Creating Design Objects from Cases for Interactive Spatial Composition

Abstract

This paper describes IDIOM, a system for composing layouts using cases. Layouts are interactively composed by users rather than automatically generated as has been proposed by previous research. The design is incrementally parameterized as cases are added and therefore, case adaptation, user interpretation and model activation can occur at any stage. IDIOM supports designers through reducing constraint complexity and through managing design preferences, thereby restraining proposed solutions and further adaptation within globally feasible design spaces. Improvements to the algorithm over previous implementations have increased reliability. In general, designers, who currently carry out spatial composition tasks using standard drawing tools, have reacted favourably to the system, providing useful feedback for further work.