On the implications of design process views for the development of computational design support tools

The empirical evidence indicates that the computational evaluation tools are not sufficiently and consistently used in the architectural design process. Various contributing factors have been suggested, most of which deal with tool deficiencies in terms of user communication features, stand-alone character, and informational complexity. Without questioning the potential impact of these factors, we suggest that circumstances pertaining to the representation and understanding of the design process must be taken into consideration, if a more in-depth understanding of the problem of tool deployment is to be achieved. Toward this end, we explore the possible impact of alternative design process views on the development of computational design evaluation tools. In particular, we describe how a nonconventional view of the design process can inform implementation efforts that lead to the emergence of new tools for active convergence support in design.