Kean Architecture Students Present Research at Notre Dame Design Conference
For Immediate Release: October 27, 2016
Union, N.J. - Kean University architecture students Robert Gallagher, John Grega and Gabriel Morales presented the findings of their Students Partnering with Faculty grant-funded research project to an audience of professional architects on Saturday, October 1 at Notre Dame University's The Art of Architecture: Hand Drawing and Design conference. The Michael Graves College at Kean University, named for the internationally acclaimed architect who helped develop the program, shares its namesake’s commitment to hand drawing as a part of the art and science of architecture.
“Twenty years ago designers used paper and pencil; today they use computer-aided drafting (CAD) programs,” said Gallagher. “We looked at the large touch-screen table as a way to mix mediums between the physical and digital.”
Gallagher, Grega and Morales presented research quantifying and qualifying the advantages of touch-screen interfaces over mouse and keyboard. The students performed a series of five tasks on both a laptop and a digital table and recorded the time necessary to complete each task and the user experience, along with anecdotal commentary. The researchers found touch-screen interfaces to be more intuitive and efficient than keyboard and mouse based interfaces. Efficiency improved by four to 13 percent for most tasks and an astonishing 66 percent in one isolated case.
“The students were equally nervous and excited to be at Notre Dame but did a fantastic job of articulating their experiences with the grant," said Kean professor Craig Konyk.
Konyk delivered a presentation entitled digital at the conference. His lecture further explored how touch-screen surfaces can reengage the hand-drawing dynamic in architectural design.
Founded in 2015, Kean’s Michael Graves College is rethinking the role of technology in its architectural curriculum. Utilizing a curriculum developed in part by Michael Graves himself before his death, the program encourages hand drawing as a discipline for creative expression and exploration.
Photo caption: Kean University architecture students Robert Gallagher, John Grega and Gabriel Morales delivered a presentation highlighting the efficiency of touch-screen interfaces for design applications on Saturday, October 1 at Notre Dame University's The Art of Architecture: Hand Drawing and Design conference.
ABOUT KEAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. The University’s six undergraduate colleges offer 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable, accessible and world-class education. Visit Kean online at www.kean.edu.
Contact: Danielle Ford
daniford@kean.edu
(908) 737-0588