Architectural design process : relating designer iterative-behavior and design quality measurements

Abstract

This study examined designers? behavior in the architectural design process. Among the various types of designer behaviors, iterative-behaviors are specifically considered in this research. Iterative-behaviors are regarded to be a goal directed component of a particular process. Therefore this study aims to investigate its implication on the architectural design process. The main objective of the study is to identify and analyze these behaviors within the context of the architectural design process. Physical actions, eye movement, and sign language are some of the typical iterative-behaviors in the design process. Among the methods used to study such behaviors include field observation and verbal protocol analysis of design problem solving activities. These were the two methods used to capture observed data of a group of final year architecture students performing given design tasks within a closed environment at the Faculty of Built Environment (FAB) in UTM. Sketches were the medium of design representation accepted as observable data in this study. The study also used qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis in acquiring the general findings of the research. In the first instance, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis and graphical presentation provided statistical evidence of linear relationships between designers? behaviors and scores. Further methods of analysis included theoretical computation between duration, scores, actions and activities during the design session. The results of data analysis indicate that designers? iterative-behaviors did not influence the score of the resulting design, but some positive outcomes were established like those pertaining to the relationship between designers? sketching fluency and the score of a resulting design. Finally the research also postulates the possibility of repeating this study on other parts of the world, thereby establishing whether designer behaviour and design output could be linked to cultural and psychological differentiations.