{ "event": { "title": "Arch_Manu–SoDA Research Symposium 2026", "venue": "Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn", "date": "Friday 6 November 2026", "dateISO": "2026-11-06", "hours": "9:00 AM – 3:15 PM" }, "schedule": [ { "start": "9:00", "end": "9:30", "items": [], "type": "break", "label": "Coffee" }, { "start": "9:30", "end": "10:30", "items": [ { "role": "Opening", "name": "Professor Blair Kuys", "affiliation": "Executive Dean, School of Design and Architecture", "link": "foreword" }, { "role": "Keynote", "name": "Rob Baxter", "affiliation": "i2C Architects", "talkTitle": "AI in Architectural Practice", "link": "keynote" } ], "type": "plenary", "label": "Opening and keynote" }, { "start": "10:30", "end": "10:55", "items": [], "type": "break", "label": "Morning tea" }, { "start": "10:55", "end": "11:55", "items": [ 1, 2 ], "type": "sessions" }, { "start": "11:55", "end": "12:55", "items": [ 3, 4 ], "type": "sessions" }, { "start": "12:55", "end": "13:55", "items": [], "type": "break", "label": "Lunch" }, { "start": "13:55", "end": "14:55", "items": [ 5, 6 ], "type": "sessions" }, { "start": "14:55", "end": "15:15", "items": [ { "name": "Associate Professor Carolyn Barnes" }, { "name": "Professor Eakachat Joneurairatana" }, { "name": "Professor Blair Kuys" } ], "type": "plenary", "label": "Close" }, { "start": "15:30", "end": "17:30", "items": [], "type": "break", "label": "Refreshments", "note": "At the Hawthorn Hotel" } ], "sessions": [ { "id": 1, "chair": { "name": "Alireza Abdolmaleki", "title": null } }, { "id": 2, "chair": { "name": "Andrew Haig", "title": "Dr" } }, { "id": 3, "chair": { "name": "Shiva Ghaznavi", "title": null } }, { "id": 4, "chair": { "name": "Carolyn Barnes", "title": "Associate Professor" } }, { "id": 5, "chair": { "name": "Luis Rivero Torres", "title": null } }, { "id": 6, "chair": { "name": "Ho Ho He", "title": null } } ], "presenters": [ { "id": "luis-rivero-torres", "session": 1, "name": "Luis Rivero Torres", "institution": "Arch_Manu (Swinburne University)", "title": "Towards a Circular Housing Chassis: A Framework and Taxonomy for Reversible Timber Tectonics", "abstract": [ "The construction sector relies heavily on linear, irreversible fastening, generating substantial demolition waste. While traditional wood-to-wood joinery offers a glueless, reversible alternative, historical compendia lack codified selection rules for automated prefabrication. This paper introduces the Reversible Timber Tectonics Taxonomy, a decision-support framework that filters 516 historical joint topologies to 46 qualified candidates and a minimal basis set of nine core exemplars tailored to Australian MGP10 structural pine. By combining deterministic geometric vetoes with evidence-based structural evaluation, the framework identifies a primary four-joint deployment set led by the Yatoi Hozo Shachi Sen ('Hero Connector'). Full-scale prototype testing validated non-specialist manual assembly of a corner chassis in 33 minutes and 38 seconds, and non-destructive disassembly in 10 minutes and 18 seconds, with zero observable timber fibre damage. The framework operationalises endangered craft knowledge into computable rules, democratising circular prefabrication via accessible 2.5D CNC routing." ], "bio": [ "Luis is a Mexican architect specialising in computational design and digital fabrication. Over nine years, he has contributed to projects across Mexico, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Africa. He is a PhD Candidate at Swinburne University, and a member of ARC Arch_Manu ITTC." ] }, { "id": "shiva-ghaznavi", "session": 1, "name": "Shiva Ghaznavi", "institution": "Arch_Manu (Swinburne University)", "title": "From Spatial Parameters to Representative Baseline: A Comparative Analysis of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation", "abstract": [ "Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) is expanding rapidly, yet there is limited consistency in how the spatial parameters of its compact units are identified, measured and compared. This study develops a systematic method for analysing one-bed, self-contained PBSA studios in Melbourne, Australia. An initial pool of 105 buildings was screened to 14 recent projects and 48 distinct studios from which their design has analysed and translated into a structured dataset of categorical and numerical variables describing geometry, functional organisation, dimensions, windows, circulation and bed zone visibility from the entrance. Results show strong tendencies towards rectangular layouts (75%, n=36), linear kitchens (87.5%, n=42), overlaps between circulation and functional zones, and wide variation in bed zone visibility (0-100%). A Gower dissimilarity matrix, combined with a medoid procedure, identified Unit 33 as the representative baseline, subject to variable coding and equal weighting. The approach provides a spatial foundation for future research linking architectural parameters to students’ lived experiences during the early stages of PBSA design decision-making" ], "bio": [ "Shiva Ghaznavi holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architectural Technology, with a focus on user-driven design, virtual reality, and spatial prototyping. She is currently a PhD researcher at Swinburne University of Technology and Arch_Manu, developing design support system that integrate human-centred design, evidence-based design, and virtual reality." ] }, { "id": "hirusheekesan-selvanesan", "session": 1, "name": "Hirusheekesan Selvanesan", "institution": "Arch_Manu (The University of Adelaide)", "title": "Integrating Digital Technologies with Modern Methods of Construction", "abstract": [ "Modern Methods of Construction are increasingly recognised for their potential to improve productivity, sustainability and efficiency in the construction industry. Alongside these developments, digital technologies are creating new opportunities to enhance the planning, design, manufacturing, and delivery of MMC projects. This study explores the evolving landscape of digitalisation in MMC through a systematic literature review of existing literature, examining the applications and integration of emerging digital technologies across different MMC categories in project lifecycle phases. Findings reveal growing research interest in digital technologies such as Building Information Modelling and AI, whereas challenges like interoperability persist over the years. The study provides an overview of current technological developments, emerging research directions and opportunities for greater integration of digital technologies. Ultimately, it contributes to understanding how digitalisation can support broader adoption MMC across multiple lifecycle phases." ], "bio": [ "Hirusheekesan Selvanesan is a PhD Candidate at Adelaide University, whose research focuses on Automated Code Compliance and Review of Modular Construction Design and Shop Drawings. His research interests include Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence in Construction Management, Lean Construction, Modular Construction, and Digital Transformation emphasising on improving productivity and sustainability." ] }, { "id": "jorge-castillo-velasquez", "session": 1, "name": "Jorge Castillo Velasquez", "institution": "Arch_Manu (Swinburne University)", "title": "Designing Façades from the Inside Out: A Test Case Study of Data Circularity for User-Centred Building Design", "abstract": [ "Windows configuration is closely linked to emotional response, shaping how inhabitants perceive a space and the context. In Melbourne, 1960s affordable housing has been demolished because it is outdated and non-compliant with current regulations. A key deficiency is narrow windows: these buildings were conceived with wide openings connecting occupants to their context, but various constraints led to narrow, affordable alternatives. Façade design prioritises aesthetics over emotional response, and the post-occupancy evaluation data for a human-centred alternative is scarce. This research aims to address this gap through data circularity, repurposing emotional-response data from healthcare environments to develop a computational method that translates emotional responses into window proportion and location. Applied to a 1960s Melbourne case study, results show the existing façade promotes a displeasing mood rather than a pleasant or calm one, and strategies are proposed to shift this perception. The method offers designers an inside-out approach for retrofitting existing buildings and designing new dwellings." ], "bio": [ "Jorge Castillo is a Colombian Architect and Civil Engineer with two decades of industry experience. After completing a Master of Design Innovation and Technology at RMIT University where his passion expanded into speculation, biodesign, and parametric workflows. Jorge currently is pursuing a PhD with Swinburne University and Arch_Manu, investigating how data circularity can augment design decisions across the AEC industry." ] }, { "id": "jye-marshall", "session": 2, "name": "Jye Marshall", "institution": "School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University", "title": "Barriers and Drivers to Adopting Industry 4.0 Technologies in the Fashion Industry", "abstract": [ "Industry 4.0 technologies offer possibilities for rethinking the Australian fashion industry’s reliance on offshore manufacturing, and overconsumption. This study examines how senior Australian fashion executives perceive the drivers of Industry 4.0 technology adoption and how these perceived drivers can be understood through transition design. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with ten senior fashion executives, the study uses the Technology Acceptance Model to explore perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and organisational attitudes toward Industry 4.0 technologies. The findings identify seven perceived adoption drivers: hyper-personalisation, smart factory capabilities, improved product value, increased sovereign manufacturing capabilities, textile short production runs, digitisation of the design process, and remanufacturing technologies. These drivers were then mapped using the Transition Design Framework, fashion transition levels, and Industry 4.0 fashion categories. The mapping shows that executives view Industry 4.0 technologies as potentially supporting more localised, responsive, and lower-waste fashion systems, particularly through on-demand production, improved forecasting, local manufacturing, and digital design processes. However, the findings also reveal gaps in implementation pathways, organisational readiness, industry collaboration, and transition-oriented design practice. The research contributes to the fashion industry by connecting executive perceptions of technological change with transition design and identifies where design-led interventions may be needed to support systemic change in the Australian fashion industry." ], "bio": [ "Jye Marshall has been lecturing fashion design within Australia for the past 5 years and is currently pursuing his PhD within fashion design and industry 4.0 technologies. Teaching fashion design across secondary, vocational and higher education, Jye has experience across various educational institutes. With both a luxury and conceptual fashion education, Jye has developed his own fashion practice with a strong emphasis on digital technologies. His research endeavors focus on supporting sustainable fashion through smart manufacturing and hyper-personalisation. As unit convenor for fashion practice Jye supports students in developing their own fashion practices through various design and pattern making methodologies including the use of emerging technologies." ] }, { "id": "wishulada-panthanuvong", "session": 2, "name": "Wishulada Panthanuvong", "institution": "Silpakorn University", "title": "Reframing Post-Consumer Waste as a New Resource through Craft-Informed Material Reinterpretation", "abstract": [ "How can post-consumer waste be reinterpreted as a creative resource for upcycling artists? Drawing on a material audit in Nonthaburi, Thailand, this paper discusses a practice-led study examining three waste streams: PET bottles, multilayer packaging and aluminium. Comparative studio experiments using craft-informed techniques explored how material properties and constraints can inform artistic interventions. These investigations informed a four-step framework comprising Material Identification, Decoding, Craft Technique Pairing and Semiotic Reinterpretation. The framework is operationalised through the Artist Model Canvas, a visual tool that makes decision-making in upcycling practice explicit. By connecting material properties, craft techniques and environmental messaging, the framework offers artists a structured approach to developing creative responses to waste while articulating the material, technical and communicative dimensions of their practice." ], "bio": [ "WISHULADA is a social activist who transforms diverse waste into meaningful artwork to maximize value through the Circular Economy. These creations highlight waste volumes, inspiring environmental awareness. By combining creativity with comprehensive operational planning, from upstream production to downstream consumption, WISHULADA minimizes discarded materials to drive mechanisms for future sustainability." ] }, { "id": "kornluck-suwachirlaphakul", "session": 2, "name": "Kornluck Suwachirlaphakul", "institution": "Silpakorn University", "title": "Design and Parametric 3D Printing of Home Decoration from Recycled PET Integrated with Natural Fiber Materials", "abstract": [ "Plastic bottles are often recycled into low-value products, while traditional bamboo weaving in Thailand faces declining market value. This paper explores how design can address these challenges through a collection of household lamps combining recycled PET (rPET) filament with bamboo weaving by local artisans. Using parametric 3D printing, traditional weaving patterns are translated into structures that accommodate bamboo strips and support assembly, repair and disassembly for material recovery. The research brings together material testing, fieldwork with weavers, parametric modelling, prototyping and evaluation with experts, consumers and community members. It examines how parametric design can facilitate the integration of recycled plastics and traditional craft while addressing functionality, repairability and end-of-life disassembly. The proposed hybrid-craft approach aims to create added value for waste plastic and local weaving practices, contributing to circular design strategies and the continuity of traditional craftsmanship." ], "bio": [ "Kornluck Suwachirlaphakul is a Master’s student at the MinDA International program, Silpakorn University, Thailand, with a background in Interior Design. Kornluck’s current research combines parametric design, 3D printing with recycled PET and community bamboo weaving to create sustainable household lighting. Main interests include digital craft, circular materials and design for disassembly." ] }, { "id": "irena-vanessa-gunawan", "session": 2, "name": "Irena Vanessa Gunawan", "institution": "Silpakorn University", "title": "Plaiting the Spring: Volumetric Transformation of the Indonesian Plaited Mat for Cushioned Resilience", "abstract": [ "Everyday comfort often relies on foam and synthetic backings, while the traditional Indonesian tikar, a plaited mat traditionally made largely by women, is losing value partly because it lacks the cushioning associated with contemporary floor coverings. Drawing on practice-based research, this presentation explores whether softness can be built into a woven structure through geometry alone. Springs are formed directly from plaited ribbons through folding, looping and buckling to create a three-dimensional surface, making resilience a property of the structure rather than an added material. The research offers three contributions: a hand-plaiting technique that transforms a flat mat into a cushioned surface competitive with conventional rugs; a durable, foam-free and largely single-material alternative to conventional cushioning; and a material system that could extend to seating, panels and architectural surfaces. It also considers how structural innovation might increase the value of women’s craft while retaining its handmade character." ], "bio": [ "Irena Vanessa Gunawan is an Indonesian designer and educator at Maranatha Christian University, Bandung, and a doctoral researcher in Design Arts at Silpakorn University, Bangkok. Trained in architecture and interior design, her practice-based research works at the intersection of traditional craft, structural geometry and sustainable material systems, currently transforming the plaited tikar into a resilient, three-dimensional surface." ] }, { "id": "alex-tyers", "session": 2, "name": "Alex Tyers", "institution": "School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University", "title": "Designing Financial Tools for Situated Interpretation and Decision-Making", "abstract": [ "People are often required to interpret and use financial communications that are complex, poorly designed and alienating. My research investigates how financial communications can be redesigned as actionable, user-centred tools that support confident financial behaviour and decision-making. It challenges the finance-sector-driven approach to modifying financial behaviour using financial literacy education which places undue responsibility on individuals to recall and apply learned knowledge; and questions the use of behavioural nudges to constrain individual choice. Instead, my research explores situational financial literacy: a capability enabled or constrained by financial tool design rather than a fixed body of financial knowledge. This perspective reframes the use of financial information as a situated, interactional process through which users construct actionable understanding. The research therefore examines how information design can support understanding and action within an individual’s specific decision-making contexts, taking account of their normative frames of reference." ], "bio": [ "Alex Tyers has over 20 years’ experience transforming complex information into clear, accessible and usable communications. His work spans financial services, healthcare and government, with expertise in consumer financial documents, plain language and user-centred design. An internationally recognised practitioner, he has contributed to advancing information design through research, usability testing and professional practice." ] }, { "id": "thao-pham", "session": 3, "name": "Thao Pham", "institution": "Arch_Manu (Swinburne University)", "title": "Discovering Factors Enhancing Generative Design Tools for Improved Adoption in Practice", "abstract": [ "The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector has faced productivity and technology adoption challenges. Early-phase generative design (GD) tools aim to improve preliminary design efficiency, yet adoption in architectural practice remains limited despite reduced technical and financial barriers. This study used a quantitative survey to examine GD adoption and misalignment between current tool capabilities and architectural practice. The survey investigated project types, tasks and preferred levels of automation to assess how GD capabilities align with diverse practice needs.", "The findings reveal variation in project types, workflows and automation preferences, while confirming that industry awareness and adoption remain low. This suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach to GD is unlikely to meet practitioners’ needs and that automation value depends on task and project context. This research shifts attention from what GD tools can do to what designers need, providing a basis for evaluating GD capabilities against real-world workflows." ], "bio": [ "Thao is a PhD candidate at Swinburne University and Arch-Manu. Her research investigates Generative Design tools, focusing on workflow alignment, practitioner values, adoption in architectural practice, and implementation strategies for in-house tool development." ] }, { "id": "chloe-nguyen", "session": 3, "name": "Chloe Nguyen", "institution": "Arch_Manu (UNSW)", "title": "Digital Sustainability Frame: Framing Misalignments in Digital Sustainability Implementation", "abstract": [ "Misalignment between organisational priorities, work practices, and digital technologies has long been a central concern in information systems research. Digital sustainability introduces distinctive misalignments due to the long-term, multi-stakeholder, and complex nature of sustainability-oriented digital tools, especially given the project-based and fragmented characteristics of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. This study examines how architecture firms resolve interpretive misalignment during digital sustainability implementation. Drawing on technological frames, we conduct a qualitative case study of a project-based architecture firm implementing a digital sustainability tool, based on 37 interviews and internal documents. We propose the concept of the digital sustainability frame (DS frame) to explain how actors interpret the intention, use, capability, and impact of digital tools designed to advance sustainability. Building on the findings, we develop a process model describing how firms resolve digital sustainability related misalignments among stakeholders. Extending technological frames theory, we posit impact as the cornerstone of digital sustainability interpretation, as digital sustainability tools are ultimately evaluated by whether they translate sustainability considerations into organisational action and outcomes." ], "bio": [ "Chloe Nguyen is a PhD candidate in the School of Information Systems and Technology Management at UNSW and the ARC Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing (Arch_Manu). In her PhD, she studies digital sustainability and digital transformation, with a particular interest in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector. She draws on design science research and qualitative case study methods." ] }, { "id": "joanna-laymen", "session": 3, "name": "Joanna Laymen", "institution": "Arch_Manu (Swinburne University)", "title": "Lost in Translation? Understanding the Divide Between Sustainable Innovation Research and Practice", "abstract": [ "Although biomimicry has traditionally focused on biological forms and processes, its potential to inform innovation ecosystems remains underexplored. Ecosystem biomimicry offers a framework for understanding how diverse actors interact to generate resilient systems, yet little is known about how ecosystem-inspired principles might support knowledge exchange between academia and industry. This study examines how ecosystem principles might inform pathways from research to practice across these sectors.", "Using a grounded theory approach, the study draws on 32 semi-structured interviews with sustainability-oriented academics and practitioners from engineering and architectural disciplines. Interview transcripts were coded inductively in NVivo to identify emergent themes and compare perceptions of innovation barriers and facilitators.", "Findings reveal both divergence and complementarity. Academics emphasised challenges translating research into practice and the need for stronger entrepreneurial engagement, while practitioners highlighted organisational constraints including risk aversion, funding limitations, competing priorities, and resistance to change. Both groups identified collaboration, expertise, enabling leadership, and knowledge sharing as key enablers.", "Drawing on ecosystem-level biomimicry, the study conceptualises sustainable innovation as an emergent outcome of interactions among diverse participants within a socio-technical system. Ecological principles of diversity, interdependence, adaptation, and collaboration provide a basis for strengthening research–industry partnerships and sustainability innovation in the built environment." ], "bio": [ "Joanna Laymen is a fourth-year PhD affiliate with Arch_Manu, exploring the intersection of architectural engineering, biomimicry and sustainability. Her research investigates how ecosystem principles, including diversity, interdependence, and locality, inform holistic approaches to the built environment, fostering stronger relationships between disciplines, communities and environments to support regenerative futures." ] }, { "id": "guanlin-he", "session": 3, "name": "Guanlin He", "institution": "Arch_Manu (UNSW)", "title": "Design Cognition and Creativity in Human–AI Design Collaboration and Interaction: A Systematic Review and Mapping Study", "abstract": [ "Collaboration and interaction between designers and artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping creative design processes, particularly during conceptual design, by supporting efficiency and ideation. However, limited research has systematically examined how AI influences design thinking, human cognition, and design creativity during early creative design phases. This study systematically reviews and categorises research on design cognition and creativity within the domain of human-AI collaboration (HAIC) and interaction in design. Specifically, it identifies 74 peer-reviewed studies based on rigorous selection criteria and using a ‘Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses’ (PRISMA) framework. By using a systematic mapping (SM) approach, it proposes a comprehensive taxonomy of HAIC-assisted design across cognitive processes, evaluation methods, interaction-based AI adoption, and data collection approaches for design creativity. The review contributes two taxonomies, one for cognitive process types and one for interaction-oriented AI adoption, and identifies key gaps in creativity evaluation, process-sensitive measurement, and real-world validation." ], "bio": [ "Guanlin holds a bachelor’s degree in computational design and an MPhil in Built Environment from UNSW Sydney, where she is currently a Research Assistant, Casual Tutor, and PhD candidate at the Arch_Manu Centre. Her research focuses on human–AI collaboration, design cognition, creativity, and performance-driven architectural design." ] }, { "id": "nadia-anam", "session": 3, "name": "Nadia Anam", "institution": "Arch_Manu (Swinburne University)", "title": "Emerging Designer and Non-Designer Visualisation Tendencies with Text-to-Image GenAI", "abstract": [ "In the early stages of a design proposal, clients may find it difficult to communicate their interpretations of architects’ visualisations, as architects and clients use similar language but understand the visual qualities differently. Today, Text-to-image Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools have enabled non-designers to create visualisations through an unprecedented manner. As design depends on creating and reflecting on visuals to develop and refine ideas, this paper compares how architects and non-designers interact with Text-to-image GenAI to understand the tool’s implications on current and future visual reasoning and thinking processes. In our research, we gave architects and non-designers a design task to visualise ideas with Midjourney. Our findings demonstrate that while architects and non-designers use commands at similar frequencies, they differ in design language use and GenAI output preference development. This suggests that while visualisation with and without Text-to-image GenAI remain distinct, architects’ visualisation tendencies also remain rooted to traditional practices compared to those of non-designers. For design practice, we highlight a potential to extend the use of Text-to-image GenAI beyond architects to include non-designers, further strengthening early-stage client engagement." ], "bio": [ "Nadia Anam is a PhD Candidate at Swinburne School of Design and Architecture. Her research explores the opportunities of using Text-to-image Generative Artificial Intelligence tools to support early-stage architect-to-client interactions, with particular focus on examining attributes of architectural design processes, visualisation and cognition in the age of GenAI." ] }, { "id": "andrew-ashton", "session": 4, "name": "Andrew Ashton", "institution": "School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University", "title": "From Periphery to Center: Evolving Australian Graphic Design by Integrating Local Culture and Context", "abstract": [ "What makes Australian graphic design Australian? This presentation considers whether its distinctiveness lies in how designers are situated and how they make, rather than in the objects they produce. Drawing on preliminary findings from Made(of)Here, a practice-led doctoral inquiry, it explores how place, cultural background, lived experience and everyday encounters inform graphic design practice. The research brings reflective practice into dialogue with questions of cultural context and the relationship between centre and periphery. An emerging proposition is that Australian graphic design can be understood through the relationships, decisions and processes that shape its making. This shifts attention from identifying a recognisable national style towards understanding locally situated practices. The presentation considers what this perspective offers designers and educators seeking to develop work that responds more closely to the people, cultures and places from which it emerges." ], "bio": [ "Andrew Ashton is a Naarm / Melbourne-based graphic designer, writer, educator and researcher practising since 1989. An Alliance Graphique Internationale member and PhD candidate at Swinburne University of Technology, his research explores how Australian graphic design can develop contextually located practices through reflection, local knowledge and an attuned sense of place." ] }, { "id": "nguyen-bao-cuc-phuong", "session": 4, "name": "Nguyen Bao Cuc Phuong", "institution": "Silpakorn University", "title": "The Philosophy of the Lotus: Applying the Development of Spiritual Interior Design in Vietnam", "abstract": [ "This paper explores how the philosophical and cultural symbolism of the lotus in Vietnamese Buddhist and folk traditions might inform principles of spiritual interior design. While existing scholarship addresses biophilic design, sacred spaces and wellness environments, the paper considers how a culturally specific philosophical system might offer an alternative to universalist approaches to spirituality in design. It examines how the lotus’s symbolic meanings, including purity, enlightenment and impermanence, might inform spatial decisions around sequence, materials, light, proportion and ornament, while respecting Buddhist doctrine and avoiding superficial appropriation. Drawing on doctrinal and iconographic analysis, case studies of Vietnamese pagodas and vernacular architecture, and iterative design prototyping with expert evaluation, the paper discusses the potential for connecting Buddhist philosophy with contemporary spatial design. It contributes to ongoing discussions of cultural continuity and spiritually informed design, considering how culturally grounded principles might inform contemporary Vietnamese interiors." ], "bio": [ "Nguyen Bao Cuc Phuong is an educator in Interior Design at Van Lang University, Vietnam. With ten years of teaching experience and research experience at the University of Lisbon and RMIT Vietnam, her interests include AI in design, biomaterials, kombucha-based fashion, and design philosophy." ] }, { "id": "li-bowen", "session": 4, "name": "Li Bowen", "institution": "Silpakorn University", "title": "Developing Print Patterns from the Identity of Bangkok’s Plants to Protect the Ecological Environment", "abstract": [ "Small native plants growing along Bangkok’s streets are often overlooked in everyday urban life. This presentation explores how plant rubbing, as an artistic and observational practice, might make these forms of urban biodiversity more visible and encourage environmental awareness. Through field surveys, the collection and documentation of native street plants, and experimentation with rubbing materials, the research aims to develop an exhibition that presents plant textures, names and ecological functions. The central research question underpinning this paper is how artistic representation through plant rubbing might influence public attention to urban plants and perceptions of environmental conservation. The exhibition serves as both a creative outcome and a means of public engagement, inviting visitors to observe familiar urban environments from a different perspective. Visitor feedback will be used to examine how effectively the exhibition communicates botanical knowledge and how it may shape perceptions of urban biodiversity and environmental protection." ], "bio": [ "Li Bowen is a Master’s student at the MinDA International program, Silpakorn University, Thailand, with a backgroun in Graphic Design at Silpakorn University, Thailand. His research explores plant rubbing as an artistic medium for documenting and exhibiting native street plants in Thailand. His interests include natural textures, urban plant life, and public art as a means of environmental awareness." ] }, { "id": "hai-quan", "session": 4, "name": "Hai Quan", "institution": "Silpakorn University", "title": "Translating Dunhuang Buddhist Culture into Contemporary Ceramic Art Toys: A Practice-Based Design Study", "abstract": [ "The Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserve a rich Buddhist visual heritage. Translating this heritage into contemporary ceramic art toys offers opportunities to connect traditional cultural narratives with youth culture through the material and aesthetic qualities of ceramics. However, this translation raises a critical question: how can cultural meanings be retained without reducing Buddhist heritage to superficial ornamentation? Using practice-based design research, this study discussed in this paper develops a framework for cultural translation that integrates iconographic analysis, cultural interpretation, design development and ceramic prototyping. The framework is explored through two creative pathways based on Dunhuang visual materials: the monk series and the Guanyin series. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining coherent relationships between cultural meanings and design decisions, rather than extracting isolated symbols from their cultural contexts. The paper proposes a practice-based methodology for translating Buddhist heritage into contemporary ceramic art toys while attending to cultural origins, identity and authenticity." ], "bio": [ "Hai Quan is a PhD candidate in Design Arts at Silpakorn University, Thailand. His research explores the cultural translation of Dunhuang Buddhist visual heritage into contemporary art toys through practice-based design research. His creative work has received recognition in national and international art and design competitions." ] }, { "id": "surachet-chaiuppala", "session": 4, "name": "Surachet Chaiuppala", "institution": "Silpakorn University", "title": "SENSEABLE at BKKDW 2027: A Multisensory Exhibition Prototype towards an Accessible Design Festival", "abstract": [ "Exhibitions often privilege visual information and conventional spatial navigation, limiting participation for visitors with visual, hearing and mobility disabilities. This research investigates how a multisensory exhibition might enable people with different abilities to access and share the same design experience. Using human-centred and inclusive design approaches, the study develops SENSEABLE at BKKDW 2027, a 6 × 6 metre exhibition prototype showcasing DEmark award-winning Thai products through touch, sound, light, vibration, physical interaction and co-creation. The exhibition integrates five experiential zones with an NFC-enabled assistive device, accessible interpretation and wheelchair-friendly circulation. The prototype discussed in this paper will be developed and evaluated through observation, stakeholder interviews, co-design and user testing with people with and without disabilities. By shifting the focus of accessibility beyond physical entry towards equitable participation, the research aims to offer a practical model for more inclusive design festivals, exhibitions and cultural experiences in Thailand." ], "bio": [ "Surachet Chaiuppala is a designer and researcher at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) with a background in industrial design. He leads the Human Centered Design Research Unit and formerly served as Deputy Dean of the School of Architecture, Art, and Design. His interests include human-centred design, inclusive innovation, co-design, accessibility, industry collaboration, intellectual property development, and commercial prototyping." ] }, { "id": "mohamed-aboeloyoon-ahmed", "session": 5, "name": "Mohamed Aboeloyoon Ahmed", "institution": "Arch_Manu (The University of Adelaide)", "title": "Toolpath as Tectonic: Experimental Investigation of Fabrication-Integrated Stability in Earthen Additive Manufacturing", "abstract": [ "The urgent need to reduce emissions and material waste in the construction industry has renewed interest in pairing digital fabrication with low-carbon materials. Earth-based materials, among the oldest building materials globally, are increasingly revisited as low-carbon, locally sourced alternatives with significant architectural potential. However, the scalability of extrusion-based earthen construction remains fundamentally constrained by wet-state instability, which limits maximum continuous printable height and undermines fabrication reliability.", "Existing research addresses this primarily through material composition, often undermining the material’s inherent sustainability, or through fabrication timeline adjustments such as process pausing, multi-session printing, or forced drying, which increase fabrication overhead. This research proposes an alternative fabrication-integrated framework that enhances wet-state stability without altering material formulation.", "Two complementary strategies are investigated: Periodic Toolpath Modulation (PTM), which introduces coordinated geometric variation to redistribute stresses during deposition, and In-Process Reinforcement Integration (IPRI), which embeds temporary discrete elements to provide localised bracing during consolidation. Through multi-scale experimentation progressing from small-scale prototyping to full-scale robotic fabrication, the research establishes validated design-to-fabrication guidelines for improving buildability, geometric reliability, and fabrication continuity in earthen additive manufacturing, positioning fabrication logic as an alternative to material alteration. In doing so, this work lays the groundwork for wider integration of low-carbon, earth-based materials into mainstream digital construction practice." ], "bio": [ "Mohamed Aboeloyoon is an architect, computational designer and PhD Researcher at the ARC Centre for Next-Generation Architectural Manufacturing (Arch_Manu), investigating integrated design-to-fabrication frameworks for large-format 3D printing with earthen and bio-based materials. He holds an MSc in Building and Architectural Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, with a thesis on digitally fabricated bio-composite systems for informal housing at IndexLab Polimi, and a Postgraduate Diploma in 3D Printing Architecture from IAAC, Spain. A licensed architect registered with the Ordine degli Architetti di Roma in Italy and the EES in Egypt, his work is grounded in reintroducing regenerative materials, earth, clay, bamboo, timber and other bio-based systems, into contemporary construction through digital fabrication and advanced manufacturing. He has also managed international architectural projects across Italy, Spain, Egypt, South Africa, UAE and Saudi Arabia. His recent publications engage fabrication-integrated strategies for earthen additive manufacturing, bio-composite building systems, and digital fabrication for climate-resilient housing." ] }, { "id": "adele-easton", "session": 5, "name": "Adele Easton", "institution": "School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University", "title": "Value-Adding to Out-of-Grade Radiata Pine: Developing Building Elements for Thermally Improved Australian Ceilings", "abstract": [ "Radiata pine underpins Australian residential framing, yet a share of each harvest is downgraded as “out-of-grade” because naturally occurring characteristics, such as large knots and distortion, prevent it from meeting structural requirements. The material is rejected on structural criteria, not because it is unusable, and this underuse lowers the value recovered from each harvest. Meanwhile, rising minimum energy rating requirements raise expectations for building envelope performance. This research evaluates whether out-of-grade radiata pine can be used to improve the thermal performance of residential ceilings. Using a design science approach, a ceiling spacer element was developed from the material to reconsider current ceiling construction, and its thermal performance was assessed through preliminary thermal testing. The findings indicate whether this material can contribute to ceiling thermal performance, giving timber processors an evidence base for higher-value uses." ], "bio": [ "Adele is a product design engineer passionate about sustainable product development and wooden materials. Her research explores how out-of-grade radiata pine can improve the thermal performance of Australian homes. Alongside her research, she works as a design technician at ProtoLAB, Swinburne’s prototyping and fabrication space, and teaches 3D modelling and robotics." ] }, { "id": "hamidreza-malekian", "session": 5, "name": "Hamidreza Malekian", "institution": "Arch_Manu (Swinburne University)", "title": "Development and Evaluation of a Reconfigurable Vertical Mould System for Freeform Earthen Fabrication", "abstract": [ "The construction industry produces a large share of global waste and greenhouse gas emissions, from both its materials and its methods. Earth is a locally available, low cost and recyclable alternative, but freeform shapes require fabrication methods that earth construction does not yet have. Freeform panels are usually cast in sacrificial moulds made for a single geometry, which increases material use, fabrication time and waste. Reconfigurable pin-based formwork reduces this problem, but existing systems operate horizontally and are limited to thin, lightweight façade panels. This paper investigates whether a vertical orientation can produce structural freeform earth panels. It presents the design, fabrication and testing of a polyurethane bed system for a vertical Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Dynamic Bed Device (DBD). Adjustable actuators support the bed, which deforms to shape the surface of an earthen panel, so one mould can produce different geometries. The study covers the selection of Flexithane, the casting of the elastic bed mat and its performance under vertical fabrication loads." ], "bio": [ "Hamidreza Malekian is an architect and computational designer with experience in architectural practice and industry, currently completing a PhD at Swinburne University of Technology. His research develops an adaptive mould system for fabricating freeform earth-based structures, aiming to reduce the waste of single use formwork. He is affiliated with the ARC Centre for Next Gen Architectural Manufacturing." ] }, { "id": "alireza-abdolmaleki", "session": 5, "name": "Alireza Abdolmaleki", "institution": "Arch_Manu (Swinburne University)", "title": "Beyond Equilibrium: The Evolution of Computational Graphic Statics in Architectural and Structural Design", "abstract": [ "Graphic statics makes equilibrium explicit through the relationship between form and force in structural design. Contemporary algebraic, polyhedral, vector-based and combinatorial methods have extended this principle into computational workflows for structural form-finding and design exploration. Yet equilibrium generation and prediction of material structural response remain largely distinct. This paper examines the evolution of computational graphic statics through bibliometric mapping of 335 Scopus-indexed records from 2000-2026, complemented by a focused qualitative review of relevant studies identified through systematic screening. The review compares how computational methods represent equilibrium and connect it to structural performance, material behaviour, fabrication and validation. Findings indicate that computational representation and design exploration are well developed, while integration with material-dependent structural response and physical realisation remains less established. The review identifies this disconnect as a key research gap, highlighting the need for traceable workflows linking force, form, material, structural response and physical realisation." ], "bio": [ "Alireza Abdolmaleki is a PhD researcher at Swinburne University of Technology with a background in civil engineering. His work sits at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and data science, exploring how emerging computational and data-driven methods can support more informed and integrated approaches to design. His research interests span computational and structural design, machine learning, digital design methods, building performance, and sustainability. More broadly, his work investigates new relationships between design and engineering knowledge, with the aim of advancing computational approaches to understanding, exploring, and evaluating the built environment." ] }, { "id": "gareth-priday", "session": 6, "name": "Gareth Priday", "institution": "School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University", "title": "The Influence of Thinking Styles on the Uptake of Technology", "abstract": [ "Technologies, including a range of Artificial Intelligence technologies, can significantly impact individuals and organisations. This is more pressing with the advent of “arrival” technologies such as LLMs, which arguably don’t follow typical adoption mechanics (Reich and Dukes, 2025). Little is known about how thinking styles influence technology uptake. Individual differences may form collective biases within organisations. Australian aged care organisations need technologies to reduce administrative burdens and improve services (Priday et al., 2024). This study investigates thinking styles and their influence on individual technology uptake through domain-specific innovativeness (DSI) and, within organisations, through institutional pressures. Thinking styles correlate with individual DSI; future thinking is positively associated with high DSI and past thinking with low DSI. In the institutional pressures study, present thinking styles dominated the sample, with few future thinkers; differences between thinking styles and pressures could not be discriminated." ], "bio": [ "Gareth is a PhD candidate in the School of Design and Architecture at SUT. He holds a Master of Management (Strategic Foresight) and is a foresight practitioner. He is a co-founder of the Australian Living Lab Innovation Network and supported the accreditation of the Swinburne Living Lab." ] }, { "id": "hong-cai-chen", "session": 6, "name": "Hong Cai Chen", "institution": "Silpakorn University", "title": "Integrating AI into Craft and Design Processes: A Case Study of Clothing and Accessory Design", "abstract": [ "Generative AI is increasingly used in fashion design, yet craft-based practices depend on artisans’ situated knowledge of material properties and constraints. This presentation examines how artisan expertise can inform AI-mediated design processes, focusing on bamboo weaving in fashion design. Drawing on four preliminary studies and two iterations of a clothing and accessory collection developed in Fujian, China, between 2024 and 2026, this paper compares a designer-led process with a subsequent iteration in which an artisan evaluates AI-generated visualisations. The comparison reveals limitations in AI-generated representations of material behaviour and highlights the importance of incorporating craft knowledge before design decisions are finalised. In response, the study proposes an AI–designer–artisan co-design workflow that brings material knowledge into design development from the outset, positioning AI as a mediating resource rather than a substitute for craft expertise." ], "bio": [ "Hongcai Chen is a Ph.D. and an educator in Digital Media Art at Minjiang University, China. Trained in software engineering before a master’s degree in Design Arts at Silpakorn, Hongcai researches human-centred generative AI in fashion design and co-design between designers, AI and bamboo-weaving artisans." ] }, { "id": "xingting-wu", "session": 6, "name": "Xingting Wu", "institution": "School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University", "title": "Enhancing Outdoor Engagement for Older Adults in Residential Aged Care", "abstract": [ "My PhD explores how design can help older adults in residential aged care enjoy and stay connected with the outdoors. Working with residents and staff, the research brings together four studies involving crafting, gardening, outdoor discovery, and outdoor walking. It examines what makes these activities meaningful and what helps or limits participation. Findings so far show that plants and outdoor activities can prompt personal memories, shared knowledge and storytelling. Photographs, maps, plant cuttings and story cards also help residents revisit outdoor experiences indoors. Design artefacts, staff support, residents’ interests and abilities, weather and everyday care routines all shape these experiences. The research offers practical guidance for designing activities and materials that connect outdoor experiences with everyday indoor life." ], "bio": [ "Xingting Wu is a PhD candidate in the School of Design and Architecture at Swinburne University of Technology. Xingting’s research combines participatory design and human–computer interaction to explore how creative activities and design artefacts support meaningful outdoor engagement for older adults in residential aged care." ] }, { "id": "kathy-fox", "session": 6, "name": "Kathy Fox", "institution": "School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University", "title": "The Possibility of Design: Starting an Industrial Design Career in the 21st Century", "abstract": [ "As industrial design expands beyond its manufacturing roots into service design, strategic practice and other emerging fields, this paper examines how early-career designers navigate an evolving profession amid a shrinking Australian manufacturing sector and declining traditional employment opportunities. Drawing on 60 qualitative interviews with early-career and senior designers across 30 Australian companies, the paper explores how expertise develops, how professional learning is supported and what enables or constrains career progression. The findings highlight a tension between the importance of senior practitioners’ guidance and an industry that relies heavily on learning through practice. They also suggest that expertise extends beyond design skills to encompass strategic contributions, raising questions about how early-career designers can establish their value in a changing and increasingly uncertain employment landscape." ], "bio": [ "Kathy Fox is an Industrial Design professional with over twenty years’ experience across design, manufacturing and cultural sectors. She currently works at a leading animatronics company, managing complex creative projects and multidisciplinary teams for global clients. Her work is defined by strong design and production expertise, stakeholder engagement and a clear understanding of audience needs. Kathy’s career is shaped by collaboration, emerging technologies and best practice, driven by her commitment to creating meaningful and impactful creative experiences. Her part-time PhD research extends her ongoing interest in the value of the industrial design discipline." ] } ], "foreword": { "name": "Professor Blair Kuys", "role": "Executive Dean, School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology", "paragraphs": [ "It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the joint Arch_Manu–SoDA Research Symposium, bringing together an outstanding community of researchers, emerging scholars and industry-connected practitioners from across our institutions.", "Research Higher Degree (HDR) candidates are central to the future of our disciplines. Providing opportunities to present their work, exchange ideas and engage with different perspectives is essential to their development as researchers and to the advancement of knowledge. This symposium celebrates their achievements, curiosity and commitment, while recognising the collaborative spirit that makes our research community so valuable.", "The breadth of research represented here is particularly exciting. Bringing together colleagues from Arch_Manu across Swinburne, UNSW and the University of Adelaide, alongside researchers from Swinburne’s School of Design and Architecture (SoDA) and Silpakorn University, Thailand, creates opportunities to forge connections across disciplines, institutions and international contexts. From architecture and advanced manufacturing to sustainability, emerging technologies, creative practice and human-centred design, the diversity of work reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of contemporary research challenges.", "As Arch_Manu reaches the halfway point of its program, this symposium provides an opportunity to reflect on its achievements, strengthen existing partnerships and build momentum for the years ahead. Similarly, during my time as Associate Dean Research for SoDA, and more recently as Executive Dean, I have been encouraged by the ambition and growing capacity of SoDA’s research community, and by our collective commitment to research that connects disciplinary expertise with meaningful outcomes for industry and society.", "I am confident that the ideas shared and relationships developed through this symposium will extend well beyond these sessions. Our emerging researchers will help shape the future of design and architecture practice, challenging established thinking and opening new possibilities. I wish all participants an engaging, productive and inspiring symposium." ], "photo": "assets/img/blair-kuys.jpg" }, "keynote": { "name": "Rob Baxter", "role": "National Design Director, i2C Architects", "paragraphs": [ "Rob Baxter’s 25-year career in design began soon after graduating from Swinburne’s National School of Design. His long career has seen him work with some of the world’s leading brands and signature developments across the world. After a 9-year stint based in London, working globally across various design disciplines he returned to Australia, where he has since registered as an Architect and now serves as the National Design Director for a practice with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.", "He brings a wealth of experience not only across the creative side of the design industry but also the industry’s business and commercial realities. Throughout his career, he has championed the adoption of emerging technologies to enhance design quality, improve service delivery and drive efficiencies essential to remaining competitive in an ever-evolving market.", "Today, he joins us to explore the realities and challenges facing the design industry in the age of artificial intelligence, examining its current impact and considering what these rapid advancements could mean for the future of design." ], "photo": "assets/img/rob-baxter.jpg", "talkTitle": "AI in Architectural Practice" }, "acknowledgement": "Research presented in this symposium was conducted by the ARC Centre for Next-Gen Architectural Manufacturing and funded by the Australian government (ARC IC220100030)." }