Computational Design Systems

Research Vision

A Computational Design System (CDS) is a framework of integrated technological and methodological components that supports design practice and research at scale. It offers access to new technology platforms, establishes a common language, and fosters a community of practitioners. CDSs support designers and researchers at various stages of the design process, and helps them create prototypes using technologies like machine learning, edge AI, decentralized systems, large language models, and multi-modal learning. Ultimately, CDSs aim to support the creation of designs that better align with societal needs.

The CDSs developed by the cluster are first incubated within the department by involving students and gathering their feedback. Once matured, the systems are made available to scientists outside the department and industrial design units in companies. Ongoing collaborations with external partners ensure that the systems evolve according to changing technological realities.

Research Identity

The research cluster specializes in technologies ranging from information systems to human-data interaction to machine learning. The cluster creates new design infrastructure using a research-through-design approach, taking technology into the wild early-on and involving stakeholders throughout the design process.

The IoT Sandbox is a small-scale model of a smart home that allows student design teams to explore, share, and evaluate system designs. The sandbox emphasizes the interconnectedness of elements through data sharing, which creates both constraints and design opportunities.

The Data Foundry is a system for prototyping and designing with data on a large scale. It simplifies data collection, storage, combination, and processing, enabling designers and design students to focus on understanding and utilizing the data for innovative design research. The Data Foundry is being transformed into an open-source version for academic and corporate use.