Rico, E; Karimi, K; (2022) DRAWSCAPES: Study of the effectiveness of online diagrammatic sketching in participatory design. In: van Nes, A and de Koning, RE, (eds.) Proceedings 13th International Space Syntax Symposium, SSS 2022. (pp. p. 555). Department of Civil Engineering Western Norway University of Applied sciences: Bergen, Norway.

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Abstract

The increased user-friendliness of Space Syntax (SS) packages and their improved compatibility with popular 3D modelling software has pushed the use of Space Syntax Theory (SST) into the professional realm, making it approachable, not just by dedicated researchers, but also to an increasing number of practitioners. We argue that the applicability of SST can even go further if we use sketching as a form of interaction with the software, potentially opening up its use to general members of the public as part of a wider participatory process. We present a study that tries to understand whether the diagrams required for this form of engagement are easy to produce by non-professionals and once they are produced, see whether they have an impact on the planning process. We propose an experiment using an online design tool that allows participants to make drawings of urban proposals by drafting simple diagrams, beginning with connective paths followed by urban blocks using thicker versions of the same pen tool. We develop bespoke analytic methods to extract general patterns emerging from data, identify trends across different user groups, and study user interaction, design quality and user engagement. We take the expansion of UCL East as a case study and test our tool with several participant groups from the general staff and student population as well as external design professionals. Some of these professionals carry out the exercise after reviewing the design from UCL members. We obtained 700 drawings from 400 participants and carry out comparative studies across groups. The study concludes that general members of the public can understand the type of drawing exercise requested and produce designs of an adequate standard. We can also see that planners and architects observe positively the information coming from general members of the public and are willing to incorporate it into their designs.

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