| Term |
Explanation |
abstraction
|
the process of taking away or removing characteristics from something in order to reduce it to a set of essential characteristics
|
active
|
when used to refer to energy generation, active means the energy must change form to be used and energy is lost in this process e.g. burning wood
|
aesthetic
|
refers to those principles governing the nature and appreciation of beauty in design
|
aims
|
the objectives or goals
|
| analyse |
identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications
|
annotate
|
to add brief notes to sketch or design giving explanation or comment
|
anthropometry
|
the measurement of the human individual, these measurements are used to inform standard measurements in design
|
appraise
|
assess the value or quality of appreciate make a judgement about the value of
|
| apply |
use or employ knowledge and skills in a particular situation
|
architecture
|
the art or practice of designing buildings
|
assess
|
make a judgement about, to rate, weigh up, to form an opinion
|
asymmetry
|
a way of organising the parts of a design so that one side differs from the other without destroying the overall balance and harmony; also called informal balance
|
balance
|
an even distribution of visual weight
|
basic
|
essential or elementary
|
bubble diagram
|
simple architectural diagrams where bubbles are used to represent different spaces
|
built environment
|
the human constructed surroundings that provide the setting for human activity
|
circulation
|
the way people move through and interact with a building or space
|
clear
|
easy to understand, fully intelligible, without ambiguity; explicit
|
client
|
a person, or group of people, for whom a design is being developed
|
coherent
|
orderly, logical and internally consistent relation of parts
|
collaborative
|
to work with another person or group in order to achieve or do |
| communicate |
convey information about, clearly reveal or make known
|
compare
|
estimate, measure or note how things are similar or dissimilar
|
concept
|
an abstract idea, the start of a design
|
concept sketch
|
freehand drawings that are used by designers as a quick and simple way of exploring initial ideas for designs
|
conflict resolution
|
a way for two or more people to find a constructive solution to a difference of opinion
|
consider
|
formed after careful thought
|
context
|
the setting for a design, what is surrounding the site |
contrast
|
the arrangement of opposite elements (e.g. light vs. dark colours, rough vs. smooth textures, large vs. small shapes) in a design so as to create visual interest |
| critically |
add a degree or level of accuracy, depth, knowledge and understanding, logic, questioning, reflection and quality to analysis/evaluation |
| describe |
recount, comment on, and provide an account of characteristics or features |
design
|
a solution, the process of creating a solution
|
design brief
|
a written document for a design project specifying parameters
|
| detailed |
meticulous, specific, precise
|
develop
|
construct, elaborate or expand on an opinion or idea
|
| direction |
an element of design, all lines have direction - Horizontal, Vertical or Oblique |
| discuss |
talk or write about a topic, taking into account different issues and ideas |
| document |
to create a record of (something) through writing or record keeping |
| elements and principles of design |
components that comprise a design, such as line, colour, shape, texture, form and space |
| elevation |
a technical drawing of a particular side of a building |
| embodied energy |
energy consumed by all of the processes associated with the production of a building |
| emphasis |
a principle of design that refers to a way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements |
| enterprise |
a project or undertaking |
| environmental |
relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition |
| ergonomic |
designed for efficiency of movement and human comfort |
| evaluate |
appraise, measure, examine and judge the merit, significance or value of something |
| exemplary |
an outstanding example of practice |
| explain |
provide additional information that demonstrates understanding and reasoning; present a meaning with clarity, precision, completeness, and with due regard to the order of statements in the explanation |
| floor plan |
a technical drawing showing a visual of a room or building scaled and viewed from above |
| flow |
this refers to the flow of foot traffic through and within a space |
| form |
the visible shape or configuration of something |
| function |
the purpose for which something is designed or exists |
| graphic |
a drawing or picture used to illustrate |
| graphic organisers |
tools to help to help people to organize ideas and communicate more effectively |
| harmony |
harmony is the combination or adaptation of parts, elements or related things, so as to form a consistent and orderly whole |
| hierarchy |
a principle of design which refers to the order in which the elements within a composition are viewed by the eye |
| identify |
name, list and establish or indicate who or what something is |
| integrate |
combine one thing with another to form a whole |
| interpret |
explain the meaning of information or actions |
| innovative |
introducing new ideas or being original and creative in thinking |
| investigate |
carry out an inquiry to discover and examine facts |
| justify |
support a conclusion or design decision |
| juxtaposition |
to place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast |
| line |
an element of design referring to linear marks which draw they eye along |
| mass |
the visual weight or actual weight of an object |
| mind map |
a diagram used to visually organize information |
| negotiation |
communication between two or more people which is intended to reach a beneficial outcome |
| organise |
systematically order and arrange |
| outline |
give the main features or aspects of |
| passive |
when used to refer to energy generation, passive means the energy is used in its’ original format e.g. breezes to cool a house down |
| passive solar design |
using passive energy to cool or warm a home |
| pattern |
a discernible regularity in the world or in a manmade design |
| perspective |
system of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface, giving the illusion of depth in space. Linear perspective deals with drawing, and atmospheric perspective attempts to use colour and value changes to get the effect of distance |
| precedent |
using previous designs to inform another, these could be historical or exemplary designs |
| primary source |
first hand testimony or direct evidence e.g. going to a primary source for a precedent would be visiting the design yourself |
| problem |
a question proposed for solution |
| proportion |
the relationship between a part in comparative relation to a whole |
| psychological |
related to the mental wellbeing of people |
| range |
a number of different things of the same general type; breadth |
| rationale |
a set of reasons or a logical basis for an action |
| relevant |
applicable and pertinent |
| repetition |
repeating something e.g. part of a design in a pattern |
| research |
investigation into and study of materials and sources |
| resolved |
completed with a level of refinement and clarity of purpose/vision |
| rhythm |
rhythm in design is created by the repetition of a design element |
| sample board |
a board, manual or digital, used to show a style of a particular design. Often used to show interior design finishes or themes. |
| scaler |
educing or enlarging an object whist maintain proportion and relationship of objects |
| scale sketch |
sketching whist maintaining a representative scale. Scale sketches are often used in situations where relative size important but a full blown technical drawing is not required |
| section |
a technical drawing which shows a building as if it has been cut through, these views show interior features |
| select |
choose in preference to another or others |
| semiotics |
the use of signs and symbols to make meaning |
| set back |
the distance by which a building or part of a building is set back from the property line |
| shadow diagram |
a drawing which shows the impact a building’s shadow may have on the surroundings |
| site plan |
a site plan is a document that precisely maps out the area of the building site to scale. This is often used to show the position of a building relative to the whole site |
| social |
relating to society |
| sociological |
dealing with social questions or problems, especially focusing on cultural and environmental factors |
| solar geometry |
the position of the sun relative to the earth. Solar geometry is important in passive solar design and in creating shadow diagrams |
| solution |
the means of solving a problem, a design solution is a proposed solution to a design brief |
| space |
the extent of area in two or three dimensions |
| summarise |
express, concisely, the relevant details |
| sustainable |
able to be maintained at a certain rate or level |
| sun angle |
the angle of the sun in relation to the earth at a particular point in time. This is used in passive solar design. |
| symmetry |
the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis |
| systems thinking |
the use of various techniques to study systems of many kinds |
| synthesise |
to combine so as to form a new, complex product |
| technological |
relating to or using technology |
| temperate |
relating to or denoting a region or climate characterised by mild temperatures |
| temperature |
a measure of warmth or coldness |
| texture |
element of design that refers to the perceived surface quality or “feel” of an object—its roughness, smoothness, softness, etc. this can refer to the actual physical texture of a surface or the illusion of texture |
| time management |
management and organisation of available time and tasks to be completed |
| tropical |
relating to or denoting a region within the tropics, the climate is characterized by hot, humid temperatures |
| tone |
the lightness or darkness of a colour (value) |
| typologies |
classification of (usually physical) characteristics commonly found in buildings and urban places |
| universal design |
buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to all, including older people, people without disabilities, and people with disabilities |
| zoning |
the ability to separate spaces for particular purposes e.g. heating |