In my years of experience, I still have not come across any sites that are similar to each other. Individual site has its own set of pro and cons and its own characters. Designers should make use of all its traits to design a unique spaces responding to client's and different stakeholders' requirement

Innovation is a positive evolution of design perspective. It is essential for improvement in architecture. But innovation is not just being different. It must add value to the function, aesthetic, structure, and other aspects of the building. To be innovative, architects need to consider factors like the site, the client, the energy, and the materials. They also need a clear vision, challenge the trends, explore new possibilities, and learn from mistakes. Innovation can create buildings that are beautiful, functional, sustainable, and efficient. It can inspire other architects and users. Innovation is a skill, an attitude, and a passion.

Innovation will not happen only when you understand the problem. That means you must first define the problem and tease out the issues and that way find potential solutions. Notice I say solutions (plural). this is because finding or proposing "a solution” during the design exploration and understanding stage will lead to missing potential innovation to the problem. the designer must stay open to all possibilities to be sure that innovative solutions are found.

One of the best practices, I usually follow is identifying the edge case scenarios apart from the generic problems we identify. Most of the trending solutions focus on present issues and there are a lot of scenarios left attended. Slowly these scenarios start affecting the future present. 2.some time few problems seem to be very small and impacts very little but on a broader level, they are the most common and ever unresolved.

Integrate AI with environmental design: Utilize AI to analyze environmental and social data, creating sustainable green spaces aligned with ecological and community needs. Incorporate renewable energy and recycled materials for a design that embodies innovation and expertise.

Agreed, trends can be insightful reflections of societal shifts. While they can inspire design decisions, it's crucial to approach trends with a critical eye. Research should go beyond surface-level understanding, delving into their origins, meanings, and impacts. Analyzing trends in relation to the project's goals, users, and environment ensures a thoughtful integration that enhances, rather than blindly follows, design principles.

could we be definitively sustainable by giving priority to the plastic thrown away every second? by making plastic bricks? to create truly useful sustainable architecture?

Trends, when critically analyzed, become valuable tools for crafting designs that stand the test of time, align with environmental goals, and contribute to a more sustainable future. In design, embracing trends with purpose becomes a dual pursuit: staying relevant and minimizing waste.

The present trends we see out there have taken a few years to ideate. Whenever doing any product or trend research, make sure to understand the course of the product from where and how it began to ideate on how it might evolve in the uncomfortable future. They are several advanced designs that never saw the face of this world, what we see is merely the past innovations. Ideating in the product growth or evolution helps us in predicting what's necessary for the future and design a long lasting solution

Utilizing AI for sustainable design innovation: Employ AI algorithms to analyze environmental impact, optimize resource use, and drive circular design principles. This integrates technology with nature, creating smart, adaptive living spaces that are both environmentally conscious and technologically advanced. This approach, harnessing AI's analytical power and the principles of circular design, aims to produce designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also contribute positively to environmental sustainability.

It is pretty difficult not to follow patterns currently popular on the internet. One way to implement "innovation" in whatever we're building is to bring out perspectives from experiences/environments/cultures that one personally identifies with. Something that has shaped the unique thinking process of the designer. It could be something out of a childhood experience, the way you've been brought up, or any demographic that you've interacted with, that others might be unaware of.

Your emphasis on experimentation is pivotal in the design process. Armed with a thorough understanding of the problem and attuned to prevailing trends, it becomes imperative to explore a myriad of ideas. The creative journey unfolds through the deployment of various tools and methods—brainstorming, sketching, prototyping, testing, and actively seeking feedback. Encouragingly, this process thrives on a lack of fear towards mistakes and a willingness to tread unconventional paths. It is within these experiments that the seeds of innovation are sown. The more we delve into the realm of possibilities, the greater the likelihood of discovering novel and groundbreaking solutions that defy conventional design boundaries.

Always try to associate your design with every other design you come across and never restrict your solution to your field or area of interest. Someone's dumb solution can be a key parameter in your design. Try to look in the media labs innovation methods, where they bring art, design, engineering together. This sort of approach even reduces the error factor in our approach

With a comprehensive understanding of the problem and trends, embark on the ideation phase for your design. Encourage a diverse range of possibilities and perspectives, avoiding the restriction to one or a few options. Employ various methods and tools, including brainstorming, sketching, prototyping, testing, and seeking feedback. Embrace the freedom to make mistakes and experiment with unconventional ideas. The more you explore and experiment, the greater the potential for discovering new and innovative solutions to the design challenge at hand.

Understanding the people, site and context is key to innovative design. Be curious and always investigate, the best solution is rarely the first that comes to mind. Don’t get hung up on a specific solution early in the process

Vision is the right concept/word. But it's where you begin, not end. You can't identify the problem until you create the Vision of the "Better World" you are striving to achieve. The Problem is the obstacle to achieving the vision. Your innovation is how your design will eliminate/overcome the obstacle. Then, you can Communicate the Vision -- the "better world" -- that will be, or has been, achieved by your innovative design.

Drawing on Islamic and ancient Persian water management, this vision combines traditional practices with AI and modern engineering for sustainable solutions. It respects historical wisdom while addressing contemporary environmental challenges, blending ancient science with today's technology.

The concluding step in the design process is to effectively communicate your design vision to others. This involves not only presenting the final product but also elucidating your design process and rationale. Articulate how you approached the problem, researched trends, and developed and refined your ideas. Clearly express how your design addresses the needs and desires of users and the environment. Through this communication, you showcase not only your creativity and originality but also your professionalism and competence in navigating the complexities of the design journey.

We design for people. If you can make your design proposal have an impact on peoples life, improving their situation on a human level, you are on the right track.

In environmental design, ensuring innovation beyond just following trends involves continuous learning and staying updated with the latest advancements. From my experience as an energy auditor, constantly exploring new technologies and approaches, like the latest solar panel innovations, kept designs ahead of mere trends. Actionable advice: Regularly engage with current research, attend industry conferences, and participate in professional forums. This ongoing education allows you to integrate cutting-edge solutions into your designs, ensuring they are innovative and sustainable, not just trend-driven. This approach is vital for staying at the forefront of environmental design.

Design is a dynamic and ever-evolving field, where trends shift, problems transform, and user expectations evolve. To stay abreast of these changes, continuous learning and skill enhancement are essential. Maintain curiosity and an open-minded approach, actively seek feedback and constructive criticism, and stay informed about the latest research and best practices in the field. Embrace the opportunity to learn from other designers and diverse disciplines. By adopting a commitment to ongoing learning, you not only improve your skills but also contribute to elevating the quality and innovation in your design work.

Does it serve in a valuable way the population? Does it serve people well? What is the sustainability value from that design? Does it contribute to leaving the earth a better place?

I agree with Hanane, sustainability is fundamentally about changing human behavior, which is shifting culture and building capacity for change. And in many instances, following (informed) trends is a great place to start a culture shift. How many times were truly innovative designs tried and failed because it was "too advanced" or "ahead of it's time?" The key is knowing what is the most progressive, acceptable design and then deploying (or recruiting) all of your assets to push that boundary a little bit further. This creates an ecosystem of change needed for sustainability outcomes to be achieved and then to accelerate.