Using Computers to Aid Creativity in the Early Stages of Design - or Not!: Rehabilitating the 2D/3D physical representation in Computer-Aided-Ideation

The introduction of Rapid Prototyping technology such as 3D printers and diverse Numerically Controlled machines such as laser cutters and milling machines, has made it obvious for many educational institutions, that a paradigm shift is occurring these years, that will forever change the design- and architectural practice, - for better or worse. This paper discusses the current change of role and status of the representation as a means to communicate design in the digital era. It outlines two opposite directions for the development of software technology, and brings forward previous and current research, on the didactic aspects of introducing digital software into the curriculum of architecture and design education. The paper describes a workshop held at the Danish Design School, where students proficient in using digital media, were challenged to use analogue models instead, to rediscover and utilize some of the creative potentials offered by this medium. Two other workshops discussing similar themes with different foci and different participants have been held since. One hosted by the Glass & Ceramic School on Bornholm, where the students are trained as traditional Craftsmen and another hosted by Nordes2009 at AHO in Oslo, where the participants came with a background in the research community. My own research interest lies in establishing or refueling a discussion on the importance of the ambiguity in a physical representation, as opposed to the finite interpretations offered by the digital modelling environment, that the profession is accustomed to work within. This interest has recently been confirmed and renewed by reading “The (soft) Architecture Machine(s)” from 1970+75 and by studying the works of Professor Julio Bermudez and Professor Bennett Neiman