Architectural design using algorithmic scripting: an application of linkographic analysis techniques

Parametric design environments potentially offer an innovative way of generating new architectural design ideas. Despite this potential, architectural design activities associated with algorithmic scripting in parametric environments are not well understood. This paper presents a method using linkography for analysing protocol data derived from cognitive activities which occur during parametric design. To construct the linkographic analysis, this paper highlights design processes consisting of four 'moves': (i) introducing geometric/algorithmic ideas, (ii) creating algorithmic components, (iii) modification activities and (iv) evaluation activities. Drawing on data from a previous study of design cognition in parametric environments, the paper demonstrates the application of linkography to capturing the relationship between scripting and idea generation. The paper concludes with a discussion of the use of linkography and of the way it has been applied to interpret the results of a small but detailed study of algorithmic scripting practices in parametric design