Mixing old-school and digital ways of building models in architecture can really help students improve their design process.

Old-School Prototyping Methods:

1. Hand Sketching: Students can quickly draw their ideas. This way, they can make fast changes and adjustments.

2. Physical Models: Creating small models with materials like foam board or cardboard lets students see what their designs look like in real life. It helps them understand space and shape better.

Digital Prototyping Methods:

1. 3D Modeling Software: Programs like Rhino or SketchUp help students create detailed and accurate designs. They can easily change their digital models and see how different options work.

2. Simulation Tools: Some software can show how the design performs in different environments or how strong it is. This gives students valuable information to make better design choices.

When these methods are used together, they make the iterative design process much better. By building physical models, students can discover how spaces work and how materials feel, something they might miss with just digital designs. On the other hand, digital tools let them make quick changes and handle complex shapes, which can be harder to do with traditional methods.

Working Together:

• Start by sketching out initial ideas, then move to digital models to polish them up.
• Turn those digital designs into physical models to see how they work in the real world.
• Keep switching back and forth between physical and digital models to improve both function and style.

Using both old-school and digital methods, students gain a well-rounded understanding of their designs. This helps them connect their ideas with actual building processes in architecture.