My Grandma is a Computational Designer

"My Grandma is a Computational Designer"

Imagine sitting at the kitchen table with your grandma, explaining what you do as a computational designer…

You start with enthusiasm, throwing in terms like backend, UI, API, and Parametric Design.

She listens politely, nods occasionally, and then asks, “That’s nice, dear, but... what is it you actually do?”

The truth is, that many of us in architecture and engineering fall into the trap of speaking a "computational dialect"…

Unintelligible to those not deep into CD.

And sometimes, even our colleagues in parametric design or automation won´t get it.

Communication isn’t about showing off.

It’s about creating understanding.

Why does this matter?

If you have the skills in CD and want to get a job, a promotion, or get important parties in your office to buy in...

You need to communicate the value that you bring effectively.

And it is not easy.

We, Computational Designers, suck at this! Big time!

Instead of overwhelming people with complexity, meet them where they are.

So, next time you talk about CD, imagine you’re talking to Grandma.

Break it down, simplify it, and watch how much further your ideas travel.

…

I will bring some IRL examples later on.

Have a great week!

Isma