Performance Driven Design and Prototyping: Design Computation and Fabrication

This article discusses an integrated design method and the use of computational tools for design exploration, analysis and fabrication. It discusses the development of a collaborative course where simulations, modeling, parametric design and fabrication are used to investigate and optimize design solutions based on their performance, such as response to environmental constraints. Digital fabrication is used as a method to study and investigate physical behavior of the design, such as materiality and constructability. Several projects are presented as outcomes using different digital fabrication methods, such as CNC-milling and laser cutting.

keywords: performance-driven design, analytics, fabrication, computation