Digital minds, materials, and ethics: Linking computational thinking and digital craft

Abstract

This paper describes the connections between computational thinking and digital craft, and proposes several ways that architectural education can cultivate better digital craft, specifically: motivating the use of computational strategies, encouraging a conceptual understanding of computing as a medium, teaching computer programming, and discussing digital ethics. For the most part, these subjects are not widely taught in architecture schools. However, moving forward, if the profession values good design, it must also value good digital craft, and ought to instil a way of working in the next generation of architects that makes the most of both the computer and the designer. Computational thinking provides a common foundation for defining and instilling this critical mindset and, therefore, deserves greater consideration within architectural pedagogy. © 2014, The Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), Hong Kong.