A human-centric approach to a design-to-fabrication process

Recent advancements in computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) have influenced architects to practice more purposeful design processes. However, most previous research have focused on innovating CAD and CAM technologies and less on how to automate the specific needs of users into design-to-fabrication processes. Therefore, this study applies a human-centric design approach to examine how designers can leverage specific and dynamic individual needs in digital design processes to optimise designing of housing. Using research through design, we tested our user-design-fabrication framework with dynamic needs of homeless individuals and 3D printing construction technologies, to design and prototype homeless housing solutions in Melbourne, Australia. This research demonstrates that specific and dynamic occupant needs are leveraged by designer’s increased knowledge of digital design processes for 1) greater manipulation of basic software and machines and 2) provision of more individualised homeless housing design solutions. This suggests that there is a need for design researchers to further investigate the role of designers in such digital design processes working with homeless individuals, to foresee the current move in industry for more client-oriented and individualised homeless housing design solutions.

keywords: human-centric design; user-to-design; design-to- fabrication; homeless housing design; client-oriented design

• with: Nadia Anam (lead)
• year: August 2022 – March 2023
• for: Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA)
• download: Article