Learning to collaborate : lessons from the design studio

Abstract

This thesis examines the dynamics of collaboration within the architectural design studio by focusing on the basic elements of group interaction (Commitment, Conflict, Communication, the Collaborative Process and the Role of the Critic), as they apply to both the process and products of collaborative design. The theoretical discussion is supported with data collected from observations of two 'collaborative' studios organized by the School of Architecture and Planning at MIT. Effective collaborative skills are considered to be an important issue for practicing architects, yet these skills are often overlooked in the studio. This thesis proposes an educational pedagogy that balances the teaching of collaborative skills with the teaching of traditional design skills.