ABSTRACT
Mots cUs: transfert de connaissances, conception urbaine, cartes de comportement, presentation d'information graphique, formation a la conception urbaine.
Keywords: knowledge transfer; urban design; behavior mapping; graphic information display; urban design education
Communication is a key issue in the collaboration of designers and social science researchers. Several differences between designers and researchers in method and approach of problems seem to account for communication problems between the two groups. Researchers and designers seem to differ on: point of view (behavior vs. environments); method (analytical vs. synthetical); presentation (words vs. images); pattern of values (theoretical vs. ideological) and role conception (advisor vs. integrator) (van Andel, 1988). In their review of the transfer of (technical) information to designers and architects Lera, Cooper, and Powell (1984) mention the need for well-structured, relevant, and well-presented information. But they doubt if the presentation and organization of the information are the essential elements of successful information transfer. "They may be essential but they are not sufficient. It is necessary to stress that decisions are rather complex, emotionally demanding human processes, not just individualized intellectual analyses" Cop. cit., p. 119). Newland, Powell, and Creed (1987) focus on the effect of learning styles, perception, and cultural biases on information transfer. These factors cause individual differences in the communication with architectural designers.
