The New Technological Paradigm in the Post-digital Era. Three Convergent Paths Between Creative Action and Computational Tools

he current evolutionary situation of the post-digital era is influenced 2 by a scientific research based on an almost unconditioned technological positivism 3 and requires a more agile a flexible built environment, adapted to the unpredictable 4 changes and transformations of our planet. The building sector is going through an 5 important evolutionary phase, mainly characterized by the use of new digital tech- 6 nologies which have considerable impact on the organizational dimension of the 7 design and implementation, in order to adopt innovative solutions with the least 8 environmental impact. While the architect is replaced by machines in the worksite, 9 the use of digital technological instruments needs a new approach toward the project 10 and the building procedures. Within this change, the draftsman, besides engaging 11 with multidisciplinary specialized skills ranging from computational engineering to 12 biotechnologies and neuro-sciences, has to be proactively able to control the current 13 space, time, and technological processes which are offered by evolved and complex 14 computerized instruments. These go beyond formality to create new constructive 15 realities, which are being experimented. The inorganic computational instruments of 16 the post-digital era afford the “Total Designer” a new opportunity to rethink compo- 17 sition not only in terms of productivity and efficiency but to also gain a deeper under- 18 standing of empathy and experience. It is pertinent in this situation to consider the 19 possible convergence between design thinking and technical thinking based on the 20 development of digital algorithms. With the help of some research and case studies, 21 this contribution analyzes the relationship between creative action and computa- 22 tional instrument through three main directions—representation/simulation, commu- 23 nication/perception, and manufacture/materialization—that encompass the essential 24 elements characterizing the role of the designer, a draftsman that is not only aware 25 but sensitive to modern technology.