Big things and little things

While doing some site design work today a portion of my brain, we'll call him Larry, began to wander. Larry was not a large a portion of my brain and I did not think I would miss him so I let Larry wander. I checked on him occasionally. It wasn't long before Larry was kicking around the studio time yesterday. He was examining some of your work (or more to the point my memories of your work) and examining the questions you asked and the answers I gave. As turns out Larry came to the conclusion that we're all entering into the same phase of this design project. That tenuous, tedious phase in which the concepts and their mass have to become something. When the have to take material existence. It is a very difficult time because we find that the things we produce don't always match the images in our mind; they don't match the vision of the ideas for our project. The big things aren't looking and feeling quite right. All designers handle this in different ways, but there are a few constants upon which we can rely to help us get our designs a little closer to the vision we have for the project and they don't revolve around the big things, they're all about the little things--lets look at 2 of them.

1. Go back to your inspiration. One good, and proven, way to get inspired as a designer is to keep a collection of images. Pinterest has made a fortune on this idea because they're on to something. We're designers, we're visual people. Get some images. I found this website today while seeking a bit of inspiration.
http://www.contemporist.com/2013/01/18/abo-house-by-nico-van-der-meulen/
I was looking for architectural presentation styles and stumbled upon this house. I like the design and will study it for a little bit, which brings me to constanant #2.

2. Put in the hard work. This is a tough one and not because the work is hard, but knowing WHAT work to do is the tough part. As designers we're taught to sketch and draw, but some of us rarely do it. There are several reasons for this, but I'd like to focus on two. Reason #1: I'm not good at it. This may be true, but guess what, you're not good at designing either. Ouch, was that harsh? Maybe, but it's the truth. There's another truth, you're in architecture school and you keep coming to class and putting in the hours right? Well, that shows you want to be better, but what is that doing for you? Well allow me to expound. Large things are made up of lots and lots of small things. Your design ability is made up of years and years of training, both explicit (stuff you actively do and KNOW is helping you) and implicit (stuff you do that helps you, but you don't know you're doing it). Sketching and drawing is a combination of both.
So let's examine what's actually happening when you say "I'm not good at sketching." You're actively interfering with your own progression as a designer, you're talking yourself out of it before you even start. What if you said this "I don't think I'm good at sketching, but I'll make some crappy sketches today and get them out of my system so tomorrow sketches will be better." That's a good attitude to have. Don't expect everything you do to be awesome the first time. Accept it won't be as good as the next time you do it so get the bad stuff out. Incidentally, all of your blog posts are improving tremendously. Not because you're all natural bloggers, but because you're doing it regularly. This is a by product of being human, we get better at the things we do regularly.
Guess what happens after some time? You get better at sketching and you start to enjoy it and you do it more and you enjoy it more so you do it more...it's a vicious cycle!
Reason #2: I don't know what a sketch study is or the process.
This is also a tough one. There really isn't a set method, but I'll tell you some I like. The first is to practice your freehand 2-point perspectives. Good places to do this are: urban landscapes, building interiors, sitting in any class that's not studio, and while you're awake. Just practice sketching what you see in a 2 point perspective. The second is to sketch plan, section elevation, and details of cool designs you see on the web. Take a collection of photos of a design and see if you can puzzle out the floor plan from the photos through sketching. This is a great exercise in spatial understanding and one I do quite often. The third is to sketch details of cool designs you see. Subjects include, overhangs, handrails, furniture designs, etc. Then put your twist on it and design a little change.
All these processes require you to take information in through your eyes, synthesize it and put back out again through your hands. Takes practice, just like playing guitar, riding a bike, texting and driving (just kidding, don't do this), and talking without using "Like".

These processes require some devoted time and intentional practice, but don't worry, I promise it will pay off. To bring this full circle and connect back to what Larry was up to kicking around my head let's pull it all together. Design is not done in a vacuum and it is NOT a genesis type activity. There isn't a moment of genius like a bolt of lightning. Design is hard work and takes intention and effort. You hear people reference designers they like all the time. Look them up, study their details. Study HOW they present their information, study the wall/roof intersections, study how the stairs turn 90 degrees, study how the spaces are arranged, study how the kitchen is laid out, study how the lights are placed, study how the door works, study the hand rails--STUDY THE DETAILS.
Why? Because big things are made up of lots of little things. I'll leave you with one more piece of insight-we humans only notice things that don't work. So it stands to reason that if we spend some much time looking at things that don't work all we'll produce is the same. Spend some time studying design details that work, fight the tendency to overlook them, don't miss the little things, because they make up the big things.

Lecture thoughts... Alien Testicles....

Since I ask you to do it, I may as well. Here's the summation of my notes...

Alien Testicles would not seem a strange thing if hanging testicles as decor or, and this is an even more distant but exciting possibility, aliens visited earth and were a despised common place. Even trying to imagine the social norms that would make hanging alien genitalia a socially acceptable non-conversation starter is even more interesting; we would really have to despise them to use their body parts as decor.

This was the thesis of Michael Young’s lecture--the architecture we produce should cause us to view the world around it a little differently and thus perhaps view the architecture differently as well. Understanding the methods of production that define our visual history is extremely important. It shows us that no object exists without context and thus no object can exist apart from the definitions ascribed to it by the context nor can the context help but be refined/defined by the new addition.

This is an extremely important notion for Architects as we use the word “redefine” like an alcoholic jumping on and off the wagon constantly seeking to redefine their existence in the world not understanding and seeing the value in the actions that simply alter the direction of their life by a few degrees--a few degrees could have saved the Titanic. Sometimes we miss the value of advancing a few steps in the continuum of design, pushing a boundary of an object or idea. We believe that change has to happen in the form of a revolution, a replacing, a vilifying of the previous to give value to the new. We do not have to tear down what is there to build new. The scientific method show us this; when new theories have more value the old theories are not demonized, yet simply forgotten in favor of the new. This constant to vilify is a product of our society and, not to digress too far down the rabbit hole, our cultural understanding that colors all the images we take in through our polarized raybans and taints the sounds of the music coming through our earbuds with ideas of objective value and independent existence.

Ideas can be powerful things as architects we have a social responsibility to understand the impact of the manifestation of those ideas on the larger social fabric. The value of our creations lie not in the shock of the form, but in the questions that form raises and the answers it provides. And if it provides no answers or even worse asks useless questions, it can still be visually striking and engaging. The imperative remains; those questions and answers move us forward in the continuum that is the human understanding of our place on roof deck, in the city, on the earth, and in the universe.

Some helpful links...

Class here are some good links to get you thinking along the lines of presentations and partis...

http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/pearson/Images/2250-diagramming.pdf

Really good bit on Parti:
http://glennas.wordpress.com/2010/09/25/luke-wroblewski-on-parti-or-the-main-idea-from-interaction09/

Remember, the parti you present on Friday does not have to be your final, but we have to start somewhere.

See you all tomorrow.

Monday Monday Monday!!!!

Pursuant to yesterday's post in which the presentation deadline was extended and to which no one has commented, we will be visiting the J. Ringer Library on Monday at 2pm.

That means we'll meet there at 1:50pm and we'll start at 2pm.

Why this time? Well you see there's a high school across the street and stuff gets crazy at 3pm so I'd like to be outta there by 2:50pm.

So, this means we gotta prep.

Tomorrow in studio we will start the revit models of the library and by monday you'll have plans with color coded areas and SF calcs.
We'll also go over the RFQ so we know what the design challenges are.

We've got a lot to do, but I think this new schedule will produce better results.

I hope you all got your structures work done, see you tomorrow.

The best post yet

Class,
Great day today. I was very motivated by the discussion and I hope you guys gleaned something from it besides a nap.
You're all doing a fantastic job with the research. I know some of you are having some problems getting the library info you would like--keep at it.
As we discussed, here is the link to the shared folder for the spreadsheets:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-tZFRAxOMvxQi1ydUx1Z1pSVlE&usp=sharing

Learning is a process and as I was thinking over the afternoon I realized that the schedule isn't helping us right now, so here's what I propose.

Let's make these research boards due on Friday 9/26. (next friday).
Before you jump for joy, let me tell you why.

1. I want them to be awesome.
          a. by awesome I mean INCLUSIVE of good data
2. If we start our analysis of the CS library this week we could benefit several ways.

          a. You could all then present your findings in comparison to the CS library.
          b. You'd have some more time to gather the data
          c. We can develop our common "language" from the CS Library plans


Therefore, here's the new schedule.
Start modeling the CS library while you continue to get the data you need for you other libraries.

Sound good?

Comment your thoughts.

Spread Sheets

Class,
here is the shared folders for your spreadsheet.


https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-tZFRAxOMvxWmFTenJHaEVQV1U&usp=sharing

Case Study Research

Class,
Here is the link to the .pdf that has the board requirements.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-tZFRAxOMvxb1JBZUtCUHpFczA/edit?usp=sharing

Remember, 10mins minimum. Make it cool.

Writing Assignment two and CAD files

Class here is the link to the writing assignments folder.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-tZFRAxOMvxVENiWWVwRXFwNG8&usp=sharing

in it you'll find assignment 2.

Also please put your CAD files in the folder with the photos. You'll find a folder labeled for the files.

See you all this afternoon.

Link to Photos

Class,
here is a link to the photos we took Caitlin took today. Thanks Caitlin!

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-tZFRAxOMvxUHhLcTdTZjc4MHc&usp=sharing

Have fun!

Software Instruction

Class,
As we discussed today, Eric will be giving a Rhino tutorial on Monday at 8AM and we're very appreciative of this.
He has kindly volunteered to give another instructional session on Wednesday from 8-10 pm.
topics covered: Illustrator and Rhino.

Eric will comment with more details.

Having a Vision

Real success starts with a vision, but getting that vision can be tough.

We talked a bit about this yesterday. Some people are born with the ability to "see" end products and some of us have to develop the ability. If you're like me and fall in the latter category don't despair. We're human beings at the top of the food chain not because we have retractable claws (which would be really cool) but because we brains, can use tools, and train ourselves.

So here we go...creating a vision.

Here are some links to the AISC steel competition winners. Check them out.
Study them, but don't get distracted by the pretty pictures. Study the content and it's delivery.

Look at HOW they presented the information.
Decide if you think it was successful.

Look at WHAT each image is saying.
Decide if it is effective in conveying the message.

Ask WHY each image is placed where it is.
Decide if could have been placed better and why.

Don't get intimidated by the graphics...the adobe suite is POWERFUL and we will be using it.

Lastly, get inspired.

See you all tomorrow.

http://www.acsa-arch.org/programs-events/competitions/competition-archives/2013-2014-steel/2013-14-steel-winners/2013-14-steel-border-crossing-first-place

http://www.acsa-arch.org/programs-events/competitions/competition-archives/2013-2014-steel/2013-14-steel-winners/2013-14-steel-border-crossing-third-place

Link to more past winners
https://www.aisc.org/content.aspx?id=796

Becoming an Expert

Class,
Great stuff today--there are so many possibilities with these giant models!

I'm having some serious thoughts on this "expert" idea. Check out this website:
http://zenhabits.net/expert/

I really like number 5.

The five steps on this website sum up the design studio. Here are my thoughts on the five steps.

1. Expert is a relative term, but it is also a continuum. Look up the word continuum. It's a fascinating concept. You won't know when you've reached expert status, there's no finish line, trophy, or diploma. You just suddenly find yourself capable of things and when you look around you find yourself more capable than the people around you. Everyone you encounter in your life can teach something.

2. Books are important and thanks to amazon and google they are ubiquitous and cheap. Read a lot. By the way, there are literally thousands of free podcasts that will teach you almost everything you ever wanted to know. When you're driving or doing studio work you can be engaging other parts of your brain...it's amazing!

3. This is perhaps the most difficult step in your journey toward expertise because we have so many devices (apple just released a new one yesterday) that distract us from being in the moment. When you're doing your work, be it studio, structures or english, BE in your work. Put away distractions and allow your brain to absorb the material and processes in front of you.

4. Getting outside help is awesome. There will always be someone that knows more than you but as soon as you ask them to help you then you are on your way to knowing more than them. People generally enjoy showing you how much they know, just ask.

5. We learn much much more from mistakes than successes so get out there and make lots of them. Some of you have had your plywood breaking as you assemble these pieces. This is not a bad thing. This is awesome! Sure, you might have to redesign, recut, and even buy another sheet of plywood. Who cares. you're leaning more from those breaks than anything else. People love to talk about Edison's 5000 failed lightbulb attempts, but I think that focus belies the point. What kind of positive attitude did that guy have to make 5000 failures and keep going? That's what's inspiring. Get out there and break some stuff...oh and learn something.
The power of the scientific method lies not in success but in failure--remember that.

Now--go forth and make a mess!

J

Getting Excited

Class,
I have to be honest, I get really excited on studio days. Today we're going to continue making our large models and I have an exciting idea!

In the mean time, here's a link I want you to read. This Bob Borson's blog (BBB). He's an architect in Dallas. This is a very popular blog. When I was working in DC people I worked with knew about this blog.

http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/top-ten-reasons-not-to-be-an-architect/


The subject of this post might seem antithetical to your college goals, but it has some good points that I'd like to discuss.

See you this afternoon!

Library Plans

Class,
great work today!
don't forget your blog posts.

Here is the link to the drive for the library plans.
Please upload them once they are scanned.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-tZFRAxOMvxZjlZSVNKVmE2Y2M&usp=sharing

A Journal Idea

For those of you who just can't part with your moleskin here's an interesting new product.
http://shop.moleskine.com/en-us/notebooks-journals/livescribe/

It won't ship until November, kinda late for this class, but it might be something cool. What is really neat is that this is another step in the continuum of computer/pen merging.
Not long now...
Internet in my contacts, bring it!

Just a thought...

I am not advocating vandalism, but if our large wooden animals ran amok in Langford one night....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2507305/Dinovembers-toy-dinosaurs-come-life-creative-parents-spark-web-craze.html

just an idea...

First Class, Recap thoughts...

Great first day! Making stuff is awesome.
As I mentioned, the first reading assignment is 2 chapters from the K&T book. I've created a document, here's the link.
We'll discuss this a bit in class on Wednesday, so make sure you've done the reading by then. You're welcome to do the writing as well, but that's up to you. Five hundred words may seem daunting, but I assure you, it's easy. If you employ the proper transition word, the ideas don't even have to connect. Furthermore, the woodshop tour on Wednesday is at 1:30, be there. See how used furthermore to connect those ideas. Easy.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-tZFRAxOMvxVFBnemV4Y3NGV0k/edit?usp=sharing
this should get you the writing assignment in official format.

In my conversation with Jim Titus today, we should plan our study models to fit on 16x30. So scale your models appropriately.

Braden will post, as a comment to this blog, the instructions for using illustrator to create vector drawings for CAD.

Thanks Braden, you're awesome.

See everyone Wednesday.

Some Readings

Class,
Here is a link to a google drive folder.
Get the readings from it.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-tZFRAxOMvxQjVIVmdCQ211cUE&usp=sharing

Here is another link to a google drive folder...it has some optional, but equally awesome stuff in it.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-tZFRAxOMvxTmVMYWhzSzhVZ00&usp=sharing

Here is a link to the scans--you will need them. Put new scans here also.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B-tZFRAxOMvxcXNwVjB1eDRGVEU&usp=sharing

That's all for now.

First Day of Class (techno beat plays)

The first day of class!
Alright, we've a lot to do today.
First we'll go through the syllabus then we'll start the first project.
Your first reading assignment is chapters 4 & 5 in Refabricating Architecture, but I would ask you to read them in this order, 5 & 4. Much better reading experience.

Ready, set, Go!

Welcome to ARCH 305 Fall 2014.
We're going to have a blast this semester, partly because we're doing cool stuff and partly because I said so.
Stay tuned!