MEASI Academy of Architecture :: Chennai-600014

[Affiliated to Anna University]

LESSON PLAN 2019

1 Programme B.Arch 6 Theory / Theory Cum Studio

2 Regulation 2017 7 Semester 5th
3 Course Title Theory of Design 8 Academic Year 2019-2020
4 Course Code 8001 9 Department Architecture
5 Course Faculty Silvinus Clisson Pragash 10 No. of Credits 3

11. Categorization of Courses: PE

12. Course Learning Objectives:

 The primary objective of the subject is to understand the various tenets of Design as
discipline by itself.

 Subject helps in understanding the evolution of design theory over the years and
application of the same in current day and age of architectural practice.

 This subject exposes the students to various methodologies in design thin

13. Course Pre-requisites: Completion of 4th semester

14. Schedule of teaching and learning

Date / Unit & Total Period Mode of Reference /

Week Periods per unit allocat Topic Delivery & Source
ed by Teaching
faculty Aids
Definition and understanding of design. PPT/Lecture Bryan Lawson,
History of design process from earliest 'HowDesigners
Week 1 times through Think',
3 hrs
Unit 1 Renaissance, Beaux Arts, Bauhaus.
Introduction to Different classifications of design PPT/Lecture Bryan Lawson,
Design according to scale, process, 'HowDesigners
Week 2 mode of production, etc., - self- Think',
(7 periods) 3 hrs
conscious/ unselfconscious, design
through drawing/ design through craft
1 hr Pragmatic/ iconic/ analogic/ canonic or PPT/Lecture Geoffrey
Week 3 syntactic, handmade/ machine made, product Broadbent,
design to city design, functional/ aesthetic, 'Design in
nature vernacular/ technological. Architecture
Context for the rise of the design PPT/Lecture Nigel cross on
2hrs methodology movement from the 1950s design
Week 3 with the critique of modernism. Theories methodology
of the first generation and the second movement
generation design methodologists.
Week 4 Unit 2 3hrs Design as wicked problem. Escalation PPT/Lecture Bryan Lawson,
Design and regression in design. 'HowDesigners
Think',
Methodology
3hrs Summary by Johnson of various models PPT/Lecture
Week 5 movement of the design process - parametric or Conceptual
(10 periods) analysis/ synthesis/ evaluation Models: Begin
by Designing
What to Design
Summary by Johnson of various models PPT/Lecture
by Johnson
2hrs of the design process - conjecture-
Week 6 refutation, paradigmatic, hermeneutical.
Assessment-1 (Test :1 – 11/2 hrs, 50 marks)
Unit 1 and 2- Definition and classification of design, Design methodology movement, Design as a wicked
problem, Various models of design by Johnson. Assessment will also include review of notes prepared by
students in the class

Understanding the term creativity. PPT/Lecture

Week 6 1hr Edward De
Bono, 'Lateral
Theories on thinking - left brain/ right PPT/Lecture
Thinking-
Week 7 Unit 3 3 hrs brain, convergent/ divergent thinking, Textbook of
Creative lateral/ vertical thinking. Creativity'
Thinking 3 hrs Broadbent's idea of the design spectrum - PPT/Lecture
Week 8 from the logical to chance. Geoffrey
(10 periods)
3 hrs Blocks in creative thinking. Techniques PPT/Lecture Broadbent,
Week 9 to generate creativity as put forth by 'Design in
Broadbent, Bono. Architecture
Assessment-2 (Test :1 – 11/2 hrs, 50 marks)
Unit 1,2 & 3 Theories on Left and right brain thinking, Broadbent’s Design Spectrum, Bono’s 6 thinking
hats Assessment will also include review of notes prepared by students in the class, Assignment on
application of creative technique in a design problem.

3 hrs Types of architectural concepts - PPT/Lecture C. Thomas

programmatic, analogic, metaphor, 'Redefining
Week essence, etc. Designing:
10 From Form to
Experience',
Unit 4 3 hrs Channels to creativity in architecture as PPT/Lecture 'Poetics of
Week Architectural put forth by Antoniades. Architecture-
11 Creativity Theory of
Design
(10 periods)
Week 2 hrs Personal philosophies and strategies of PPT/Lecture Internet
12 individual designers. resources
Week 1 hrs People and design process- concept of PPT/Lecture Christopher
12 pattern language by Christopher Alexander, A
Alexander Pattern
Unit 5 Language
Week Architectural 3 hrs Participatory approach to design, design PPT/Lecture
13 Creativity as process involving time and people.
Week 6 hrs Introduction to contemporary PPT/Lecture Internet
(10 periods) processes in design including diagramming, resources
14&15
mapping, parametric exploration, etc.,
Assessment-3
Assignment on design process of various architects with models explaining the same

15. Reading List:

 1. Geoffrey Broadbent, 'Design in Architecture - Architecture and the Human Sciences', John
Wiley & Sons, New York, 1981.
2. Bryan Lawson, 'How Designers Think', Architectural Press, 2005.
3. Anthony Antoniades, 'Poetics of Architecture- Theory of Design', VNR,1992.
4. Edward De Bono, 'Lateral Thinking- Textbook of Creativity', Penguin Books, 1990.
5. Christopher Alexander, 'A Pattern Language', Oxford University Press, 1977.
6. James C. Snyder, Anthony J. Catanese, Timothy L. McGinty, 'Introduction to
a. Architecture', McGraw Hill, 1979.
7. Mark Garcia, 'The Diagrams of Architecture', Wiley 2010.
8. C. Thomas Mitchell, 'Redefining Designing: From Form to Experience', Van Nostrand
Reinhold,1992.

16. Assessment pattern:

(i) Term paper / Assignment  Assignment on application of creative technique in a design

problem.
 Assignment on design process of various architects with
models explaining the same
(ii) Seminar Assignment on design process of various architects with models
explaining the same will be conducted as a seminar in class
(iii) Quiz / Comprehension Book review of various books prescribed in the syllabus
(iv) Case study discussion Case study exercise on design failure where the student as to come
up with real world example of design failure which they have come
across
(v) Carry home exercise and All assignments are carry home exercises
self-study
(vi) Innovative methods  Students will be required to prepare notes after each lecture
which will help the understand and assimilate whatever
through
which was though that particular day
 Various reading exercises will be given as carry home
assignments which would help the student understand the
gist of the subject and develop a perspective.
 Model making exercises to understand the design process.

17. Expected outcome / learning quotient of the course: (Based on syllabi -which is measurable)
 Ability to think about architecture as one of the many fields under the broader ambit of design asa
fundamental human activity
 Self awareness with respect to the creative process.
 Ability to engage different processes to give creative output.

Date: Silvinus Clisson Pragash