Impact of using rule algorithms on designers' behavior in a parametric design environment: Preliminary result from a pilot study

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary results from a pilot protocol study of the cognitive behavior differences of designers in a parametric design environment and a traditional geometry modeling environment. The aim is to explore the impact of the rule algorithm feature in parametric design by comparing designers’ behavior in these two design environments. Three architects participated in the experiment in which each of them was required to complete two design sessions, one in each environment. The protocols are coded using the function-behavior-structure (FBS) coding scheme. Preliminary results show that the overall behavior is not significantly affected by the environment; however, there are significant differences at different design stages in the two design environments.