Teaching design to civil and architectural engineering students - A diagram-based approach

Abstract

© 2019 TEMPUS Publications. In contrast to the extensive theoretical field that investigates the concept of the architectural diagram, certain aspects of the diagram's practical applications have been overlooked. Therefore, the research presented examines the potential of using diagrams as a specific form of graphic representation for teaching design to civil and architectural engineering students, through an empirical experiment conducted in a studio course environment. The research is based on the mixed methods approach, where the efficiency of the diagrams is tested through quantitative and qualitative analyses of sketchbooks, questionnaires and course observations. Through the application of diagrams, an emphasis is placed on the design process versus the final product of designing, thus deepening the understanding of the complexity of the architectural discipline. The results obtained show that diagrams support and improve the design process for novices, thus confirming their significant role in education, but also evidencing their importance as a means for developing complex design skills. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the reorganization of the course positively influences learning and design processes, as well as their outcomes, whereas new modes of representation have a significant contribution.