Design In / Designing the First-Year Studio: An Experimental Study

Abstract

This article focuses on first-year design studios, which include of “firsts” and difficulties at the same time for both instructors and students in architectural education. The study questions knowledge that students would encounter tools that they would use and experiences that they would practice and a course was developed accordingly. The course was planned in two phases and lasted 14 (8+6) weeks. The first phase included consecutive practices that were supported by theoretical knowledge, the second one focused on a single complex problem (3D-Portfolio design/tower) which consists of basic knowledge and skills. This problem was designed in a way that it contained the following components: (1) ensuring that pluralistic environment in studio becomes a part of the process (2) in this environment, students learn by experience through back-and-forth steps (3) making the model as an active component of design process and (4) ability to handle 1-1 scale.

In this article, definition/process of this problem, which can be defined as experimental, is demonstrated in detail. Finally design question is evaluated by course executors through components of this design problem and it is revealed that how and to what extend design components determinant/directive in this process..

Keywords: first year design studio, design education,