DATA-DRIVEN DESIGN

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At a moment of more availability, transparency and optimization in other fields, architects are increasingly being asked to bring evidence that our solutions can and will perform in a variety of arenas. These measures have ranged from financial to ecological, and now social and human environmental factors are of growing concern in the built environment. This development will move quickly and be led by data.

But where is the data? Where do new data sets come from, who owns them, who operates them, and how can they be used to design and measure buildings differently? Once new data sets are identified, who is in charge of cleaning information? Finally, what are the tools we can use to manipulate these data for design optimization purposes, and what are the benefits and risks of using this data from a legal or moral perspective?

This session will explore these questions and more, drawing on case studies highlighting the use of data in other industries, and encouraging architects to embrace the analysis and integration of data in the design process.

Sarah Williams (http://dusp.mit.edu/faculty/sarah-williams) is currently an Assistant Professor of Urban Planning and the Director of the Civic Data Design Lab (http://www.civicdatadesignlab.org/) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture and Planning. The Civic Data Design Lab employs data visualization and mapping techniques to expose and communicate urban patterns and policy issues to broader audiences. Before coming to MIT, Sarah was Co-Director of the Spatial Information Design Lab at Columbia University. She has won numerous awards, including being named top 25 planners in technology and 2012 Game Changer by Metropolis Magazine.

Jeff Ferzoco (http://linepointpath.com) has more than a decade of experience in information design, and specializes in new ways to visually explore the data in urban spaces. His practice meets at the crossroads of information, interactivity and urban planning — resulting in new ways to collect, display and use place-oriented data, or just have fun with it. His mapping projects have been featured in Fast Company, the New York Times, Atlantic Cities, and used in cities across the world.

Darrick Borowski (http://designhurts.us/portfolio/) is a designer, futurist and expat of the Midwest, with over 17 years’ experience working on architecture, design and branding projects worldwide from offices in New York, London, Seattle and Chicago. He is Principal and Design Director at ARExA (http://are-a.net/), an architectural practice advancing new modes of living, working and growing in an increasingly urbanizing world. Each project is seen as an opportunity for research through design and vice-versa, with an interest in our relationship with design and its effects on us and our behavior. Previously, as Creative Director at JPDA he led teams in retail, entertainment and interactive experience design for top tier clients including Apple, American Apparel, Harley Davidson and O2. As co-founder of the research collaborative Edible Infrastructures, Darrick lectures and publishes about his research employing algorithmic design tools to speculate on new generative mechanisms for the design of future cities. Darrick teaches 2nd year design studio at the School of Visual Arts Interior Design program. The studio's focus is on research methodologies in design practice.

Phil Kirschner (https://www.linkedin.com/in/philkirschner) is a computer science major hiding in a field dominated by architects and facilities managers. He worked at Credit Suisse for 13 years in a variety of change management and internal consulting roles, from information security to expense analysis and, most recently, workplace strategy. His team created the “Smart Working” program to address changing workplace preferences and reduce occupancy expenses, with environments that allow employees to transition seamlessly between shared, flexible working zones to meet their needs. To measure performance in their fully free-address environments, Phil collaborated with internal IT architects and data scientists to create a framework for capturing location-sensitive occupancy information.