Using second life as a design environment in interior architectural design education

Abstract

Virtual worlds are being increasingly used in architectural education. This thesis aims at investigating the potentials of one of such virtual world, Second Life (SL), as a design platform by focusing on its specific features, which provide a space for experiencing design process with avatars and sounds in the 3D environment. A pilot study was conducted to assess the validity of Second Life as a tool for designing and learning in architectural design education. Based on the feedback of the pilot study, main study was designed involving 21 students from Bilkent University, who attended the course IAED 316 Computer Applications. The assessment of SL as a design platform was conducted through pre-task, post-task questionnaires, electronic observations and interview with the tutor. The results depicted that students found SL a highly-motivating and enjoyable platform for designing. Based on the finding, this thesis put forth a framework for improving the use of SL as a design platform in architectural education.