Computer Aided Design: Inhibitor or Exhibitor of Creativity?

Magda Seiden
Professor Madden-Zibman
01:355:201 J1
May 6, 2013

Seiden 1
Abstract: Computer Aided Design (CAD) is computer software used by architects to ease the
design process. Because CAD allows for extremely precise and realistic designs and simulations,
it has become easier for those who do not have hand-drawing skills to create architectural
designs. However, sometimes a designer can get caught up in the aesthetics of a design that they
lose sight of the functionality of a product. This paper seeks to find how and if CAD encourages
creativity in architects during their creative (design) process through researching CADs effect
on design functionality, design education, and architectural design before computers, as well as
creativity theory. My research has shown that CAD is beneficial to creativity in architects
because it saves time, provides a more accurate illustration of a structure, and allows for more
overall possibilities in design as compared to those without the use of computer software such as
CAD. As long as CAD is used as a tool for design and the architect does not become dependent
upon it, CAD can open a realm of creative possibilities for architects worldwide.
Introduction
Background Information
Living in a society that is constantly moving forward, sometimes it is hard to keep up
with the pace. With new technologies being created every year, people are using new gadgets,
cars, and computer applications to simplify their lives and allow them to expand their
boundaries. Technology has revolutionized the architectural design field and how architects work
because it allows for individuals to expand their abilities and visions. Architecture is the art and
science of designing and ultimately being able to construct a sustainable building. If one wants to
work in this discipline, he or she is required to think creatively in order to come up with
functional yet aesthetic designs for buildings. Computer Aided Design (CAD) is computer
software used in art, architecture, engineering, and manufacturing to assist in precision drawing.
This software uses special graphics and algorithms to create three-dimensional models and
simulations of the structure that a designer wants to createbe it a car, a bridge, or even a
skyscraper. CAD use is a skill that architecture firms are looking for, and being able to use CAD
efficiently will work in favor of those who can properly use the software. The purpose of my
research is to uncover whether or not CAD inhibits creativity in the design process of architects.
Some believe that the use of CAD allows for an expansion of creative ability because the

Seiden 2
most vibrant work being done today would be unthinkable without computers (Reffat 119).
With society advancing in technology use at a fast rate, todays architects must be able to apply
technology to their work. CAD lets designers to create an unlimited amount of products that are
not possible to create with a pencil and paper. On the other hand, history has proven that it is not
impossible to make a complex design without a computer at hand. Centuries ago, people were
able to generate large structures with intricate and sophisticated designs without the use of
computers. However, times have changed and so has design, and therefore CAD has become
more involved in an architects design process.
Theoretical Framework
James C. Kaufmans Modern Theories of Creativity provides a simple approach to
understanding the many theories regarding creativity using the four Ps: product, process, person,
and press/environment (Kaufman 23). I will be focusing specifically on the creative product and
process. Through Kaufmans exploration of the four Ps and the propulsion theory, I will prove
that technology and software used in architecture positively influences the creative design
process of architects because they allow for more design possibilities.
The creative product can be physical or an idea: it is the end product that will be
observed. In order for a product to be considered creative, the domain, field, and person must be
working together. The domain is the area of specialty and according to the theory, when the
domain is altered, creativity is happening. Secondly, the field is considered the group of experts
within a domain who can make or break a person. Finally, the person is the one who creates the
final product which could be a concept, or physical piece of work. When the person, field, and
domain interact, a positive outcome can become the product (Kaufman 24). If there is no
domain, creativity will not occur. The field must play a role or else the person will not be

Seiden 3
properly guided in altering the domain and the field is essentially the persons most important
source of feedback.
In order to have a product, the person must undergo a creative process. The propulsion
theory discusses eight ways a person can contribute to creativity. One way in particular applies
directly to the use of technology and its effect on an architects creative process. Forward
incrementation pushes the domain slightly ahead and usually results in success. With
advancements in technology, architects need to follow and push forward the domain, which is
their design. Therefore, in order to advance their domain, architects will find themselves using
forward incrementation in order to create buildings that society needs.
Another theory to consider is Wallass five-stage model for creative thinking. The model
explains the process of problem solving and the creative process in a step-by-step procedure. The
first stage is preparation, which is used to start working on a particular problem. Incubation
allows for one to focus on other things while still thinking about the problem. Intimation is when
one is about to have a discovery. Next, illumination is when one has understanding of his or her
ideas. Verification is the final stage in which ones ideas are established and utilized (Kaufman
38). In problem solving for architectural design, any design needs time for a solution to be found,
or in this case, incubation (Haapasalo para. 3). Intimation in design is the sudden findings of the
solution. Illumination would be putting everything together in a design, while finally verification
would be the analysis of the final product of a design. Each theory explained is directly
applicable to the impact technology has on the creative process. Through my research, I have
found that CAD proves beneficial in enhancing an architects creative ability because it saves
time, produces a clear representation of the design at hand, and gives an architect a new array of

Seiden 4
prospects in his or her designs. As long as the designer is not completely dependent on the
software, CAD can be put to good use in the design field.
Computer Aided Design and Functionality
Architects must be diligent in their work because they are constantly problem solving.
CAD enhances creative ability and encourages innovation for designers because the threedimensional designs help architects use more detail in their design, which in turn allows for more
precise problem solving skills. To be successful as an architect it is imperative to be an avid
problem solver who thinks resourcefully in order to produce a successful product. According to
Bryan Lawson, professor of architecture at The University of Sheffield School of Architecture:
even the humble window simultaneously has to afford a view and yet maintain
privacy, provide daylight and yet keep out unwanted solar gain, maintain the
weather enclosure of the external skin and yet often provide a means of natural
ventilation, and of course play a major role in the visual composition of the faade
(Lawson 328).
In design, the potential for complications is inevitable, and when an architect runs into an
obstacle, he or she must be able to think creatively in order to fix any problem that may arise.
Something as small as a window, for example, can ruin the final product if the designer does not
know how to create an aesthetically pleasing design while have it still be functional. Small
details such as ones mentioned by Lawson can be overlooked if one is not using advanced
technology to create designs. As a result, the use of CAD is beneficial because it was made for
precision, therefore the minute details will not go unnoticed and obstacles can be eliminated
before they are created. Iain Hill, design director of Waston Steel in London, supports this idea as
he explains the importance of CAD to design: We could have built it without CAD, but that

Seiden 5
would have meant greater potential for errors (CAD- The greatest advance in construction
history). When working on a design through CAD, an architect can test whether or not a bridge,
for example, can sustain a certain amount of weight because CAD has the feature of being able
to make tests before an architect finalizes his or her design. That way, errors are minimized and
the architects can worry less about whether or not a design will hold up in the real world.
In contrast, Lawson explains the downside to use of CAD in architectural design: So it is
possible to put forward computer presentations that look attractive and even dazzling, that seem
authoritative, while the architecture so represented is really quite awful (Lawson 329).
Functionality is one of the most important components to architecture because at the end of the
day a good-looking design is not always a proper design. Although CAD makes it easier for
those with poor drawing abilities to create aesthetically pleasing designs, sometimes one can get
caught up in the visuals of a design that they forget about the function of the design; that is what
makes the creative process of architectural design difficult. It is not easy to create a brand-new
innovative design that follows every building safety code, is within a budget, and at the same
time under a time constraint, etc.. An inexperienced architect that uses CAD is very likely to
become consumed with the structure and become forgetful with the functionality of his or her
product. Thus, it becomes apparent that the creative process can be either negatively or positively
affected by CAD depending on how any given designer uses it.
It is important to understand that the creative product of an architectural design must
provide utility. It is essential in todays society that designers accustom themselves with new
technologies such as CAD in order to create buildings that are moving in the same direction as
society. When looking at architecture through time periods, the style changes and evolves. As
technology improves, so do architectural pieces. Forward incrementation allows for subtle, yet

Seiden 6
significant enhancements to the domain. As technology improves, design changes and creativity
moves further; therefore CAD simply is allowing for architects to push their domain forward in
order to keep up with the changing times. Only when used correctly, CAD exhorts creative
ability in architects.
CAD in the Classroom
Education has a big impact on the creative ability of an architect, and with CAD being a
skill employers look for in up-and-coming architects, it is extremely important for students to be
efficient in this software. Therefore, it is essential for instructors to be experienced with design
software. According to K.W. Lau, M.C.F. Ng, and P.Y. Lee, The creative teacher plays an
important role in designing creative teaching strategies, (80). A solid education is crucial for a
design student in order to be considered creative. The strategies used by educators can essentially
determine the creative ability of students. In a study on student and instructor attitudes toward
using CAD in design education, the results showed that many instructors tended to be reluctant
towards using CAD in the classroom:
focusing only on the conceptual phase of architectural design process and
seeking the existing CAD tools as merely drafting rather than design tools (Hanna
& Barber 2001) and fearing that supporting CAD in design education will lead to
the loss of hand drawing skills in time (Shu 2000) (Tali, Erkip 90-91).
The reasoning behind instructors avoiding an early introduction to CAD is understandable.
Although CAD is becoming very important in the design world, one has to remember that the
greatest architects were able to create masterpieces before technology advanced; it is possible to
create something profound without a computer. Design is not completely about relying on
computer software to create a design, but it is about an individuals skill and giftedness. For

Seiden 7
instance, architects were able to design and construct the Roman Colosseum in 82 A.D. without
the use of computers. The Roman Colosseum is a structure that is 12-15 stories tall, 29,000
square feet, held a capacity of 50,000 people, and has complex designs within the building
(GreatBuildings). The type of intricacy in the Colosseums design was formed from a brain and
not from a computer. CAD opens the design field to those who are not skilled at designing by
hand, and many believe that architects should not rely on CAD when it comes to creative
thinking.
When used correctly however, CAD can, in fact, be beneficial to the design process of
architects. A study was conducted in 1991 by Paul Eshelman and Bianca Villegas regarding
students use of CAD and their creative ability and they found that as designers become more
familiar with a CAD system, their work will be more creative. Attitude toward learning CAD
appears to have the most influential effect on creativity, (Eshelman, Tatchell). Because CAD is
difficult to learn, design students need to learn how to think in new ways and thus their
enthusiasm to learn how to use CAD is what fuels their ability to think creatively.
Educators are incorporating CAD into their curriculum without focusing solely on the use
of CAD. For example, Witold Rybczynski, an architecture critic for Slate, has taken note of some
of the steps that educators have made to ease the situation: Yale has a summer program in Rome
in which students are required to sketch by hand. McGill University continues to require classes
in freehand life drawing and sketching school in the summer. The University of Miami
introduces computers only in the second year of its program (Rybczynski). Incorporating an
equal amount of hand-drawing courses, as well as computer courses in an architecture
curriculum, is essential for a student to enhance his or her creative ability. Introducing computers
once hand-drawing skill is approved will better a students talent. With the proper education,

Seiden 8
architecture students will understand that creative thinking is just as important to design as is the
ability to make models on a computer.
An example of the proper use of CAD in architecture can be found in Osaka, Japan. The
Kansai Japan International Airport was designed by Renzo Piano in 1994 and covers almost 3
million square feet. It has a high-tech design and is predominantly composed of steel and glass
(GreatBuildings). The creation of this building could not have been possible without the help of
computers. The airports design was complex and enormous while functional as well, which is
why it is often used as an example of a well-structured building (Rybczynski).
Through education, the creative person (aspiring architect) is interacting with the field,
being the educators of design. Without the field, the students will not be properly guided in the
right way towards success in creativity. Although creativity can be personal, it is important to
receive feedback, and in order to get feedback that will help move the person forward, it is
imperative for the field to be engaged with whatever new technologies (in this case, CAD) and
are able to apply them to their own design so that they can appropriately comment on how the
student is using their domain to enhance creativity.
Architecture Before Computers
The design process prior to computers, allowed for a different kind of creativity
compared to todays creative ability in an architect. Computers have, in fact, changed the types
of buildings created by architects. Most importantly it has changed the thought process behind a
design. As explained by Rybczynski, A finished architectural drawing required two steps. First,
a stylus was used to impress an outline on thick, hand-laid paper Once the barely perceptible
ghost drawing was complete, it was inked inarchitects spent a lot of time thinking before they
started drawing (Rybczynski). Rybczynski implies that when an architect had minimal

Seiden 9
resources, more time was put into creating the design of a building in their head before they
could put it on paper. This inevitably led to increased creative thought in architects. Designs were
stimulated after long incubation periods of thought and imagination rather than experimenting on
a computer screen to see what looks good and what looks bad. Many people believe that the use
of computers in design take away from the incubation period of a project. What CAD does well,
however, is that it cuts down on the time it takes to complete a project, which is ultimately
important because technology is making people accustomed to moving quickly and architects
must be able to keep up with society. CAD is so groundbreaking because it allows for one person
to single-handedly complete a task that used to be done by a group of people (Gardiner). The
creative situation that has changed is the time of incubation. Before CAD, incubation was a very
important part of an architects creative process. For architects before CAD, incubation was
necessary in order to come up with a creative product. If they did not take their time, the product
would not be successful.
It would be assumed that creativity was greater when resources were limited because
design before computers required much more thought as compared to design today. However,
change with time is inevitable, therefore it should not be assumes that CAD automatically
inhibits creativity because architects today do not think in the way that architects thought
centuries ago. Greg Lynn, an architect who took part on the New York Presbyterian Church
alteration in Queens, New York has eliminated the use of physical models and diagrams made by
hand and he only uses computers when he designs. Lynn explains his reasoning behind doing so
Without a computer, every point on a structure has to be calculated with reference
to everything else But by using a PC, I can create complex curves that don't
have radii or centers. Since the entire form is tied into itself through a complex

Seiden 10
mathematical equation, I can easily push and pull the shape and have the equation
automatically recalculate the new relationships within that form. If I tried to do
that by hand, a day's work would take a couple of years literally (Taub para. 9).
Centuries ago, before computers and certain drafting tools, architects would not have been able
to come up with formulas that allow for certain shapes to be built as the computer allows for
today. Though considered complex in the past, the computer has taken complex to a new level,
which is why CAD enhances creativity in architects. Computers have increased design standards,
and while buildings from the past are incredible, technology has pushed forward those designs
and are pushing the domain for architects to meet todays standards.
Conclusion
Creativity is a complex term that cannot be looked upon at face value. Because creativity
cannot be determined based on any single definition, people use theories behind creativity in
order to make a judgment as to whether or not a product is considered to be creative. James C.
Kaufmans Modern Theories of Creativity provides the reader with insight on numerous
philosophies on creativity in order to help people understand the creative person, process, and
product. In my research of CAD affecting creativity in architects, Kaufmans exploration of
theories on the creative process, propulsion theory, and Wallass five-stage model for creative
thinking were used to help me determine whether or not CAD enhances the creative process of
creativity. Through my research, I was able to conclude that although CAD is a useful tool in the
design process, architects should not rely solely on computers in order to come up with a creative
design for a building. Computer Aided Design is a beneficial tool for enhancing an architects
creative ability because an architect can create designs and models that are complex while saving

Seiden 11
time, the accuracy of projects are more precise, and the design possibilities with a computer are
increased compared to those without the use of a computer. Bryan Lawsons CAD And
Creativity: Does The Computer Really Help? helps to explain that many technical factors have
to be considered when designing a product, therefore it is imperative that architects do not
concentrate solely on complexity and aesthetics, but focus on the functionality of the building(s)
that they are designing as well. Looking at history, architects successfully created beautiful and
highly creative buildings (Roman Colosseum) before computers. Although many believe that
CAD takes away from an architects incubation period, The New York Times article explains
how CAD is efficient in its ability to cut down production time and create clearer visuals for the
final product so that during construction, architects do not run into surprises that can ruin a
design. Architects must remember that it is their imaginative thought that will bring them to a
successful design and they must use CAD as a tool, not as the main focus in their design.

Seiden 12
Works Cited
"CAD - The Greatest Advance in Construction History." The Architects' Journal. N.p., 5 Dec.
2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
Eshelman, P., and K. Tatchell. "How Beneficial A Tool Is Computer-Aided Design?."
Human Ecology 20.1 (1992): 15. Academic Search Premier. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.
Gardiner, Bryan. "Designers, Architects Celebrate 25 Years of Computer-Aided
Design." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 14 Nov. 2007. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.
Haapasalo, Harri. "THE ROLE OF CAD IN CREATIVE ARCHITECTURAL
SKETCHING." Vienna University of Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
"Kansai Airport Terminal - Renzo Piano - Great Buildings Architecture." GreatBuildings. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 03 May 2013.
Kaufman, James C. Modern Theories of Creativity. Creativity 101. New York: Springer, 2009.
Lau, K. W., M. C. F. Ng, and P. Y. Lee. "Rethinking The Creativity Training In Design
Education: A Study Of Creative-Thinking Tools For Facilitating Creativity
Development Of Design Students." Art, Design & Communication In Higher
Education 8.1 (2009): 71-84. OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 6 Mar.
2013.
Lawson, Bryan. CAD And Creativity: Does The Computer Really Help? Leonardo
35.3 (2002): 327-331. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Mar. 2013.
Reffat, Rabee M. "Digital Architecture And Reforming The Built Environment." Journal
Of Architectural And Planning Research 25.2 (2008): 118-129. OmniFile Full
Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 5 Mar. 2013.
"Roman Colosseum - Rome, Italy - Great Buildings Architecture." GreatBuildings. N.p., n.d.

Seiden 13
Web. 03 May 2013.
Rybczynski, Witold. "Have Computers Made Architects Less Disciplined?" Slate Magazine.
N.p., 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.
Tali Pekta, ule, and Feyzan Erkip. "Attitudes Of Design Students Toward Computer
Usage In Design." International Journal Of Technology & Design Education 16.1
(2006): 79-95. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
Taub, Eric. "Architects Grow Reliant on the 40-Pound Pencil: The Computer." The New York
Times. The New York Times, 10 Aug. 2000. Web. 05 May 2013.