D E S IG N 1: S E E I N G, T H I N K I N G, M A K I N G
Wu Yen Yen
Any form of architectural representation is a three-fold process.
Design 1 Year Leader, Unit 1 Leader First: it is important to have a thorough understanding of the nature of Lee May Anne
the content that is to be communicated. This encompasses a grasp of
Unit 2 Leader
the subject’s strengths, its value and its underlying operating principles; the time and place in the cultural, social, geographical spheres in which
Liang Lit How
this subject is situated; and its underpinnings in broader architectural
Unit 3 Leader
thought. To this end, seeing is an exercise in observing, deciphering and re-synthesising information into an original intellectual assessment. Going beyond mere looking or casting one’s eye upon an object, seeing is the perception of a subject within a thought framework. Second, strategising and formulating a conceptual vehicle that conveys this original assessment—its representation—is a rigorous design thinking process that combines a critical summation of the salient points of the subject matter with individual observation, and translates this into a new intellectual language that encapsulates even the finest subtleties. Lastly, making is the ability to formalise a largely intangible cognitive thought process of seeing and thinking, into a tangible mode of communication to others, conveying one’s insights in the most succinct, effective way possible, inviting critique, input and ultimately, use. The best outcomes are those that result from an incisive seeing and thinking through of resource material, and from the making of an original architectural representation, able to contribute to new dialogues on the way that the subject is now newly seen and thought of. This iterative process of perception and representation is then able to come full circle, producing new interpretations and informing us of new ways to see and think. Design 1 is about imparting ways of seeing, thinking, and making to students through graphical and formal vocabularies and introducing a variety of ideas on approaching design, expression and representation. This is ultimately aimed at allowing students of architecture to explore their own way of making that exemplifies their thoughts on space and architecture. Image by Avery Evans on Unsplash
22
23
