D i g i t a l   S k e t c h i n g   Website
Using a digital pen-and-paper system, I am recording, analyzing and presenting how designers use graphics to think.

- “Mining a collection of animated sketches” in ECAADE’07 (Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe), University of Frankfurt, Sept 26-28, 2007.
- “Thresholds between Analog and Digital Representations”, co-authored with Bob Martens and Earl Mark. in ECAADE’06, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece, Sept 6-9, 2006.
- “Learning Design Sketching from Animations and Storyboards” in International Journal of Architectural Computing, Volume 4, Number 1, January 2006, pp. 1-17.
-“Learning Design Process with Digital Sketching” co-authored with Andrew McKelvey,  in Computer Aided Architectural Design Futures, ISBN 1-4020-3460-1, Vienna (Austria) 20–22 June 2005.
- “Unveiling Design and Cognition Process Through Digital Sketching: Methods and Tools for Environmental Design Research” co-authored with Ihab Elziadi and Andrew McKelvey, Environmental Design Research Association, Vancouver, April 2005.
- “Stroke Sequence in Digital Sketching” inthe 22nd Education and Research in Computer-Aided Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9541183-2-4, Copenhagen (Denmark) 15-18 September 2004, pp. 387-393. 
- “Teaching with Digital Sketching” co-authored with Stina Lane-Cummings, Design Communication Association, Jan 9-11, 2004, San Luis Obispo.

 R e p r e s e n t i n g   P l a c e  
Capturing the spirit of a place in all its visual richness, tectonic physicality and cultural complexity, is a robust challenge. I study how to gather, analyze and present ideas about place because appreciating the distinctive character of places is central to environmental design.

- "Using Mobile Digital Tools for Learning About Places"co-authored with Stina Lane-Cummings, in CAADRIA'03, Bangkok, Thailand
- "Capturing Place: A Comparison of Site Recording Methods" in CAAD Futures 2001, Eindhoven, the Netherlands, July 8-11.
- "Depicting Daylight: representing daylighting with multiple Images" co-authored with Edwin PLee ACADIA'01 Proceedings, SUNY Buffalo, October 2001.
- "Lighting Design Software Usability Study", sponsored by the UO Frederick Baker Lighting fund

Representing Light Website

 D e s i g n  C o l l a b o r a t i o n  
How the can remote group design be enhanced by telecommunications? Joint projects with distant schools allow us to share ideas about design, technology and culture. Projects have focused on communicating a Sense of Place on the Internet.

- Intercontinental Seating,with Joachim Kieferle & Jens Grunau in the 23rd eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 0-9541183-2-4] Lisbon (Portugal) 21-24 September 2005, pp. 47-54.
- "Approaches to Design Collaboration", Automation in Construction
-" Design Collaboration Strategies" co-authored with T. Kvan, in SiGraDi 2000: 4th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics, Rio de Janiero, Sept. 25-28, 2000 and the 5th International Conference on Design and Decision Support Systems in Architecture and Urban Planning, Ampt van Nijkerk, Nijkerk, The Netherlands, August 22-25, 2000 juried absracts
- "Digital Identity in the Virtual Design Studio", in Constructing Identity, Associated Ccllegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) 56th Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1998. juried 
- Cheng, N. et al., "Place, Time and The Virtual Design Studio", in Re-connecting: Proceedings of Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA 94), St. Louis, 1994. juried 
-"Learning in Web-based Collaborations," ed. T. Fowler, InterSymp'2000, World Wide Web as Framework for Collaboration Focus Symposium Proceedings. Baden-Baden, Germany, August 2, 2000. juried abstracts
- "Virtual Design Studios" co-authored with T. Kvan, and J. Bradford, in Maver, T., and J. Petric (eds.), The Virtual Studio: Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Education in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe, ECAADE, Univ. of Strathclyde, Glasgow 1994. juried 
- Wojtowicz, J., et al., "Asynchronous Architecture" in F. Morgan and R. W. Pohlman (eds.), Education and Practice: The Critical Interface, Proceedings of ACADIA '93, College Station. juried 
- Wojtowicz, J., et al., "Aspects of Asynchronous and Distributed Design Collaboration" in Wojtowicz, J. (ed.), Virtual Design Studio, Hong Kong University Press, 1995. 
- "Postscript: The Virtual Design Studio 1994" co-authored with J. Wojtowicz and T. Kvan in Wojtowicz, J. (ed.), Virtual Design Studio, Hong Kong University Press, 1995. 
 

Intercontinental Seating, '05

Connecting Place, Winter '97

Virtual Design Studio summary

VDS at HKU 

 D i g i ta l  a n d  P h y s i c a l   D e s i g n   M e t h od s  
How can we maximize design quality by using the best of both traditional and new methods? Experimenting with hybrid techniques and overlaying results of different processes can lead to new perceptions and explorations. I seek to understand the nature and biases of each media in order to optimize how its use.

- International Journal of Architectural Computing,Guest Editor
Vol. 6, no. 1, Jan 2007 edited with Joachim Kieferle
Vol. 4, no. 2, June 2006 edited with Celine Pinet
Vol.1, no. 2, June 2003 edited with Ellen Yi-Luen Do
- Fabrication:  Examining the Digital Practice of Architecture, ACADIA + AIA-TAP,  co-edited with Philip Beesley and Shane Williamson, R.S. / ISBN 09696665-2-7 Cambridge (Ontario) 2004. 
 - Cheng, N, "Linking the Virtual to Reality: CAD and Physical Modeling", in M. Tan et. al. (eds.), CAAD Futures '95 Proceedings, School of Architecture, National University of Singapore. juried 
- Cheng, N., "Multiple Media in Design Education", in B. Colajanni and G. Pellitteri (eds.), Multimedia and Architectural Disciplines, Proceedings of the 13th ECAADE, University of Palermo, Italy, 1995. juried 
- Cheng, N. "Wayfinding in Cyberspace: negotiating connections between sites" in Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA) '98 Proceedings, Osaka, Japan. juried abstracts 
- Cheng, N. "Connecting Virtual Worlds", pre-publication draft 
 

- Theodoropoulos, C. and N. Cheng, "Creating Learning Communities in Large-Enrollment Beginning Design Studios" in the National Conference on the Beginning Design Student, Puerto Rico, March 2001. juried abstracts
- Cheng, N., "Evolution of Digital Design Teaching", presented at the ACSA National Meeting'01, Baltimore, published in the ACADIA newsletter
- Cheng, N. "Filling in Missing Links: Using the Internet to Strengthen a Learning Community,", Proceedings of the West Regional Meeting. Portland, Oregon: ACSA, Oct. 15-16, 1999 juried abstracts
- Cheng, N, "Playing with Digital Media: an approach to teaching computer graphics", in Ataman, O. and J. Bermudez's Proceedings of ACADIA '99. juried
- Cheng, N, "Digital Transformations for Design Learning: step by step to competence", poster for the National Conference on the Beginning Design Student, Las Vegas, 1999 juried abstracts (forthcoming)
- Cheng, N, "CAD as a Foreign Language", Hong Kong Papers on Design and Development, vol 1., University of Hong Kong, 1998. juried 
- Cheng, N, "Networks, Architecture & Architectural Education", Negotiating Architectural Education Symposium proceedings, Univ. of Minnesota, April 4-5, 1997.
 - Cheng, N., "Teaching CAD as a Foreign Language" in T. Kvan, ed., CAADRIA '96 Proceedings, Hong Kong. juried abstracts
- Cheng, N, "Teaching CAD with Language Learning Methods" in Jordan, J.P. et. al. editors, Representation and Design, proceedings of ACADIA '97, Cincinnati, OH. juried
- Cheng, N. "Web-based Teamwork in Design Education" in SiGraDi 2000: 4th Iberoamerican Congress of Digital Graphics, Rio de Janiero, Sept. 25-28, 2000. juried absracts
- Wojtowicz, J. et. al., "Teaching and Learning in the Virtual Design Studio" in K. Kensek and D. Noble (ed.), ACADIA Quarterly, Volume 15, Number 1, Spring 1996. juried