Master of Science in Technology and Design (Architectural Design Computation)

This course is an introduction to concepts and methods, as well as practical techniques in design computation. It is comprised of three learning segments: (a) computational geometry; (b) principles of algorithmic design; and (c) advanced parametric modelling. Students will gain experience in geometric modelling, visual programming, and developing computer programs through a series of active learning sessions and exercises.

Digital fabrication investigates the transformation of concept design to manufacturing within contemporary digital media. Situated at the threshold between virtual and physical, design information and artifacts, it is comprised of both design computation methods as well as material fabrication techniques. The course introduces advanced methods and skills in computer-aided design and manufacturing and design materialisation technologies spanning from conventional fabrication to computer numerical control manufacturing, 3D printing and industrial robotics.

This course introduces students to design science where many design principles and methods will be reviewed, applied and analysed. Students will learn to make connections between design science and other fields, such as engineering, and how principles in design science can be used to advance these fields. The class will cover a broad set of design methods such as customer needs analysis, methods in creativity, functional modelling, design for X and design for testing and verification.

This subject is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and practical skills of the planning and execution of project delivery within digital technologies. It is aimed to offer opportunities to establish an understanding of the factors that impact the generation of Building Information Models (BIM), including methods of communication/collaboration, procedural BIM data generation, exchange between trades of the built environment, qualitative and quantitative introspection and analysis of models.

The course provides an up-to-date approach to the rapidly evolving new field of designing with Artificial Intelligence (AI). It also speculates on the ways in which the design process itself might be radically augmented and reimagined as a result of this recent epistemological shift towards a ‘Software 2.0’ paradigm. By situating the course within an experimental prototyping context, students will not only gain the practical experience of using / fine-tuning / training / evaluating / deploying deep learning models in relation to specific design workflows, but also the design sensibility to conceptualise, reason, visualise, articulate, and implement their creative design applications with state-of-the-art AI models.