Democratising Designtech

From Smart Buildings to Smart Cities, new technologies and data are beginning to radically transform how we design, manufacture and build, and use and optimise our built environment. And it is here that important questions need to be asked about designtech including how technologies are changing the role of designers, as well as the roles of individuals and communities, in reshaping the world around us.

Designtech is a fast moving field. There are some important questions to be asked – How do we make design more sustainable, democratic and equitable? How do we use data better? And what is the current state of the field?

These questions were discussed as part of an evening of talks at London’s Connected Places Catapult. The Catapult’s role is to support the growth of businesses with innovations in mobility services and the built environment. The event was held in conjunction with Dark Matter Labs, a company that undertakes research and prototyping to develop new models of 21^st century institutional infrastructure.

The panel discussed just some of the exciting work happening in this area. Panelists included:

• Dimitrie Stefanescu – Speckle/Arup
• Sarah Gold – Projects by If
• Jami Cresser-Brown – Bryden Wood

Data driven design

What role does data have in design? And how do use design to shape what data we collect and use?

Dark Matter Labs are soon to publish a report on the likely impact that technology will have on architecture. Not only is the industry undergoing huge change, but so is how we live. From rapid urbanisation, to addressing the climate emergency, we are entering a period of unprecedented change and challenge, and also opportunity.

Tech and data are changing how we design, build, and use our environments. It is also beginning to change how individuals and communities engage and interact with the built environment. So what is and what can the role of individuals and communities be? How can we democratise designtech?

It’s clear that we’re seeing an emerging trend toward the datafication of design. That is, using computers to help us design spaces and buildings in a way that is aligned with design principles and building requirements. In our move towards digitally integrated built environments, the application of data is shifting how we think about the lifecycles of buildings and urban environments, from design to construction, from intelligent supply chains to performance.

Up to now, these functions have very much been ‘owned’ by the experts. This is a matter of both who owns the tools which shapes who can participate, as well as who owns the data. And there are some real challenges, with the fragmentation of data, with software monopolies, and legacy software.

There are emerging trends to take note of:

• The development of open data platforms for collaborative networks;
• Work on what data we collect and how it is used (some thoughts on this in the context of ‘smart buildings can be found here); and,
• On data ethics and how do we get the balance right between individual and collective data rights. Could data trusts be one solution?

At present there seems more questions than there are solutions. But what will be critical are wider discussions and engagement so that design is not something ‘done to us’ but something we can participate in as communities.