Outline Article: Programming Interior Spaces

1. Definition of programming

a. It general takes facts, evaluation, goals, and conclusions relevant to the problem situation are documented and presented in a clear, organized manner, facilitating communication between user and designer.

b. It establishes the basic goals and objects for the designer during the design phase.

c. “Programming is problem seeking, and design is problem solving.”

d. The collection step in the overall design process.

e. The initial step in planning, designing and constructing interiors and architecture.

2. The steps of Programming

a. Establish goals

b. Gather and analyze facts

c. Specify needs

d. Evaluate

e. Organize and decide

f. Present conclusions

3. Why Programming?

a. The programmer will interject into the program certain values and attitudes that turn will influence the problem solution.

b. The information gathered should direct the designer toward creating a viable environment that not only responds to the client/user needs, but establishes the resulting environment as a space promoting the healthy existence of those people and their functions in the over all society.

c. Programming creates goals.

i. The goal of a project state what the client wants to accomplish and why.

1. The client’s values and needs

a. Physical

b. Social

c. Economic

d. Psychological

4. What information does the designer need to collect?

a. How will the client use the space?

i. Present and future:

1. Needs

a. Physiological

i. Needs are physical in nature and relate to human and body requirements

ii. Ergonomics

b. Economics

i. Economically feasible to construct

c. Psychological and Sociological

i. “Personal Space”

ii. “Intimate Space”

iii. “Social Zone”

iv. “Public Zone”

d. Structural

i. Protection

1. Weather

2. Water

3. Cold

4. Heat

5. High wind

6. earthquakes

ii. Health

iii. Safety

iv. Welfare

e. Contextual

i. Working in harmony with the surroundings

1. Historical

2. Religious

3. Political

2. Activities

3. Conditions

4. Equipment

5. Special allocations

6. Other particular that will make the organization and design of space an easier task

ii. Facts

1. Descriptions of user characteristics, economic data, and statistical projections.

2. After the designer has collected the facts, the designer can use them as a basis for discussion, making calculations, or reasoning.

iii. The interviewer should record critical, factual, and circumstantial information to identify the user’s relevant needs and attitudes.

1. However, people do not always give all the information needed; so the interviewer should carefully scrutinize their comments to determine the user’s meaning.

5. How do Designers collect information?

a. User Survey

i. The users are given a survey or a written questionnaire to determine the needs and desires of those who will occupy the space.

b. Situation Research

i. When the designer consults a publication or other professionals, to find out how problems can be solved.

c. Organizational Profiles

i. Most companies will have a organizational chart, showing all of the relationships of the employees and their functions.

ii. The designer uses these profiles to gain a clear understanding of the working relationships of the company.

1. Communication procedures

2. Departments

3. Interrelationships among communication procedures and departments.

d. Communication Modes

i. Are interactions that occur between the staff members or between the visitors and staff.

ii. The communication patterns may be in the form of paper transactions, telephone systems, computer, or face-to-face meetings.

e. Functional Adjacencies

i. Functional relationships are defined in terms of the physical and spatial needs of each individual and each group, as well as the interactions of the whole organization.

ii. How much space does each “group” need?

f. Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment Inventory

i. What items is the client reusing?

ii. What items is the client purchasing?

iii. What items is the client replacing?

iv. Collect:

1. Type

2. Size

3. Color

4. Finish

5. Physical condition

6. What to do with the information used?

a. Break information into categories and identify the similarities and differences.

b. Categorize the information by:

i. Physical

ii. Social

iii. Psychological

c. Create charts and matrices, are effective ways to study interrelationships.

i. Programing matrix

1. Elements are listed in a grid and the relationships are determined by a dot or preset value mode.

ii. Pattern Searching

d. Evaluate the information

i. To determine the relative importance and to appraise the vaule of the “program”.

1. “What are the important issues?”

2. “What value will you assign the various data?”

3. “What alternatives should be pursued further?”

4. “Have the goals been met?”

e. Organize and Decide

i. To formulate the decision-making stage in programming.

ii. Projection of future circumstances and how they might be achieved should be stated, at this time.

7. Present Conclusions

a. To present finding to the client or other parties involved.

b. Presentation

c. Graphic data

d. Visual

e. Typical Outline for a program report:

i. Preface

1. Introduction

2. Participants

3. Acknowledgements

4. Table of Contents

ii. Scope

1. Limits of Study

2. Philosophy/Purpose

3. Summary

iii. Goals

1. Client and Operational Goals

2. Project Goals

3. Programming Goal

4. Programming Methodology

5. Client Background Information

iv. Data

1. Assumptions

2. Client Organizational Structure

3. Existing Conditions/Facilities

4. User Needs with Descriptions

5. Summaries of Projections

v. Schedules and Budgets

1. Budget Analysis

2. Phasing of Project

3. Time Schedules

vi. Conclusions

1. Spatial Needs

2. Recommendations

vii. Appendix

1. Detailed Statistical Data

2. Exhibits

Bibliography