Idea development can occur using imagery only during early conceptual designing

Abstract

This paper shows that expert architects can effectively develop ideas without sketching during early conceptual designing. We analysed design protocols of six expert architects working on two different design problems under two different conditions, one in which they were blindfolded and one in which they were sketching. Architects developed design ideas efficiently when they were blindfolded, as opposed to the common view that they would better develop ideas with sketching