ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the importance of an integrative design process in the realization of a performative approach. From the exploitation of a playful, inquisitive spirit to the transdisciplinary rigor that constitutes a new way of approaching problems of varying difficulty, what emerges is an articulation of the culture of design and the inextricable relationship with the designer’s sense of self. Cases are explored that reach into difficult, even wicked problems, and reveal the experience of designing a sandcastle.
What cannot be overlooked is the proclivity of the human spirit to reflect itself in every project undertaking. This proclivity frequently transcends any form of disciplinarity. In such situations, the attitude toward the social networks of work direct the individual to adapt to the appropriate level of collaboration as a high-level tactic to achieve the project. The very best of architecture is a form of design thought modeling that reconciles personal expression and metaphor with the utility of the situation at hand. Between these two is the play of the design inquiry endeavor. It is not linear; rather, it is a process of seeking and self-discovery.
This chapter explores the relationship between designed performance and the human imperative.
