Learning from Collaborative Integration:The Hackathon As Design Charrette

This paper examines the application of innovative and interdisciplinary collaboration methods that emerged from the rapidly developing field of information technology and its intersection within the realm of design and architecture.These events, also referred to as hackathons, have risen in popularity in recent years (Artiles & Wallace, 2013) and stem from a design response for the increasing demand for accelerated design decisions within the field of architecture.This paper examines the potential of hackathons as a platform for rapid development of design ideas into prototypes within a time constraint of 24 hours.The paper explores the hackathon as a robust foundational element for pedagogical approaches rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration.Using a case-study research methodology, this paper probes the framework of the event, the outcomes, and the lessons learned.As this paper demonstrates, the hackathon required participants to identify and explore shifting territories through interdisciplinary teamwork to arrive at innovative solutions.In this setting, the format of the hackathon serves as a vibrant territory that enables a concrete theoretical contribution to design pedagogy, CAAD education, and collaborative professional practice.