Visual Perception in Design Education

摘要

The recent developments in computer and information technology enable traditional Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Virtual Reality (VR) programs to be used as alternative tools for design education. However, visual perception from two-dimensional representation in traditional CAD programs is quite difficult. Immersion, presence, interactivity and dynamism in virtual environments are facilitating communication and visual perception of complex concepts and information and motivating students to participate in design process, by increasing data awareness. Related to these concepts, a case study was conducted at Bilkent University with freshmen interior design students, taking scale, shape, color and texture as independent variables, to compare visual perception in VR and traditional computer presentations, using traditional computer program, AutoCad and VR computer program, Virtus. The results indicate that the hypothesis, which states that use of VR programs provides a more accurate visual perception than traditional computer drawing programs, is not rejected except for scale and shape.