ASSIGNMENT REFLECTION – MIND MAPPING

Challenge

As a student from architectural school, I have to face challenges related to design thinking almost  every day. Humans have been constructing their shelters and houses for over centuries,  sometimes with the same traditional methods and sometimes by involving new technologies.  From where I belong, it is a developing country with not much resources, so we rely on traditional  methods for designing our buildings. I was presented with a challenge to propose an innovative  method for designing buildings in our region, based on computational designing software, so we  could improve our architecture through technology if possible, with currently available resources.

Selection

Mind mapping process is important for idea generation as it allows you to look for themes and  patterns in data and developing meaningful insights through these observations. It is an engaging  process that includes jotting down of observations, ideas and drawing creative sketches. So, I  selected this tool as it could help me to look for patterns in our present building designs and their  relation to possible future trends.

Application

Initiating the process from "what is" phase, I gathered data in form of surveys of our regional  buildings, getting reviews from inhabitants about their house qualities and what features they  wanted to have in their future houses. After preliminary observations, I put mind mapping process  into action, by initially drawing a mind map for "what is" phase, thus focusing on our present  buildings, to uncover hidden needs of our building residents. This helped me to put myself in  client's shoes and understanding that in a building, despite its beauty, there are other factors too  that users cherish more. These factors are user comfort, affordability and easy maintenance of  the building. I also developed a questionnaire for our regional architects to get confirming &  disconfirming data on what are local construction materials, are they enough environment friendly  and easily maintainable or not.

Figure 1. Mind map drawn for design thinking

As I continued to draw mind map, I mentioned useful data of what-is phase as "extract". Then,  under the umbrella of computational designing, which was a part of my design challenge, I thought  of possible ways in which these software could make use of our local construction materials to

design a building. By doing so, I interpreted that one of the most common digital technique i.e.  parametric modeling could be a solution since it involves repetition of only a single module in a  building which could be clay bricks in my case as these are locally available and cheap here. The  software works by taking dimensions of module as input and then generating various design  options. So, when we input dimensions of brick, then not only software will give these design  options but also give instructions for joining bricks in this new way. This will help our local  craftsmen to adapt this new technology as they were previously familiar with only traditional  brickwork. Furthermore, buildings made with local material like clay bricks will endure the weather  conditions better and will prove to more sustainable and affordable.

Figure 2. Clay brick-wall forms generated by software

Insight

Drawing mind map allowed me to have a clearer picture in mind of what to focus on, as putting  your thoughts on paper helps to develop deeper understanding for the problem and it’s solution  because it leads you systematically through a series of steps from “what is” to “what if” phase.  Thus, I started from data collection through surveys and clients, mind mapping different  observations and patterns in our building designs, then deducing meaningful insights from it. And  lastly by relating those insights to possible outcomes. And throughout the process I kept on  referring back to the previous patterns thus merging all into one.

Approach

I think from now on, my approach towards any design-thinking challenge would be mind mapping  as I find it impactful, because it leads you through a proper channel from beginning to the end of  process by establishing a design criteria which becomes foundation of possible solutions.


ASSIGNMENT REFLECTION – MIND MAPPING Challenge As a student from architectural school , I have to face challenges related to design thinking almost every day . Humans have been constructing their shelters and houses for over centuries , sometimes with the same traditional methods and sometimes by involving new technologies . From where I belong , it is a developing country with not much resources , so we rely on traditional methods for designing our buildings . I was presented with a challenge to propose an innovative method for designing buildings in our region , based on computational designing software , so we could improve our architecture through technology if possible , with currently available resources . Selection Mind mapping process is important for idea generation as it allows you to look for themes and patterns in data and developing meaningful insights through these observations . It is an engaging process that includes jotting down of observations , ideas and drawing creative sketches . So , I selected this tool as it could help me to look for patterns in our present building designs and their relation to possible future trends . Application Initiating the process from " what is " phase , I gathered data in form of surveys of our regional buildings , getting reviews from inhabitants about their house qualities and what features they wanted to have in their future houses . After preliminary observations , I put mind mapping process into action , by initially drawing a mind map for " what is " phase , thus focusing on our present buildings , to uncover hidden needs of our building residents . This helped me to put myself in client 's shoes and understanding that in a building , despite its beauty , there are other factors too that users cherish more . These factors are user comfort , affordability and easy maintenance of the building . I also developed a questionnaire for our regional architects to get confirming & disconfirming data on what are local construction materials , are they enough environment friendly and easily maintainable or not . Figure 1 . Mind map drawn for design thinking As I continued to draw mind map , I mentioned useful data of what - is phase as " extract " . Then , under the umbrella of computational designing , which was a part of my design challenge , I thought of possible ways in which these software could make use of our local construction materials to design a building . By doing so , I interpreted that one of the most common digital technique i.e. parametric modeling could be a solution since it involves repetition of only a single module in a building which could be clay bricks in my case as these are locally available and cheap here . The software works by taking dimensions of module as input and then generating various design options . So , when we input dimensions of brick , then not only software will give these design options but also give instructions for joining bricks in this new way . This will help our local craftsmen to adapt this new technology as they were previously familiar with only traditional brickwork . Furthermore , buildings made with local material like clay bricks will endure the weather conditions better and will prove to more sustainable and affordable . Figure 2 . Clay brick - wall forms generated by software Insight Drawing mind map allowed me to have a clearer picture in mind of what to focus on , as putting your thoughts on paper helps to develop deeper understanding for the problem and it ’s solution because it leads you systematically through a series of steps from “ what is ” to “ what if ” phase . Thus , I started from data collection through surveys and clients , mind mapping different observations and patterns in our building designs , then deducing meaningful insights from it . And lastly by relating those insights to possible outcomes . And throughout the process I kept on referring back to the previous patterns thus merging all into one . Approach I think from now on , my approach towards any design - thinking challenge would be mind mapping as I find it impactful , because it leads you through a proper channel from beginning to the end of process by establishing a design criteria which becomes foundation of possible solutions .