Design fixation and creativity blocks in architecture design studies

Abstract

The process of designing includes, generation of the creative and innovative concept as a major step to give design projects a direction. The design is majorly defined as a problem-solving exercise of cognitive (internal) and interactive (external) thinking. In this process due to an odd combination of internal and external inputs, a number of hurdles and stagnant situations appear which consume a lot of creative time. These pauses, moments or breaks are termed as blocks and fixations based on their characteristics. The paper elaborates on the identified blocks and fixations in the architecture studio design process in context to the student’s experience. The fixation or the blocks are specific to Students domain which varies according to the content and Pedagogical approach. Hence the typology of fixation is kept constant and mapped according to the three years of architecture and in three zones for different pedagogical approach. Thus the interesting patterns obtained are inferred.