Design

‘THOUGHT’ Process
idea . concept . theme . notion
REFRESHMENT
 Case
Design Study
Brief

Maintenance
Data

DESIGN
PROCESS
Post
Construction

Concept

Pre
Construction Design
 “..thought is a result of mental
activity, resulting in generation of
IDEAS, CONCEPTS,
THEMES and NOTIONS.”

Linda Allen, 2017

idea is a formulated thought
or opinion of an author,
which one uses as the focal
point of the entire piece
where does idea come from?
From the sky
 e st i on
is a qu
he n t here
W
 What do other
people think
about my idea?
Am I passionate Can it be
about it? executed?

Will my idea
Is it solving a
impress the
problem?
stakeholder?

10 Questions You Can

Ask Yourself to Validate
Your Start-up Idea
Is there someone
Will people be
that I would like
willing to pay for
to partner up
my design?
with?

Can I reach my
Is there place in
potential user for
the market gap?
early feedback?
What about the
competition?

Adapted from StartupIstanbul

Problems Needs
to be solved to be filled
 brain and mind
start working on the solution
 concept

“..concept is an abstract idea generalized from

particular instances.”
 Concept is an abstract idea generalized from
particular instances in defined statement; rich
and potent; powerful, influential, or effective
statement.
what makes a good concept
A good concept narrow your focus and therefore
 Become a design guidelines
 Inspires the design and design process
 Guides you from unclear design possibilities
Types of concept
 Primary analogies (includes
Look at other things nature, human body, etc.)
Analogies
A literal relationship between different Disciplinary analogies
things (architecture’s existing examples)

An abstract relationship (not literal) Different fields such as literature,

with varied things
CONCEPT
art or music.
Metaphors or Similes
Metaphors/similes spot parallel
relationships

Look beyond programmatic concepts

Essences
Holistic issues and values are
Essence of the project is captured
concentrated into explicit statements

Direct Response or Look at the realistic issues and

Problem Solving requirements

Architect’s illustration of goals

Ideals Look at universal values
and aspirations
a communication lines that
connecting your design concept and
the user thru a subject or unifying
motif.
Notions

“..one’s individual concept based on personal impression or

experience of something.”
 Idea

Concept
Notions

Theme

Design
 In The Lord of the Rings, the author’s THOUGHT was to
create an engaging fantasy novel about the fight of good and evil
in an imaginary world.
IDEA was that no matter how strong
the evil is, good wins eventually
CONCEPT would be a fantasy world, inhabited by fantastic creatures
bearing distinctive features of real people, and where there’s a powerful
dark side casting shadows all over the realm.
The THEME of The Lord of the Rings is an epic quest
of the group of individuals in search of glory, love,
justice, and recognition.
NOTION would be that good guys have to give their best in order to
succeed, and that size doesn’t matter
(right, Mr. Frodo Baggins?)

A concept is an overall idea, a
thought process, forming the
base of a design, and then you
design a them which depicts and
expresses your core concept.
Thus, a theme reinforces the
concept. The theme is a
communication bridge between
your concept and the user of
your design. It helps the user to
understand your concept.
Cobblestone Park by Angelina Yang

Inspired largely by the squid, the new park aims to immortalise this seemingly far-fetched
marine animal by abstracting its prominent characteristics, particularly its boneless body.

Beginning by the analysis of the chosen animal, two concepts were generated based on the
squid's fluidity and its chaotic tentacles.

During the development stage, symmetrical features were explored in plan, as well as
considerations for an open space that maximizes sun access.

Public seating and materiality were considered in relation to the squid's skin texture.

Finally, three elevated pathways were added to create the vertical crossing-over, alluding to
the 'ordered chaos' in the physical make-up of a squid.
 “If I can impress the client with good freehand drawings and that
always happens because most client can’t draw themselves. So it’s a
dirty tricks but it works..”

- Thorbjörn Andersson, 2019

Lion Mountain Park by TLS Landscape Architecture
The City of Suzhou Design Competition
 74-hectare
urban park
by Shishan
(Lion)
Mountain
Adaptation of Former
Hangzhou’s amusement
Ten Scenes of park and
West Lake pond
Design Core
of Lion
Mountain
Park
Newly-
New
developing
sustainable
Suzhou High-
watershed
Tech District
Ancient City –
Architecture
and
Courtyard
Garden -
UNESCO