The metaverse, interactive media and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming critical tech tools to support the design and architecture sectors amid more complicated demand in the fields, according to academics.
The International Program in Design and Architecture (INDA) under Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Architecture said it has enabled students who complete their studies every year to showcase their design projects through the metaverse over the past two years.
Surapong Lertsithichai, director of INDA, said the programme allows students to make use of virtual reality (VR) tech and headsets, including applying avatars for the exhibition.
AI tech solutions are widely used in the architecture sector in dealing with sophisticated designs and demand, he said.
Interactive media tech is also useful in crafting more flexible solutions, he said. "The architecture sector is a pioneer of innovative tech adoption," said Mr Surapong.
From May 9-13, INDA organised INDA Parade 2022, a hybrid offline-online event that showcased 320 projects of its students who completed their study in every year level and featured discussions on the architecture field, including leading international speakers.
Mr Surapong, right, and foreign lecturers at INDA. Mr Surapong says that AI tech solutions are widely used for the architecture sector in dealing with sophisticated designs and demand.
He said the event, now in its seventh year, was originally held in physical format before the pandemic. It then changed to the virtual format as the pandemic flared and it is now conducted via a hybrid mode.
According to Mr Surapong, the annual exhibition of students' work is important for all of them to gauge what they have learned.
The work of every student is an expression of the dedication and effort in creating the work to the fullest potential, he said.
INDA Parade serves as a platform to present the work of students for outsiders as well as a venue to introduce the faculty to high school students so they can understand its curriculum, Mr Surapong said.
People can experience the real work and atmosphere of how the work is presented through a multimedia space.
Founded in 2006, INDA is a four-year international programme in the Faculty of Architecture. The programme focuses on innovative design and experiments.
INDA has 23 full-time lecturers, 80% of whom are foreign.
Mr Surapong said the programme emphasises design thinking rather than assignments.