Embedding knowledge in the craft of digital design : digital design considered as the strategic approach to structuring a system of possible outcomes

Abstract

The ambiguous relationship between thinker and maker in a post-modern scenario emphasises the need to define an agency for architecture in a digital context. Peter Eisenman insists that for architecture to be critical, it should have enough of an external imprint on society, that it would re-imprint itself internally on architecture. This agency is not restricted to the status of technology, but more importantly, is an issue of political relationships between stakeholders in the design process. The research formulates a theoretical framework to describe digital architecture and its implications, including those on the role of instruments, form, craft, nature, and context. The developed framework is compared to selected case studies, to ascertain its validity as a creative thinking tool.