The Rules of IARC

While writing this reflection upon the past week I would like to in keep with a theme. Seeming as the Beaux Arts Ball is swiftly approaching, and the theme is the rules of IARC, I will not be writing the traditional boring paragraphed reflection. Instead I will be witting a set of rules for myself, and a set of general rules to remember for critiques. Some are serious some are not, but that’s part of who I am. I find it necessary to find the humor in all serious and potentially embarrassing situations because otherwise you will just be embarrassed, rather than be able to look back and laugh and learn from your mistakes.

General Rules of Final Critiques:

1. 1. Don’t pin up drawings with mistakes on them- they will find them

2. 2. Representation of light does not equal a cone coming from your fixture.

3. 3. Just don’t say JUST!!! You never just do anything. Everything that goes on in design is done with purpose and a reason.

4. 4. Using a key on your board is ok but be sure it is easy to read, and if your board is big enough.. Just (gasp!) write the labels and put them under the images. You’ll save yourself the trouble of writing the numbers too.

5. 5. Remember that we are designing for a client. It is important that we can step away from our own likes and dislikes in order to become more aware of the client and human safety.

6. 6. Don’t paint your walls lime green- they find them offensive.

7. 7.Get comfortable with making architectural notes

8. 8. It is electric lighting not artificial lighting… the light coming from the bulb is still a natural occurrence.

9. 9. Don’t say negative words while speaking about your client (they don’t need this, or they don’t need that)

Rules For Me to Add to the List;

1. Make sure you show textures whether they are in your hand drawings or in your Sketch Up views be sure that you show them.

2. They question everything so be able to defend everything.

3. Do not plant grass in the hallway.

Loading Dock Project: A Unity Of Opposite Ideas

My Final Presentation! My final presentation includes a final 3D model of my space, the three final hand rendered perspectives along with three final sketch up views, the final set if section elevations, final plan drawings for both floors, and samples of the materials I used, images of both my designer/ artists and the images of their work that inspired me ( as seen in my previous post). I chose to name m project Unity of Opposite Ideas because that is exactly what it is. A mix of seemingly opposite forces, bold and soft, energetic and calm, angular and curvilinear, light and dark, private and public, etc. For the board itself I chose to make use of the bold red seen in a lot of Don Hardy's work, along with the repetitive lines found throughout the space I designed for the client. this leads the viewers eyes across the boards.

Loading Dock Project: Working Towards the Final

It was during this stage where I stated redoing my three perspectives for my final presentation. Because these images were to hand rendered, I sprung at the opportunity to a more artistic approach in the way I would portray the space. this included experimenting with new mediums, and new paper types. These included the following: dry pastel and colored pencil on bond paper, water color paint, and white charcoal and colored pencil all on Canson paper. It was also during this step I did my initial sketches for my thee perspectives.

Loading Dock Project: Precedents in Design

The second step to this project was to find a designer/artist who we would design the space for, and/or use their work as an influence in our design for the space. I chose Don Ed Hardy, a Japanese trained tattoo artist, and Nina Seirafi, an interior designer. I used Don Ed Hardy's bold colors and graphic energetic lines in the studio space to spark the client's creative energy; and Nina Seirafi's curvilinear lines and soft palette in the down stairs living and dining ares as a calming place to relax after work. These can be seen in her design for Cyan Yacht, and his Painting entitled Wave Warrior. It was during this step that I also worked on the flow of space in my plan for both floors of the space. It was also through the use of precedents that I was able to finalize a color scheme.

The Loading Dock Project: First Steps

For this assignment first years were split up into two groups and we were to measure and draw plans and elevations from our measurements. We were assigned either the loading dock or the administrative offices in our building ( Gatewood Studio Arts Center). My group was assigned the loading dock. Our initial drawing were to be done in pencil. After these first steps we were told to redesign our assigned space as a place for a visiting designer, artist, etc to stay while they are here. While deigning our space we were instructed to pick an artist, designer, etc. as precedent for the design for our space. In addition to having precedence, we also were to include a ceiling change, and a level change in our designs. but the rules don't stop there... we were also not allowed to remove any doors, but we could add windows and change the position and size of the doors. As kind of a jump start to getting us thinking about the design of our space we made models, and drew perspectives of our space. Many Many perspectives of our space.. three of these which were to part of our final presentations for the class. Our final presentations were also to include three sketch up perspectives, a set of final section elevations, a final floor plan of our space, two precedent images, a picture of our designer/artist, two materials to be used in our space, a project statement, and a title.

5 Line Drawing Exercise

This assignment was given to us to go along with our discussion of symphony in design ( all the elements working together to create one fluid design). In this exercise the challenge was to combine the use of both our left and right brains while drawing our classmates. The left side of the equation being that we were limited to the use of 5 lines, and the right being the creation of a drawing, and finding a way around the line limit. The person I drew was Blakeni. My 5 lines can be found in her 2 eyes, her nose and eyebrows, her face and hair, and her lips.

The Window Project

For this project we were to create two distinct moments of light within one of the windows on the east wall of the studio space. The material of choice.... cardboard. But the real challenge was the fact that we were not allowed to use any adhesives to keep our project in the window. Only friction. For my project I wanted to create two distinct moments of light by using a difference in textures. On the inner panels I exposed the variegation in the cardboard, and placed these curly pieces on them as well. Thus creating both whimsey, and a rhythmic pattern. Then for contrast I chose to keep the cardboard on my exterior panels in tact which allowed for a more stark level of light.