TERMINOLOGIES OF COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN: ISSUES IN TERM DEFINITION

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of ambiguity and lack of unification in the terminology of computational design, in particular the concepts of “generative design”, “algorithmic design” and “parametric design” in the Ukrainian academic environment. An analysis of English-language studies revealed key interpretations of these concepts, the characteristics of each approach, their differences and similarities, and the specifics of their application. The purpose of the work is to review terminology in the English-speaking scientific context, identify differences between methods, and propose the unification of computational design terminology in Ukraine. Methodology. To achieve the research objectives, an analysis of the most commonly used terms in computational design was conducted. The study identified the most frequently used terms in the literature and those requiring clarification – specifically, terms with equivalent usage, such as “computational design”, «generative design», «parametric design» and «algorithmic design». This analysis serves as a basis for creating proposed terminology within the Ukrainian context of research and practice in design and architecture. It aims to clearly define the conceptual and operational scope of each term, prevent the interchangeable use of different terms, and clarify potential combinations between them. The research consists of three stages: 1. Identifying the most relevant terms in computational design; 2. Collecting and comparing definitions of these terms. 3. Proposing a consistent and well-grounded terminology for computational design. Results. The concepts of “computational design”, “generative design”, “parametric design” and “algorithmic design” are described and unified, a hierarchical model is described which demonstrates the relationship between the terms, and the unique features and limitations of these methods are summarized in a matrix. Scientific novelty. For the first time in Ukrainian scientific research, such concepts as computational design, generative design, algorithmic design, and parametric design are distinguished. Practical relevance. The results of the study and the proposed unification of terms can contribute to the unification of terminology, which will facilitate scientific communication between researchers and practitioners, the proposed model of relationships between terms and the matrix of features and limitations of these methods can be used to create educational materials on computational design.