173: ‘Raising Digital Literacy’, with Cody Winchester
A conversation with Cody Winchester.
Cody Winchester joins the podcast to talk about insights from his recent case study he presented in the Fall of 2024 at Autodesk University, discussing the evolution of digital literacy and technology implementation at HMC Architects. We explore the importance of bridging the gap between practice and technology, the role of training in modern architectural education, the critical need to capture and transfer knowledge from experienced professionals to the next generation, and the challenges and successes of integrating technology into architectural practice as the underlying technology of practice continues to evolve at a pace that is difficult to keep up with.
Watch this episode on YouTube:
Episode Links
Books and Philosophies
- Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
- Wikipedia Overview
- Explores how data and digital technologies shape the future of work and personal privacy, relevant to the evolving digital practice landscape.
- Matthew Crawford’s Shop Class as Soulcraft
- Google Books Link
- Amazon Link
- Examines the value of hands-on work and its connection to professional expertise, echoing the balance between digital tools and practice in architecture.
- Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
- Amazon Link
- Investigates how technology alters the way we think and learn, highly relevant for digital literacy discussions.
AI Tools and Emerging Technologies
- Autodesk University: Digital Practice and Technology Training Case Study
- Creating a Culture of Digital Literacy (Cody’s AU 2024 session)
- Explore the case study mentioned in the podcast, showcasing HMC Architects' approach to technology training.
- Grasshopper and Visual Programming for Architects
- Official Grasshopper Website
- Learn about Grasshopper's capabilities for parametric design and its role in architecture training.
- Stable Diffusion and AI Art Generation
- Stability AI Official Website
- Dive into how AI models like Stable Diffusion are influencing creative industries, including architectural visualization.
Visualization & Design Tools
- Rhino 3D and Grasshopper Tools
- Rhino Official Website
- Explore Rhino and Grasshopper for design exploration and data-driven workflows discussed in the podcast.
- Autodesk Revit for BIM Management
- Revit Official Website
- Learn about Revit’s use in architectural design, documentation, and collaboration, a key tool in digital practice.
- LinkedIn Learning for AEC Training
- LinkedIn Learning
- Online technology and design courses for ongoing professional development.
Events and Networks
- Autodesk University
- Autodesk University
- Annual conference focusing on the latest design, engineering, and technology advancements.
- BILT Conference
- BILT Event Page
- Learn about design technology best practices and industry innovation.
Psychology and Personal Development
- Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow
- Wikipedia Overview
- Explore cognitive biases and decision-making processes, valuable for leadership and training contexts.
- Carol Dweck’s Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
- Amazon Link
- Understand how a growth mindset influences learning and personal development.
About Cody Winchester:
I was not born a digital native. I became a convert. While my core sensibilities are rooted in traditional media, over my career I have discovered how technology shapes the lens that design is seen through. Our interpretation of tradition, culture, and aesthetics pass through this lens before becoming our understanding of our world. Where technology interfaces with architecture, I have seen how computation and building information modeling will increasingly dominate the way we create and manage design data. In this way, the idea that "Building = Data" pronounced by CASE has become a profound concept for what I want to explore: Beautiful Data.
