1st World CAAD
PhD Workshop

World CAAD PhD Workshop took place in December 7-8-9, 2020

You may watch the recordings from the links below.

Day 1: Generative Design and Digital Tools

Day 2: Special Topics in Computational Design Research

Day 3: Material and Fabrication Studies in Computational Design

World CAAD PhD Workshops 2020

The Best Presentation Winner: Emily Birch

Emily Birch
Newcastle University

Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment: B. subtilis Spore Hygromorphs as a Novel Smart Material

In a world where reckless exploitation of fossil fuels has led to a climate crisis, maintaining the built environment in a sustainable manner has become imperative. While the synthetic world relies on complex energy consuming machines to regulate humidity, mother nature provides a unique passive solution if harnessed correctly. This research aims to forge collaborations between naturally hygromorphic (humidity responsive) bacterial spores, plant biomechanics and cutting edge 4D printing techniques to provide a passive solution to regulating relative humidity within our built environments.  Laboratory experiments, material tinkering, computer aided design and a multidisciplinary design approach will lead to the discovery of a new ‘creature’ capable of a symbiotic relationship between building and user. Read more. See the research poster.
About 1st World CAAD PhD Workshop
The World CAAD PhD Workshop is organized by sibling CAAD organizations ACADIA, ASCAAD, CAADRIA, eCAADe, and SIGraDi to provide a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing serving the global CAAD community. The aim of the World CAAD PhD Workshop is to introduce junior researchers at the PhD stage to the research culture of different schools within the global CAAD community. The workshop offers students  an opportunity to receive constructive feedback from prominent researchers and academics of the CAAD  community and provides students with an occasion to position their research within the world CAAD research arena. The workshop extends existing platforms for junior researchers at the PhD stage already established at individual organizations, aiming to foster the global CAAD research community of the future and to promote exchange among diverse research cultures. Each sibling organization will be represented at the workshop by two to four PhD student delegates as well as experts from each community. Presentations will be available in pre-recorded format, and live discussions will take place online on December 7/8/9, catering to different time zones across the world.

The 1st World CAAD PhD Workshop will be virtually hosted by Istanbul Technical University Department of Architecture and Architectural Design Computing Graduate Program.

This event will be open to attend for the entire global CAAD community.

Messages from The Presidents
Birgul Çolakoglu
President of the Education and research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe)

“The World CAAD Ph.D. workshop emerged as a continuing idea of collaboration among CAAD sister organization after jointly organized eCAADe + SiGradi conference in 2019. The aim of the workshop is to provide a unique platform of exchange and discussion for global CAAD researchers community in their early carrier and to foster the dialogue between different research cultures. The workshops mediated by prominent faculty with the participation of Doctoral students from different institutions around the world introduce diverse approaches to computational design research and provide a constructive environment for progress. On behalf of eCAADe, I warmly welcome you all to the first World CAAD Ph.D. workshop that will many exciting ones follow!”

Kathy Velikov
President of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA)

“ACADIA welcomes you to the first World CAAD PhD Workshop! If there are any silver linings to the current pandemic, one is surely the way that boundaries of space, time, and access to ideas have begun to further dissipate, enabling expanded opportunities for communication and collaboration among communities of knowledge. I am very excited about this new forum where doctoral students and faculty from different institutions around the world can specifically gather to discuss forms and practices of research inquiry, and I am looking forward to the ways that all may be enriched and inspired by the diversity of perspectives, approaches, and ideas.”

Sherif Abdelmohsen
President of the Arab Society for Computer Aided Architectural Design (ASCAAD)

“It gives ASCAAD great pleasure to participate and contribute to this extraordinary opportunity that brings together PhD students and prominent experts and scholars in the area of CAAD in a unique platform of exchange and discussion. The merits of this unique global CAAD community setup and gathering extend far beyond the three days of the workshop to foster dialogue and nurture shared understandings of the perception, representation, and enactment of CAAD within and across a wide variety of research cultures. Looking forward to witnessing the birth of an exciting series of workshops and venues to follow!”

Christiane M. Herr
President of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA)

“The World CAAD PhD Workshop is a first joint initiative of all five sister organisations ASCAAD, ACADIA, eCAADe, CAADRIA and SIGraDi that will allow participating students unique opportunities in meeting peers and experts working in their field. The workshop aims to enhance exchange between research cultures and introduces participating academics and students to values and processes of diverse approaches to digital architectural design research. We warmly welcome all students and colleagues joining this effort and hope that this is only the first of many more such meetings in the future!“

David M. Sperling
President of the Ibero-American Society of Digital Graphics (SIGraDi)

“The 1st World CAAD PhD Workshop represents another important step towards synergy between CAAD sister societies. The exchange of experiences between doctoral researchers, mediated by a committee of recognized performance in the area, will allow not only the progress of research by each of the participants but also the recognition of innovative trends in the area and the sharing of regional singularities. These aspects undeniably constitute the richness of our joint work. On the part of SIGraDi, I wish all participants an excellent meeting and a long life to the World CAAD PhD Workshops.”

Generative Design and Digital Tools
Monday, December 7, 2020
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3:00 pm (GMT +3:00)

Main Session
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4:40 pm (GMT +3:00)

Open Discussion

Panellists: Dagmar Reinhardt (CAADRIA), Jane Scott (ACADIA), Frederico Braida(SIGraDI), Huda Salman (ASCAAD), José Pinto Duarte (eCAADe), Dietmar Köring (eCAADe)

Chitraj Bissoonauth
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

The Distinction between Epistemic and Pragmatic Actions in Digital Design Toolmaking

Design and tool use being distinguishing human traits, toolmaking for and tool use in
design are inextricably related to how we humans see ourselves. This research investigates these creative activities by testing related theory, in particular, a
categorisation of actions published in the seminal 1994 article “On Distinguishing Epistemic from Pragmatic Action”. The authors reject linear models of planning and execution in favour of a non-linear theory that recognises some actions as epistemic (as opposed to pragmatic) and, in this way, as a part of planning rather than execution. They derive their findings empirically in the context of closed-ended problem-solving. To test the validity of this distinction in the context of open-ended (design) activity, this study employs video protocol analysis methods to observe a small sample of designers completing a design toolmaking task. This study aims to shed light on the categorical distinction between epistemic and pragmatic actions. Read more. See the research poster.
Adam Sebestyen
Graz University of Technology

Creation of Design-Thinking based Computational Design Tools through Combining Machine Learning Algorithms with Parametric Design Workflows

In 1962, engineer Douglas Engelbart proposed overlapping the creative mind with artificial intelligence to create designs which couldn’t be created by either entity alone. He envisioned a symbiosis between human and machine thus both becoming co-creators in a new and dynamic design process. The goal of such a system would be finding hidden or unknown design languages, methods, or concepts. Today Machine Learning (ML) has entered the public consciousness emerging as an important tool in many industries. Architects should understand these set of algorithms as paradigm shifting tools in order to be able to create new and innovative design ideas to meet complex design criteria. Read more. See the research poster.
Alberto Fernández González,
UCL The Bartlett School of Architecture

Cellular Architecture: From Discrete grids to a High-Resolution Space

Architecture has been the foundational cell of our cities, as a building block ruled by human rules that transformed our natural environments in the physical manifestation of our cultural evolution. These blocks of architecture are governed by constraints that, in different ways, are synthesising fundamental rules in artificial new shapes. In that sense, architectural space (from private to urban) can evolve from an initial state as a living organism: reading, learning and applying from its context, growing from new inputs as self-replicating logic. Over this, they can rebuild a unique geometry, highly coherent from the beginning to the end, layer by layer, rule by rule. The frontier between Cellular Automata, Architecture and Nature is an opportunity to be used as a design approach, firstly understanding the area in which both worlds are in contact In this digital era (micro and macro scale). Information is the standard field from where all these three elements are in a constant dialogue, producing exciting results. Cellular Architecture as design approach can learn from contextual data and from itself, during the beginning to the end of the generative process, delivering answers about coherence inside/outside the architectural proposal. Finally, Cellular Architecture can redefine how architecture and context are booth related? Can this relation create a different typology in architecture? Read more. See the research poster.
Igor Lacroix
University of Porto

Dwelling and technology: adaptable design and building system for low-cost housing in Portugal

My current research focuses in developing an architectural design and building system directly informed by behavioral and sociological data. The main reference is Portuguese architect Nuno Portas’ evolutionary housing theory, which considers the relationship between architectural design and sociological information. The purpose is to create a building system for digitally fabricated low-cost housing in Portugal’s context. In order to accomplish the task I have the support of Digital Fabrication Laboratory – DFL of Faculty of Architecture from University of Porto. For more information read the abstract of my PhD proposal here. Read more. See the research poster.
Rasha Sukkarieh
Beirut Arab University

Generative Design through Agent-Based Systems: A new Methodology Integrating Alternative Materials, Fabrication and Construction Techniques in the Design Process

In current design methodologies, architects are challenged to predict all present and future design requirements and possible alterations for buildings prior to construction. Accordingly, they attempt to resolve all matters in a single passive solution. This passive solution may not always be capable of responding to continuing drastic population growth and environmental considerations. The discussion in complexity theory by the early 1990s resulted in several form-finding strategies such as generative design in search for flexibility and adaptability. These innovations widened the scope of solutions to architectural problems; however, current design strategies are not capable of efficiently utilizing these rapidly expanding technological possibilities when constructing.
This research proposes a methodology that integrates material technology, fabrication techniques and construction strategies within the design process to bridge the gap between design and build processes. It aims to analyze the current logics of generative design and categorize attempts of applying self-organizing systems, critically appraise the generative design model based on a holistic methodology considering both the form-finding strategies and construction techniques, and test the proposed model based on case studies. Read more. See the research poster.
Special Topics in Computational Design Research
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
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3:00 pm (GMT +3:00)

Main Session
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4:40 pm (GMT +3:00)

Open Discussion
Panellists: Henri Achten (eCAADe), Rodrigo Martin-Iglesias (SIGraDI), Sky Lo Tian Tian (CAADRIA), Masoud Akbarzadeh (ACADIA), Mostafa Alani (ASCAAD)
Guillermo Sánchez Sotés
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Autopoiesis In Architecture And Urbanism: A Discourse Analysis

This project examines adoptions of natural-scientific terminology in architectural discourse and theory — catalysis, evolution, metabolism, autopoiesis are examples of such adoption. With a focus on autopoiesis, this study aims to explain different degrees of formality of the described terminology adoptions in order to explain their mode of productiveness in relation to (understanding) the city. The concept of autopoiesis was developed by Chilean neuro-biologists Humberto Maturana, Francisco Varela and Ricardo Uribe in the early 1970s to describe the capability of living systems to perform processes of self-reproduction and self-maintenance while their constituent elements are subject to disintegration. The research uses discourse analysis to shed light on different modes in which adoptions of natural-scientific theory in general, and autopoiesis in particular, may inform our understanding of urbanism and architecture. This research provides design researchers ground for a renewed adoption of the terminology that reflects upon Maturana, Varela and Uribe’s efforts to define the autonomy
of living systems. Read more. See the research poster.
Juan Pablo Ugarte
Harvard Graduate School of Design

The Oculomotor Correlates Of Design Cognition: Two eye-tracking studies in exploratory model making

How do designers use their eyes when they make exploratory models? What does their gaze behavior reveal about this creative practice?  In my thesis, I study the eye movements of designers and non-designers in different exploratory model-making tasks. The aim is to deepen our understanding of the design cognition mechanisms and behaviors that are co-constitutive to this and other creative design praxes. This work fits well within current research trends in Architectural Robotics and Design Studies centered on the potential of human-machine creative collaboration in the architectural design process. Read more. See the research poster.

Larissa Negris de Souza
University of Campinas

Augmented Reality as a Tool to Aid Briefing Development

In this research, we couple traditional methods of representing briefing information and digital design benefits to address complex data in a methodological and more integrated way. To continuously bring computational analysis to early stages of design, along with bringing program data closer to designers, this study sits within an understanding that there is the potential for Augmented Reality (AR) application during this phase. We define the analysis of educational buildings characteristics, named School Design Patterns (DPs), traditionally represented with 2D diagrams, and indicate their translation into 3D diagrams to be used in an AR platform. Including a third dimension adds up a layer of information, which changes the stimulus, experience, and even the designer reality of work. Our goal is to characterize the graphic representation of the architectural program and verify its inclusion in AR. Therefore, expected results include the AR application, but also a systematized and deepened visual language study considering the correspondence between 2D and 3D graphic representation. Comprising such data in AR platforms highlights the importance of updating our approach to the architectural program, developing new kinds of abstractions in a digital context, and contributes in the search of a more user-friendly manner to approach this phase of the building design. Read more. See the research poster.

Bartosz Śliwecki
Bialystok University of Technology

The problem of perception of architecture in virtual space

The near future holds incredible advancement in virtual worlds and the societies that will exist within them. As architects, it is our role to adapt and prepare the next generation of internet users and be able to create more suitable spaces within the bounds of limitless cyber space. The way we see our world is much different than that of the spatial perception of the virtual human, and so architectural designs have to undergo substantial changes in the  methods, ergonomics and form in order to be correctly viewed and used in VR. Through experimentation, guidelines will be created for next generation design tools.  A new era of architects is just around the corner, and the first stepping stones have to be laid out for the rest to follow. Read more. See the research poster.
Wilson Barbosa Neto
University of Campinas

High-performance hybrid spaces: mass-customisation from furniture design to environmental comfort

The present PhD research aims to understand the transformations in the currrent workplace and learning environments and propose new types of furniture for these new hybrid spaces. The goal is to incorporate new materials, manufacturing technologies, design solutions to suit different habits, new ways of interaction between people, postures, ergonomic demands and personalized needs for user comfort and health. Read more. See the research poster.
Material and Fabrication Studies in Computational Design
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
}

3:00 pm (GMT +3:00)

Main Session
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4:40 pm (GMT +3:00)

Open Discussion
Panellists:  Tadeja Zupančič (eCAADe), Paula Gomez Z. (SIGraDI), Zaki Mallasi (ASCAAD), Dorit Aviv (ACADIA), Anastasia Globa  (CAADRIA)
Yelda Gin
University of Cambridge

Emerging Earthen Architecture: Digital Design and Fabrication for Building with Earth

Building with earth is an ancient craft still used worldwide. Yet, in the twentieth century, earth lost its popularity to industrialised materials and started to be acknowledged as a primitive material. My research aims to promote the virtues of building with earth to mitigate the impact of the construction industry on the environment. The research focuses on digital design and fabrication for building with earth to investigate an emerging earthen architecture which can provide efficient, healthy, attractive, affordable and customised buildings of the future. Read more. See the research poster.
Natália Queiroz
Federal University of Santa Catarina

Performance-based Facade Design: the control of insolation and daylight

The dissertation presupposes the potential of “performance-driven-design” as a support for insolation control solutions in non-residential building facades. The term “solar control device (SCD)” in this research describes transparent openings and shading systems associated to the facade. The focus is on the architectural design decision-making process. It discusses shape generation systems, algorithmic modeling, integrated evaluation methods, and multi objective optimization cycles. Read more. See the research poster.
Emily Birch
Newcastle University

Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment: B. subtilis Spore Hygromorphs as a Novel Smart Material

In a world where reckless exploitation of fossil fuels has led to a climate crisis, maintaining the built environment in a sustainable manner has become imperative. While the synthetic world relies on complex energy consuming machines to regulate humidity, mother nature provides a unique passive solution if harnessed correctly. This research aims to forge collaborations between naturally hygromorphic (humidity responsive) bacterial spores, plant biomechanics and cutting edge 4D printing techniques to provide a passive solution to regulating relative humidity within our built environments.  Laboratory experiments, material tinkering, computer aided design and a multidisciplinary design approach will lead to the discovery of a new ‘creature’ capable of a symbiotic relationship between building and user. Read more. See the research poster.
Nikoletta Karastathi
UCL The Bartlett School of Architecture

How the process of knitting & material programmability can inform the design and fabrication of highly specified sustainable architectural structures?

The proposed research by design will adopt a novel approach to the intersection of material science, textile craft and architecture. The primary aim is to introduce a sustainable and innovative design approach towards highly defined structures. This will be achieved through exploration of the knitting process as a method of fabrication in juxtaposition with material programmability, to inform hypercomplex structures. The structures will be developed in response to particular programmatic criteria, such as structural and environmental parameters, which would get activated over time. The new-materialist theory framework is central to the research methodology. New-materialism approach reconsiders dualism between human and non human, material and immaterial. Rethinking matter through new materialism is appropriate, as it provides a dynamic notion in which fibers, textile, body, technology and environment are all entangled and interconnected. Read more. See the research poster.
Islam Salem
Ain Shams University

Utilizing Robotic Material Deposition and Multipoint Forming In Optimization of Double Curved Facades

Architects working on complex building designs with double curved skin, and blobby forms have been always seeking novel ideas and techniques to be able to construct those buildings with the highest quality possible at a reasonable price. Technological advancements in the field of digital design and fabrication are still short in providing accurate and cost-effective solutions for the production of double-curved façade panels. The main challenge with double curved panels is the constant need for mold fabrication. Variations in panel design require variation in mold fabrication which consumes a considerable amount of time and money leaving behind lots of waste material. This research is intended to generate a novel model for the manufacturing of mass customized complex double-curved façade panels using a hybrid technique of multipoint forming along with robotic material deposition to minimize waste resources along with maximizing fabrication accuracy. Read more. See the research poster.
Panelists

The 1st World CAAD PhD Workshop is an organization of 5 sibling associations. The aim is to engage PhD researchers with mentor from all sibling organizations to enrich their research questions with broader view.

Dagmar Reinhardt
Associate Professor
The University of  Sdyney
Jane Scott
Dr
Newcastle University
Frederico Braida
Professor
Federal University of Juiz de Fora
Huda Salman
Dr
Robert Gordon University
Henri Achten
Professor
Czech Technical University
Rodrigo Martin-Iglesias
Professor
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Sky Lo Tian Tian
Assistant Professor
Harbin Institute of Technology
Masoud Akbarzadeh
Dr., Assistant Professor
University of Pennsylvania 
Zaki Mallasi
Dr
AECOM
Tadeja Zupančič
Professor
University of Ljubljana
Paula Gomez Z.
Dr
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Mostafa Alani
Dr
Aliraqia University
Dorit Aviv
Dr., Assistant Professor
University of Pennsylvania
Anastasia Globa
Dr
The University of Sydney
Dietmar Köring
Architect
Arphenotype
Panelists

The 1st World CAAD PhD Workshop is an organization of a 6 sibling associations. The aim is to engage PhD researchers with mentor from all sibling organizations to enrich their research questions with broader view. (Images are placeholders.)

Dagmar Reinhardt
Associate Professor, The University of Sdyney
Jane Scott
Dr, Newcastle University
Frederico Braida
Professor, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora
Huda Salman
Dr, Robert Gordon University
Henri Achten
Professor, Czech Technical University
Rodrigo Martin-Iglesias
Professor, Universidad de Buenos Aires
Sky Lo Tian Tian
Assistant Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology
Masoud Akbarzadeh
Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Zaki Mallasi
Dr, AECOM
Tadeja Zupančič
Professor, Univerza v Ljublijani
Paula Gomez Z.
Dr, Georgia Tech Research Institute
Mostafa Alani
Dr, Aliraqia University
Dorit Aviv
Assistant Professor, Weitzman School of Design
Anastasia Globa
Dr, The University of Sydney
Dietmar Köring
Architect, Arphenotype
Presentation Guidelines

In the beginning we would like to thank the team of eCAADe 2020 (38th Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe) for their general support with the presentation kit.

Your presentation should be a pre-recorded video containing a narrated slideshow or a video of yourself physically giving the presentation. This guide helps you produce one of the three types of presentations, using simple recording methods which are widely available and don’t require extensive knowledge in video production.

Duration of your presentation

Your presentation should be short in order to keep your audience engaged:

max. 12 minutes per paper; You are welcome to keep it much shorter, however – everything between 10-12 minutes is ideal.
Keep in mind that the presentation is not the beef but the beef advertisement: Put forward your main ideas and results, the audience will read the full details in your paper.
10-15 Presentation slides in total
the format and resolution of your slides should at least be 1920 x 1080 dpi

 

Preparing your presentation – Option A: Giving a slideshow-based presentation

 

1. Prepare your slides
You will typically want to present using a slideshow (e.g. PowerPoint, Keynote). World CAAD does not require you to adhere to a specific template. You may take your own slide templates, or use one of the ones listed below:

You may also use the following World CAAD related graphics in your own presentations:

2. Record your presentation and upload to a video hosting service (like i.e. YouTube or similar)
There are many options for producing videos out of presentation slides, the general rule being: The more recent your presentation software is, the more likely it already has this feature built in. You might also record the screen instead looking for an “export to video” option, which is the easiest and thus preferred option for us. Below we list several alternative ways to produce your video, please have a brief look at all of them before you choose one. As a prerequisite for all of these options, we assume that you have your slides open, you optionally wear a headset (improves sound quality) and you have an account for a video hosting service – it can even be a file server on which you put the produced video (.mp4, H.264-encoded, please).

2.A: Record yourself and co-presenters in Zoom (easy)
If you have a ZOOM account, you can easily create a meeting, join that meeting together with your fellow presenters, share your screen and hit the record button. Nice side-effect: You may choose a virtual background that fits the virtual venue of the conference (right-click on an image and choose “Save As…”):

Here are some more detailed instructions on the whole process:

First go to the ZOOM webpage and log in; under “Meetings”, press “Schedule a New Meeting” and hit the “Start this Meeting” button on the top right side.

The browser might ask you to download and install ZOOM at this stage. If you have ZOOM installed, it may ask you to “open this meeting with ZOOM” (hit the yes button).

Choose “Join with computer audio” on entering the meeting. Depending on whether or not you want to record your webcam, click the “Video” button on the lower-left side of the screen. To choose a virtual background for your webcam video, click on the up arrow on the right side of the “Video” button, then select “choose a virtual background”. In the appearing dialog, locate the [+] button to the right of “Choose a virtual background”. Select “Add Image” and choose a file from your hard drive. You should then see the virtual background being applied to your webcam video. Close the dialog.

To share your screen, hit the green “Share Screen” button on the lower side of the zoom window. Choose whether you want to share the whole screen (recommended) or a specific window. The zoom toolbar will now be hidden, be aware that it appears when you hover over the green meeting ID at the top of the screen. Go to PowerPoint (or any other presentation software you might have) and enter presentation mode. Open the ZOOM toolbar by hovering over the green meeting ID on the top of the screen, click the “…” button (rightmost item) and choose “Record on this Computer”. Hold your presentation. Click again on “…” and choose “Stop recording”. Exit the meeting. ZOOM will then start to process your recordings (it might ask you where you want to store the recorded files, please choose a folder in that case). Once ready, ZOOM will open the folder containing the produced video(s) which you can now upload to YouTube or another hosting service.

2.B: Screen record to Youtube or another hosting service (easy)

Go to the “Apowersoft screen recorder”.

Once you enter that page, it should give you the option to “Start Recording” right away; clicking on that will ask you to download a launcher – which is normal, don’t be intimidated – so please go ahead and save that file, then execute it. If nothing happens after installing the launcher, please execute the installer a second time; return to the website, which should then say “updating” and will then bring the user interface to the front of your screen. If nothing happens again the launch “Apowersoft screen recorder” through your Start Menu, Finder, or (hello linuxers!) any other means you can imagine. Including locate (don’t forget to update before, happens to me too).

If you have successfully launched the capture software, you can choose whether to switch on your webcam (then it’s a “narrated presentation with speaker view”; if you’d rather stay anonymous, just don’t click on the webcam icon). DON’T go ahead and click the red “record” button, please first activate your sound our you’ll need to do it all again. So click the dropdown right to the loudspeaker icon and activate “Microphone”. I haven’t tried “System sound and microphone”, might work as well.

Go ahead recording (put PowerPoint into the presentation mode!), after you are done click the stop button. Apowersoft recorder then says: “Not enough disk space? Try to upload it to cloud storage”. Click on that, this is what we really really want. Choose entry and exit timestamp for your video (perharps start at the point where you put PowerPoint into presentation mode is good!), then click the disk icon to “Save as – Video File” on the left-lower side (YES – don’t click the “upload to the cloud” icon!!!). Then click “Open Folder”. You will see your recording(s) there.

Open a new browser tab, log into YouTube, and click on “Upload Video”. Drag (or click to open) the video file you have created, give a title, click yourself through the further steps (choose visibility “Public” or “Not Listed” so that the video is accessible by your fellow eCAADe participants). You should be presented with a video URL. You can of course also use another video hosting service, if you wish to.

2.C: Export Powerpoint to Youtube (easy)

If you have PowerPoint 2007 or less, you are out of luck (but this isn’t a problem – see the above option “Screen Record to YouTube” and “Advanced: Export slides as images, record audio separately, combine in video editing software” instead). The good news is that PowerPoint 2010+ offers the feature to export a “narrated presentation” to YouTube, even though this is just “presentation slides + audio” (which might actually be a plus – one doesn’t necessarily have to see the speaker). Please check out the following tutorials:

Microsoft’s official guide on how to record a video using PowerPoint, which will be slides + narrative only.
Video visually explaining how to do that in 60 seconds. Be aware that you need to record a narration for the whole presentation, which the author of this video is considering only on the surface. Please see the official guide for further information.

2.D: Export slides as images, record audio separately, combine in video editing software (advanced)

You can save a PowerPoint slideshow as images (Save As, choose “other formats”, jpg or png images, choose “All Slides”). Then you record your voice track while the presentation is running, using e.g. a software like Audacity. Put both resources together in a video editing software such as Adobe Premiere, and export a .mp4 (H264 codec). Upload that file to YouTube or another hosting platform. If you cannot figure out what these explanations mean, please go back to the other options given, since this is clearly an advanced topic not suited for everyone.

Preparing your presentation – Option B: Capturing yourself giving a physical presentation

Instead of a slideshow, you may also capture yourself giving a physical presentation outlining your paper (e.g. on a blackboard as shown below) and tangible results (e.g. in the fabrication lab if that is possible given the current circumstances). Keep in mind that although this format allows for great freedom, your presentation should nevertheless be aimed at the scientific community (so no “marketing videos” please – give enough details so that everyone knows what your approach is about and advertise ideas, not products).

By far the easiest (although not the best) way to record yourself holding a physical presentation is your cellphone: You can record using your camera, then share to YouTube or upload via the YouTube App (or use another hosting service’s upload function).

Notice especially that the sound quality is off when you are not close to your cellphone, and that the image quality is really bad (you cannot even start to read the blackboard I have drawn on, although this might also come from my lack of calligraphic ability). So write BIG and BOLD, talk LOUD and CLEAR. Don’t pace around hoping that anyone will understand you. Stand still and be focused on the camera. PREPARE BEFOREHANDS or the video will be really long, things you want to show should already be in place and not (as I have done) be written or placed on scene during the video.

Better yet still, use a webcam or professional camera (reflex camera/SLR) to improve the image, and record the audio track separately (combine in video editing software such as Premiere, then upload to YouTube or another hosting service). This is really the top segment of video production (as well as a creative challenge), so please use one of the other options if you are unsure on how to work out these challenges.

Contact Us

You can send your questions and inquiries to worldcadphdworkshops@itu.edu.tr