advantages over digital media due to both the limitations of the state of the art of hardware and software and the lack of understanding and mastery of the computational tool by the user. Some advantages related to the use of traditional media were: (1) to provide the architect with a better support for the perception of the visual and spatial aspects and organizational relationships of the project; (2) to produce more alternative solutions (lateral transformations) avoiding premature crystallization of design solutions and (3) a better understanding of the design problem.