A Content-Oriented Coding Scheme for Protocol Analysis and Computer-Aided Architectural Design

In this paper we introduce a content-oriented scheme for protocol studies of designers and demonstrate its benefit for CAAD research. The structure of the coding scheme is described. We discuss how this method can benefit CAAD research and its differences from the process-oriented method used previously. With this method we analyze data to describe the design process as the combination of sensor-driven and process-driven processes. The results emphasize the importance of the sensor-driven processes in the design process. As a consequence we are able to propose some areas for CAAD tools that are based on the cognitive behaviours of designers.