Lesson 1 in Design Computing Does not Have to be with Computers

Abstract

This paper proposes basic design instruction as a possible setting for introducing the concept of design computing to architecture students in the first year of their education. The argument is based on two viewpoints. The first extends the positivistic understanding of computation to visual reasoning in general. The second recognizes visual design activity as a reasoning process. The author suggests that, in order for computation to be embedded in the ways of design thinking, an understanding of it needs to be built-in, both as concept and as practice, into learning about the design process. The study draws attention particularly to basic design instruction as a setting for design and computation to be learnt concurrently. Examples from the first year curriculum at Middle East Technical University are given to illustrate the discussion.