Participatory Drawing Methodology for Light in Architecture: Drawing Experienced Space

Visual techniques can capture information about visual experiences in ways that differ from speaking and writing. This article examines drawing as a data collection method in architectural lighting research. Lighting design is a rapidly growing profession, and there is a need to build research knowledge of people’s spatial experience of lit environments and to develop methods that capture it. Based on a study in which 16 participants’ experiences of different light scenarios were collected through sketches, semantic rating scales, and deep interviews, the participants drew the boundaries of what they experienced as “the room” and spatial directions inside it. In this study, the 64 sketches were compared in different combinations to detect patterns. The results showed that this drawing method worked well for everybody, both those with and those without professional drawing experience. This method, named Drawing Experienced Space, facilitated finding words and expressions for the experiences of participants, especially for those without training.