// if(get_browser_version() =='MSIE'
// After page loading, if the swap images are preloaded, mouse-over on a cell // will immediately show the swap image, instead of momentarily handing for the swap image to be loaded. // To test if preloading is working, delete the temporary cach file of the browser, // quit the browser, re-open the browser, go to project page and move the mouse over a large cell (2x2) // to see if there is any delay in loading the swap image. // Colored rectangle background for each main menu // Their positions, colors are defined in the style sheet.
RESEARCH IN DESIGN AND COMPUTATION
The following sections describe faculty sponsored research entities within the Computation group. For research work samples from recent student thesis projects, please see the Alumani section in this website.
MIT Design Lab
Digital Design and Fabrication Group
Architecture Representation + Computation
Shape Grammars
House_n
 
MIT Design Lab
Principal researcher: Prof. William Mitchell
The MIT Design Laboratory focuses on the theories, techniques, and practices of innovative design. It pursues research, executes practical design and art projects, and engages in scholarship and criticism. It is organized as a collection of multidisciplinary research and project teams, and it is not constrained by the traditional boundaries among design, planning and engineering professions and disciplines.
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Digital Design and Fabrication Group
Principal researcher: Prof. Larry Sass
The Design Fabrication Group is a center for education and research in areas of rapid prototyping and CAD/CAM fabrication for architects and designers. The group engages faculty, students and staff in research focused on the relationship between design computing and physical output used for design representation and reflection.
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Architecture Representation + Computation
Principal researcher: Prof. Takehiko Nagakura
Founded in 1996, the Architecture Representation + Computation group sponsors a wide range of education and research activities to students and visiting scholars at MIT's Department of Architecture. The group's challange is innovative use of computation for solving problems stemmed in contexts of architectural design practice. Current projects encompass software and hardware development, computer graphics content creation, and design work for architectural competitions and building projects.
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Shape Grammars
Principal researchers: Prof. George Stiny, Prof. Terry Knight, Prof. Takehiko Nagakura
This group is engaged in a broad range of work on shape grammars, a visual and generative system for creating and describing designs on multiple levels. Work on shape and shape representation at the theoretical level aims at a new computational basis for design. Work on practical applications focuses on the potential of shape grammars in stylistic analysis and in the creative design process. Faculty and students are also exploring the use and development of digital and web-based technologies, computer software, and remote collaboration for supporting shape grammer applications. See shapegrammar.org for more information on shape grammars.
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House_n
Principal researchers: Kent Larson, Principal Research Scientist
House_N group strives to design better homes and home technologies. It explores how new technologies, materials, and strategies for design can make possible dynamic, evolving places that respond to the complexities of life. Major House_n initiatives include The PlaceLab and the Open Source Building Alliance. House_n study participants live in a unique apartment lab, wear sensors for a day, teach a cell-phone when to interrupt you, get interviewed for opinions, and more.
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