Design by play: Utilizing sims 4 in preliminary architectural design

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine if the bestselling PC game The Sims 4 can be used as a tool for interior architectural design. The life simulation game comes with a highly detailed build mode where players can build & decorate their dream houses from scratch. Being fairly easy to learn and efficient to use, the build mode of the game might prove to be an alternative to popular interior design software such as AutoCAD, 3D Max and SketchUp, which are professional tools with high learning curves and long rendering times. To analyze the effectiveness of the game being used in the context of preliminary design, a draft design project using the game was tested. Moreover, to inspect if and/or how much the game makes a positive impact on the process from the architects' perspective, qualitative tests via observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted. As a result, it was identified that The Sims 4 build mode might provide the essential tools for a fast paced drafting stage. Moreover, even in its flawed state, Sims 4 build mode can be used for preliminary architectural design, however for limited purposes only. © 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.