Observing the learning curve of videogames in architectural design.

This paper presents innovative research into the use of videogame environments within architectural design studios. In this context, 3D videogame environments encourage new understandings of design process by virtue of their immediacy and interactivity. A difficulty however of integrating these environments into design studios, is that the media has fewer established representational norms when compared to traditional design media, and inexperienced designers have difficulties in progressing through typical design milestones. This paper reports on a series of architectural design studios that utilise videogame technology for design enquiry, outlining both the techniques used by the authors to aid designers working with this media, and observations and understandings gained from the outcomes.