08 Revolutionizing Design: Embedding Intelligence in Parametric Models with Ping Hsiang Chen

In this episode, we talk with Pavlina Vardoulaki Pryor discuss computational design, how DesignMorphine was formed, its Masters programme on computational design and its Ph.D. programme. Pavlina is a computational designer and an academic working at the intersection of technology and design. She is currently working at Nike's HQ in Oregon. She is a founding member and CCO of DesignMorphine. Pavlina has taught at numerous distinguished institutions including at Harvard GSD, NYIT, AA School and others.

In this podcast episode, I reflect on my my experience as an architecture professional and student and how important it is to have a balance between work and life, so that we are not completely overwhelmed by our projects. I believe that the way we have been taught about architecture and the way we practice is WRONG and it starts really early - in university, so when we develop our professional charcater, we are already deep into a system that deprives us from basic balance, because deep down we have been taught and accepted that the highest imporance is always placed on the project instead of ourselves. 👉 Project-based work in all creative industries emphasizes the importance of "creativity" at any cost. Yet, burnout is real, but it is institutionalized within architecture, design, and other creative industries, starting from education. We are taught that the must invest all our energy into the good of a project. This applies to student work in universities and at work in firms, agencies, and more! What is the balancing act? It starts with prioritizing basic needs like enough sleep, food, and more. And continues with realising that better management would lead to less last-minute requests that cause burnout. But most importantly, it leads to understanding fundamentally within each of us what our priorities are and how our daily pattern and work requirements serve these priorities. Perhaps, if it is a priority to climb the corporate ladder as quickly as possible, without regard for family and friends, then always prioritising the project, at any cost is ok. Yet in many cases, I dare to think that our priorities may be different. What are yours and how do you balance your work load, especially near deadlines?

In this episode, we talk with our guest Mariana about digital architecture for the metaverse and web3, how design compares between the digital and the physical, optimism or lack thereof within the architectural profession, generational shifts, and how to maintain wellbeing. Mariana Cabugueira is an architect and the founder of Mariana Cabugueria Studio. She has previously worked at Zaha Hadid Architects in London and at the web3 metaverse blockchain platform Wilder World. She speaks at numerous events worldwide on the intersection of physical and digital architecture. She teaches the highly successful Metaverse Architecture studio with Maya and Unreal Engine.

New podcast episode with Arturo Tedeschi. Arturo that has been at the forefront of utilising and showcasing the impact of computational design. A true cross-disciplinary designer, Arturo has and continues to collaborate with some of the leading brands in the world. Find out about the man behind the celebrated AAD book that every Grasshopper user probably has on their desks, his story, his thoughts on the importance of innovation in all design fields, and the impact of AI.

Learn about the free and open-source BIM package called BlenderBIM, offering a full-fledged native IFC editing experience within Blender’s user interface. BlenderBIM is part of the OpenIFC package, that allows native IFC. It is used for both small projects and for auditing on large complex international developments. Dion Moult is the founder and main developer behind BlenderBIM. He brings in a wealth of expertise of the construction process through his experience at one of the largest Developer in the world Lendlease. It has been quite exciting to talk to Dion and to find out what a design project’s life might be after the architectural design stages, and how BlenderBIM is providing some crucial capabilities for managing later pre-built stages of construction projects.

In this episode we talk with Bruno Postle, the maker behind Homemaker. Homemaker is an addon for Blender that uses Topologic's non manifold mesh algorithms, that allows you to model a low poly mesh and assign specific "patterns" and almost instanteniously turn that into an IFC BIM model in Blender. You will learn about his inspiration of creating homemaker based on Cristopher Alexander's A Pattern Language. Bruno is trained as an architect assisting large scale sculptors with realising and building their designs.

In this episode we talk with Stephen Coorlast about AI and the importance of understanding geometry properly. Stephen explores AI tools the moment they are out and shows how they can benefit the architecture community. In this episode we talk about real world applications of AI and Stephen shows us a project which connected us - a parametric design project done with Sketchup. Also available on youtube.com/uhstudio

In this episode Dimitar talks with Gaia on what architects can do to preserve their mental wellness in the typically highly stressful and intense academic and professional architecture environments.

Discussion about various impacts that AI will have on the architecture industry. We look at where AI is today and how it is already useful and we look at future possibilities of AI. We also talk about the media hype surrounding the AI scare and the reality of construction method constraints that show that AI is probably not coming for your architecture job any time soon.

In this podcast episode, we talk with Ping Hsiang Chen, who is a senior architect and computational designer at Zaha Hadid Architects. We discuss the importance of computational design in the holistic design process beyond concept stage, the importance of continuous learning, and Ping Hsiang describes how he developed a computational design model in Zaha that embeds design intelligence and possible feedbacks for easy modification. Beyond typical computational design, this process takes into account how potential design revisions can be addressed that come from external sources like the clients, municipality, consultants or anyone else on board. Visit https://dezact.org/ to find out more about Ping Hsiang's upcoming courses and exhibitions.