Mental Imagery based Design coding

The design protocol data was analyzed based on the theory that object and spatial imagery are the two visual components of mental representation (Mental Imagery) in design. Since architectural design is mostly visual the black box of design thinking was demystified using the two Mental Imagery components i.e. Object Imagery and Spatial Imagery. This provided a neuroscientific understanding of the design process not explored before. The design protocol data was collected through video sessions with the subject during COVID-19 times. The design protocol explored the difference in activation of Object imagery and Spatial Imagery in two design mediums; Sketching and SketchUp. The design problems were isomorphic in nature and the design setting was kept similar for both the design mediums. The transcription of the design protocol is provided so that it can be utilized to analyze the differences in design medium with other design coding techniques.本研究基于“在设计领域中，客体意象（Object Imagery）与空间意象（Spatial Imagery）是心理表征（Mental Imagery，心理意象）的两大视觉构成要素”这一理论，对设计协议数据展开分析。鉴于建筑设计多以视觉为核心导向，本研究借助心理意象的两大构成要素——客体意象与空间意象，揭开了设计思维的黑箱之谜，为解析此前从未被系统探究的设计过程提供了神经科学视角。设计协议数据采集于新冠疫情期间，通过与受试对象开展的视频会话完成。本设计协议探究了两种设计媒介——草图绘制（Sketching）与SketchUp——中，客体意象与空间意象的激活差异。本次研究中的设计问题本质上具有同构性，且两种设计媒介对应的设计场景保持一致。本研究附带提供设计协议的转录文本，可供研究者结合其他设计编码技术，分析不同设计媒介间的差异。