November Meetup: Daniel Davis talking computational design in architecture

Hi all,

This month we have a special guest from overseas - Daniel Davis, Director of Product Research at WeWork!

Based out of New York, Daniel leads a team of researchers investigating how people are affected by architectural spaces. Using a range of computation and machine learning methods, his team are particularly interested in how workplaces can be designed to enhance people’s happiness, productivity, and connection to their community. Daniel originally trained as an architect here in New Zealand and later did a PhD in computational design at RMIT University in Australia. He has previously published articles in Architect Magazine, AD, and ArchDaily, as well as in books such as the ‘Thought Leaders of BIM’ (2014). Outside of WeWork, Daniel teaches at Georgia Tech and works as a member of the design team completing Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família.

Daniel will present a range of work, beginning with early computational work undertaken at VUW through to his current computational research at WeWork. Throughout this talk he will make that case that while computational design has affected our design tools, it hasn't meaningfully affected the way we use these tools. In particular, designers still operate with almost no feedback as to how their design will be inhabited. In this presentation Daniel will argue that computation needs to be applied more holistically to the design process, not only in the conceptual phases of the project but the post occupancy evaluation as well.

We'll be hosting this event at Productspec - Daniel used to work there years ago and it'd be remiss of us not to host him this time round!

As always, looking forward to seeing you all there (and for beers afterwards),

Chris, Tom and Tane