Introducing A Stable Diffusion Visual Scripting Interface In A Computational Design Course To Supplement The Design Process Beyond 3d and 3d-Printed Mockups

In a Master of Architecture course, a workflow connecting Grasshopper for Rhino (GH) and Stable Diffusion (SD) through ComfyUI, an intuitive visual scripting graphical interface that, notably, runs locally without sharing data online, is developed. This technical infrastructure enables the dynamically linking of three-dimensional CAD models with text-prompted inputs, enhancing digital design with a visual, AI-driven perspective. Preliminary work to develop this technical infrastructure is conducted through master theses, while course participants design a zoo expansion, focusing on wildlife-centered architecture, and culminating their projects in 3D-printed mock-ups, blending digital and analog methods. This work presents the method and results assessed with indicators such as concept, AI contribution, control over the AI, and diversity of results. It contributes to the discussion on integrating AI into design education, proposing a replicable, open-source framework and offering insights into the strengths and challenges of using text-to-image generators in architectural design.