Graduate Student, Bartlett
Bartlett School of Graduate Studies
Dr. Ruth Conroy-Dalton
Prof. Alan Penn
About
I am a PhD candidate at Bartlett school of Graduate Studies, UCL. I got my (MSc) 2005 and (BSc) 2000, in Architecture Engineering from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, and an experience of teaching undergraduate courses for some years at the same university.
I joined the PhD Programme at Bartlett School, 2007. My main major of research is “Design Cognition”. Meanwhile, my thesis topic involves studying the mutual effect of reflective practices and media/tools of designing in order to investigate the formation of new concepts in architectural design process. My research interests include collaborative design, cognitive processes, internal and external representational structures, tools and media allow online collaboration of dispersed team members.
My MSc research topic is ‘Image Significances in Contemporary Architecture’; studying the users’ interpretive structures of architectural elements using the method of semiological analysis which derived from the work of linguistic and philosopher scientists; Ferdinand De Saussure, Umberto Eco and Charles Sanders Pierce.
Professionally, I am a full licensed architect in Egypt and up to take the RIBA, UK accreditation. Previously, I worked as senior architect in several architectural firms and as freelancer. I have been nominated by the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Minister of Housing, Egypt, 2003 and 2004 respectively, for winning two visionary/architects local competitions. Moreover, and as a remarkable success, I won the second prize in an international competition featuring the theme of “IT Architecture” refereed by Marcos Novak and Tarek Naga (2001-02). Further, I participated in designing and executing the following projects: Westminster High Courts Complex, Sports, Recreational, Educational and Commercial Complexes, and Residential Compounds in UK and Egypt.
Since my graduation and onwards, my interest focuses on studying new design trends and cognitive processes. My tendency is to link professional and academic architectural work to give better understanding of architecture designing.
*Also called “semiotic” studies or “semiology”, studying sign processes and symbols “semiosis”.
Contact Information
1-19 Torrington Place
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
