An investigation into the cognitive, metacognitive and spatial markers of creativity and efficiency in architectural design

In this paper, we examined whether creativity and efficiency scores assigned to design solutions correspond to the distribution of room size in the designed layouts. We also examined associations between creativity, cognitive and metacognitive activity, and constraint relaxation in architectural design. In a design experiment, a group of 12 architects were required to design an architectural office. Their drawing activity was video recorded and they were required to think aloud. Both design solutions and verbal comments were analysed and modelled. A separate group of experienced architects assigned creativity and efficiency scores to the design solutions. The solutions were evaluated spatially. Linkography and macroscopic analysis were used to discern distinct patterns in the cognitive and metacognition activity of design processes. Entropy models of the linkographs and knowledge graphs were further introduced to assess the structure of information flows, and the structure of knowledge applied in the form of design constraints. We assessed how creativity and efficiency correlates to experiment variables, cognitive activity, metacognitive activity, functional distribution of spaces in the design solutions, and the type of design constraints applied. It was concluded that creativity positively correlates with number of original ideas, perceptual cognitive design moves, and number of structural, material, and technical design constraints. Efficiency negatively correlates with design moves that entail looking at previous depictions, number of orientation, structural, and aesthetical design constraints. The findings provide insights on the relationship between creativity, cognition, metacognition, and the structure of knowledge reasoning in design.