call for papers diségno No. 17 - The Revealed Structure. Drawing Between Construction and Form
The Revealed Structure. Drawing Between Construction and Form
edited by Stefano Chiarenza, Marta Salvatore
Drawing is the medium through which the invisible takes shape. From architecture to science, from philosophy to art, representation allows ideas, perceptions, and abstract phenomena to be translated into visible signs. In the context of design, this capacity is particularly evident in the depiction of structures – understood not only as technical and load-bearing elements but also as organisational principles of space, expressions of constructive thought, and mediators between conception and realisation.
Structures are the framework of visible configurations, the foundational principle of every construction, whether the result of human intent or of natural, biological, or morphogenetic processes. In architectural representation and visual communication, however, they often remain in the background, concealed behind surfaces, envelopes, or formal narratives. Yet it is from these very structures that the beauty of form arises, guided by constructive laws inscribed in the numerical order of the world or shaped by the ingenuity of design. Structure does not impose; it organises, supports, and inspires. It is a silent principle underpinning the visible, giving it coherence.
Within this framework, drawing can assume a revelatory role, making perceptible what is often hidden. Structure, thus revealed, emerges as a generative force, an expression of a deep order that runs through matter and thought, architecture and nature. Drawing, in this sense, does not merely depict what is visible, but becomes a tool for investigation and interpretation. It reveals what connects, stabilises, and gives meaning, highlighting the aesthetics of constructive logic and the implicit narrative of structural resistance.
Issue 17 of diségno invites reflections on the role of drawing in the representation of structure as the visible form of technical and design thinking. The aim is to explore how drawing can make explicit the relationships between matter and geometry, form and construction, building tradition and technological innovation. Contributions are welcome that explore structure as a formal configuration and organisational principle, both in architecture and engineering, as well as in related disciplines. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach that crosses the boundaries of architecture and engineering, this call also welcomes contributions addressing the theme of structure within natural processes, analysing how the laws of growth and the organisation of the physical world find expression through drawing – both analytically and in design terms.
Submissions may adopt a theoretical-critical, experimental, or design-oriented approach, and are encouraged to explore:
- the role of drawing in revealing structure as a configurative, symbolic, and technical-constructive system;
- the historical and cultural evolution of structural forms and their representations;
- graphic methods and tools used to represent and communicate structural logic;
- the design potential of structure as a form-generating element.
Focus 1. Structures Made Visible. Drawing as Constructive Revelation
Contributions that explore drawing as a means of making visible the constructive logic of architecture, highlighting the relationship between representation and construction, geometry and structure. Both analytical and design approaches are welcome.
Focus 2. Forms of Resistance. Structural Aesthetics and Imaginary
Contributions that examine the form of structures as the result of a visual culture and technical-figurative tradition, from historical, theoretical, or symbolic perspectives. Special attention may be given to the representation of structural elements across different eras, contexts, and cultures, as well as analogies with natural structures.
Focus 3. Drawing the Structure. Codes, Methods, and Tools
Contributions focusing on the methods and tools used in the representation of structures – from descriptive geometry to digital modelling, from technical drawing to computational simulations. Special emphasis will be placed on the intersection of traditional and innovative tools in the field of scientific and technical drawing.
Focus 4. The Aesthetics of Logic. Form, Structure, and Design
Contributions addressing the design dimension of structure as a generator of form. Here, drawing is understood as a mediator between structural conception and architectural invention, a space where constructive intelligence is expressed through integrated and purposeful formal solutions.
Abstract submission: May 28th, 2025
Notification of acceptance: June 16th, 2025
Full paper: August 25th, 2025
Notification of final acceptance: September 20th, 2025
Revised full paper in English: October 15th, 2025
