This paper first outlines the several problems encountered by architects in predicting user comprehension of designed environments, establishes the importance of the need to predict accurately, and suggests ways in which research can help improve prediction. Also discussed are the objectives and methodological problems associated with the four domains of research to be explored before an objective basis for preconstruction predictions can be established. These domains are (1) response formats, (2) media of presentation, (3) observers, and (4) environment. The previous research of the author in this area is then outlined, including the presentation of a 2-stage conceptual model of meaning (or comprehension) consisting of a representational stage followed by a responsive stage. The author describes one experimental study that compared the meanings attributed to environments by architects with those attributed by laymen, the findings of which revealed that the education of the architect accounted for the differences. Another experiment compared architects in different parts of the country and found similar, albeit less systematic, differences. The presentation concludes with a discussion of the current research of the author in which the adequacy of various media as representations of designed environments are compared. (Author)