Kotsopoulos S, Ph.D. Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005
II. Shape Computation Theory
3. Computational Design Theory
The expressive performance of a visual artist can be compared to the expressive act of a speaker. They both
conform to a pre-existent mode of communication, but also they build up means to go beyond the conventions of
an existent language, whithin which the communication tales place.
The speaker uses conversation to produce a response in an audience. The visual artist uses visual-spatial
arguments to produce a response in a group of spectators. They both have the authority on the subject of their
intention, and a motive for making that intention clear, and being acknowledged for it. The speaker deals with
speech, sound and meaning. The designer deals with form, color, and meaning. On these general grounds, an
effort to establish a computational theory for design can be initiated.
What could be the general desired attributes of a computational design theory?
I simply outline here a list of five possible characteristics: First, computational design must treat spatial elements
and their properties. Symbols have different properties and convey different kinds of information from higher
dimensional elements. A computational device for design must acknowledge these differences. Second, a
computational device for design must visualize the interaction of spatial elements as they are used, in composition.
Third, in design the outcome cannot be a single ‘correct solution’. Computational design must allow alternative
'potential solutions'. Fourth, some generative capacity is required. Devices that are productive are preferred from
ones that are simply suggestive. Fifth, a computational design approach must fulfill some minimum explanatory
criteria regarding the design process and the produced artifacts.
The goal of computation in design is not to reduce design into prescriptive formulas that eliminate thinking, or to
impose restrictions, but to arrive at conventions that propel creativity. One should be able to build one’s own
system of conventions, or to alter the established, general, conventions of an existent system.
A computational approach can include other attributes of design, such as meaning. And because artifacts express
perception they can also produce psychological explanations. Further, art and architecture as mediums of
communication and influence among people can be looked from a historical or sociological viewpoint. A
comprehensive examination of design can include several perspectives that are not conflicting: formal, semantic,
psychological, sociological, and more.
Shape computation theory focuses mainly on shape, the elements of space and their possible relationships. The
basic assumption that is adopted in this study is that in design, at the very least, the elements of space are put
together to form spatial compositions. To capture the interaction of spatial elements shape computation theory
uses shape algebras. Points, lines, planes and solids are used in spatial calculations, while syntactical and
interpretive statements are used to assign empirical meaning to calculations.