Surveying design spaces with performance maps: A multivariate visualization method for parametric design and architectural design optimization

This article presents a method to visualize high-dimensional parametric design spaces with applications in computational design processes and interactive optimization. The method extends Star Coordinates using a triangulation-based interpolation with Barycentric Coordinates. It supports the understanding of design problems in architectural design optimization by allowing designers to move between a high-dimensional design space and a low-dimensional Performance Map. This Performance Map displays the characteristics of the fitness landscape, develops designers’ intuitions about the relationships between design parameters and performance, allows designers to examine promising design variants, and delineates promising areas for further design exploration.