Design Narrative Algorithm: Exploring the Effectiveness of Annotated Visual Narratives in Capturing and Communicating the Algorithmic Design Rationale of Digital Parametric Models

: (Alternative Format Thesis)

Abstract

Digital technology continues to play a growing role in several design-engineering industries, including Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC). While it assists in communicating quantitative aspects of the design intent (the ‘what’), there is a gap in communicating effectively qualitative aspects (the ‘why’ and ‘how’), otherwise known as the design rationale.

Since 2002, I’ve worked with global firms renowned for pushing the boundaries of design and construction; my role often involved leading specialist teams to develop solutions using algorithmic design principles, and communicating their underlying parametric rules from concept to realisation. To date, there are no recognised frameworks for systematically capturing and communicating design rationale of digital design models, including Parametric, BIM and Digital Twin models, independently of coding syntax and software – a research gap that this thesis identifies and addresses.

In this thesis, I explore the effectiveness of capturing and communicating the algorithmic design rationale of digital parametric models using instructive annotated visual narratives – a novel technique, intuitively inspired by LEGO manuals, that I first developed in practice in an attempt to bridge this gap.
The research is first informed by literature review, including overviewing design visual communication techniques used in various industries. I then explore a technique that I developed and applied successfully in practice as case study. I further test the technique through workshops and interviews, and use their feedback to inform the development of its universal framework – the Design Narrative Algorithm (DNA) – an algorithm-like visual process that enables communication of design as visual narratives systematically. The DNA is applied in practice on case studies and further developed to output a digital application that communicates design rationale interactively.

The unique ability of the DNA framework output – an instructive interactive annotated visual narrative – to capture and communicate design rationale in general, and the algorithmic design rationale of digital parametric models in particular, is the main contribution to knowledge that this research offers.

Date of Award	29 Mar 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Paul Shepherd (Supervisor) & Elies Dekoninck (Supervisor)