Project

Sketch Interface

Groups

The goal of this project is to allow designers to continue using the traditional drawing tools they love, but to digitally enhance the drawing space so that designers can explore and enhance their work in more resourceful ways. More specifically, we are looking at an application for architects. There is a natural connection between architects and this research, due to their work with layers of transparencies to sketch out their designs. Because architects work so frequently with layers, they end up dealing with tens of thousands of sketches, and organizing and utilizing such a large collection of sketches is difficult. This project proposes to digitally capture and organize the layers that architects create, in order to help architects document and utilize their creative process without losing the tactile media to which they are accustomed. Using a video camera and a projector installed in the sketch space, we can capture and track the layers as they are being developed. We are also designing ways to graphically and spatially organize the captured layers, and to allow architects to pull out and work with the old layers easily. Once the prototype is complete, we plan to evaluate it by inviting architects to use the system in their design studios.