THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTURAL GRAPHICS IN THE FORMATION OF THE ARCHITECT’S DESIGN THINKING

The article examines the role of architectural graphics in shaping the design thinking of an architect in the context of contemporary transformations in architectural education and professional practice. It is substantiated that architectural graphics should be understood not only as a means of visual presentation of design solutions, but primarily as a fundamental tool of cognitive activity that supports spatial analysis, conceptual develop-ment, the formation of architectural ideas, and professional communication. Graphic represen-tation is interpreted as a specific “language of design” that enables the transition from abstract mental images to concrete spatial configurations and project decisions. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between hand drawing and digital architectural graphics in the process of developing design thinking. It is emphasized that freehand sketching plays a crucial role at the early stages of design, facilitating intuitive, associative, and exploratory modes of thinking, while digital tools provide precision, consistency, and advanced possibilities for visualization, modeling, and presentation of architectural con-cepts. The article argues for the necessity of maintaining a balanced integration of traditional and digital graphic practices in the professional training of architects, as both approaches contri-bute differently but complementarily to the deve-lopment of creative and analytical competencies. The influence of architectural graphics on the development of spatial imagination, composi-tional thinking, and the ability to perceive archi-tectural objects within their environmental and urban context is analyzed. The study concludes that systematic training in professional architec-tural graphics enhances the quality of design so-lutions, fosters visual literacy, and improves the capacity for reasoned communication of archi-tectural concepts in professional and public contexts. The relevance of strengthening the role of architectural graphics within architectural curricula is justified in view of ongoing digitali-zation processes and the increasing interdiscip-linary nature of contemporary architectural practice.