Creative design studios: converting vulnerability into creative intensity

Abstract

Design studios play an important role in training future architects and designers, representing a key space for experimentation and creative practice in the education of architecture, landscape architecture and interior architecture students. Unlike other courses, design studios confront students with the concrete practical aspects of the design process, along with the more abstract poetic experiences of designing. This combination of practice with theory introduces students to the concept of creativity and creative design processes. While conceptually exciting, student engagement often comes with feelings of vulnerability and fear of 'exposure' that design practice brings, preventing them from experimentation. This paper explores various experiments designed to foster trust to aid in students' engagement in creative practices within studios. Several assignments follow where techniques are specifically designed to encourage creativity in the context of the architectural design studio. The paper further examines how architectural studio style teaching can foster a way of creating as well as researching through design and can provide a forum for both the sharing of knowledge as well as communication and collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders.

Problem-Based Learning and Mind Mapping: Boosting Creativity in Architecture Education

“…Restorative environments have been found to have a positive effect on creativity in the context of architecture education (Sabir, 2020). Creative design studios provide an environment where vulnerability can be converted into creative intensity (Marques et al, 2021). The medium of 'curiosità' in design education promotes curiosity and a non-ending appetite for knowledge, which are essential for creativity (Yurtkuran & Taneli, 2013).…”

Applying FABRIC as a Tool to Understanding Architectural and Landscape Icons in a Time of Travel Restrictions

“…This is an additional step to Kolb and Krakowka. On completion, architecture students are expected to use their experience to develop new ideas and apply this critical thinking process within the context of producing a well-reasoned architectural project [49]. With foundations in experiential learning, these processes provide evidence that real-world experiences can offer opportunities to test, trial, revise and develop a student's subject knowledge.…”

“…Many new tools and techniques have been developed and adopted for teaching online and there is an ongoing development of virtual technologies to try to augment the loss due to restrictions on site visits, etc. Virtual field trips have been found to solve many of the issues associated with taking students on excursions, such as the cost, the unsustainability of travel, and the disruption to student course schedules [48][49][50][51][52][53]. Further, advocates of virtual field trips point out the advantages of engagement from reviewers, critics, and jurors from across the country and from abroad [39].…”