community by design

we like pie too.

2010-10-11T04:59:00.000-07:00

and nice websites, like this one.

Read what pie has to do with community here.

iida perspective magazine cover

2010-09-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

thanks to some mad drawing skills by suzanne, COMMUNITY BY DESIGN has appeared on the (inter)national scene. the five of us (and suzanne's hands) appear in the drawing above from the cover of the international interior design association PERSPECTIVE magazine...

on the inside cover, suzanne explains...

"i feel our design education is shifting towards a focus on community, both in terms of how we design and who we design for. As design professionals and educators, we recognize that good design exists not as a privilege reserved for the wealthiest among us, but rather for all people. This is a value we must instill in our students, encouraging young designers to engage in their local community while constructing design projects that have a meaningful impact on our neighbors. The illustration is directly inspired by COMMUNITY BY DESIGN, a local collaborative between design students, professionals, and educators."

nicely said...nicely drawn, suzanne...

see more of suzanne's work on her blog: an opensketchbook.com

19 thumb[nails]s up

2010-09-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Time flew by yesterday brainstorming illustration ideas with Patrick. Love this part of the process.

streamlining + storyboarding

2010-09-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

suzanne and i continued to work on the profiles of the projects on which we've worked....and, golly, there sure are some great successes in those projects. when i reflect over my time thus far at uncg, some of the greatest memories happened in studios and classes where community-based work took place. and when i think of all the people who have been involved or touched by these projects, i realize the true value in building human relationships that stand the test of time...and sometimes the challenges and circumstances of a particular studio or design opportunity.

i've also learned that it takes much sustenance to sort through and write stories. today's site for our work: DELICIOUS bakery...and, yes, one cupcake is plenty of sugar intake for the day (but are they ever tasty!). the yellow cake with buttercream frosting = highly recommended.

watching suzanne storyboard our ideas is like observing a master baker at work! her drawings, filled with humor and articulate graphics, will bring a whole additional layer to the COMMUNITY BY DESIGN handbook. TOTAL fun! check out her blog... anopensketchbook.com for all kinds of drawing inspiration, techniques, and generally good design thinking!

asheville design center

2010-09-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

as we continue to work on the COMMUNITY BY DESIGN handbook, we have uncovered a whole network of like-minded individuals all across north carolina....and, indeed, the world. our latest find.... asheville design center. check out the important work they undertake in "building livable communities through planning and design."

get the facts, jack!

2010-09-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

suzanne and i continue to work on our book manuscript by the same title as this blog. we're profiling the various projects over the last five years...and we'd like to get some thoughts from you about whether the "fact sheet" we've developed makes sense. let us know what you think about the following.

PROJECT : close to home

LENGTH : 1 semester

TYPE : exhibit design

SCALES : complex/intermediate/basic
large/medium/small
place/building/space/object/graphic/experience
academic credit/grant-funded/volunteer

SKILLS NEEDED : basic building techniques
material qualities and limitations
good knowledge of digital graphic design software

SKILLS LEARNED : professional communication approaches
confidence and competence in design
celebration of local design history
oral history approaches
writing for a specific audience

DELIVERABLES : 2 gallery installations
12 information kiosks throughout the community
1 website
events

KEY IDEAS : teamwork
design/build
space planning
informational graphics
interpretation of historical data
material culture
social networking

CORE PARTICIPANTS : 18 third and fourth year design students, 1 faculty
(working with other students and community partners)

TOTAL CONTRIBUTORS : 174 students in 6 classes
34 community members
972 exhibit attendees
2 industry partners
2 community foundations
1 non-profit organization
2 universities
3 departments
4 faculty
1 advisory board
1 design review team

COMMUNITY BENEFITS : appreciation for modern design
understanding the work of a local designer in context
the richness of university-community partnerships
sharing stories across generations

suzanne is so good at diagramming that she "converted" each project to a storyboard...she will scan that art and post it in a separate post. book writing is hard work!

our location for this community by design session: CARIBOU COFFEE, friendly center.

transformation at work

2010-08-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

Our collaborative met last night to continue working on a project we started earlier this summer: revamping the local office of the National Conference for Community and Justice. Our ultimate goal is to transform the space in such a way that it better reflects the group's noble work and mission: to build a community free of bias, bigotry and racism.
These are a couple of the quick sketches we put together during the meeting to better share our collective vision with the client.

it's in the mail!

2010-08-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

the prospectus has been sent to our potential book publisher. keep your fingers crossed for us!

exploring the neighborhood

2010-08-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

or more specifically, the birdhouses in the neighborhood in order to build a nest full of images for the book...

Today I'm definitely experiencing the sparks that occur when passion and 'work' intersect!

newcomer's update

2010-08-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

victoria and i met briefly to talk about the newcomer's project. she's back from italy and FULL OF ENERGY. i'm really excited about this project because victoria's approach to teaching is about the reggio-emelia system of education. well, hey, it's italian, so that's a point in it's favor off the bat. the essential point of the approach is that the ENVIRONMENT IS THE THIRD TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM. um....yeah!!

nccj process

2010-07-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

edgar and matt toyed around with a new receptionist desk and display panel for the front lobby of nccj.

we're trying to wrap up our recommendations for nccj, including these great sketch drawings by edgar and matt. from our charrette, they further developed the notion of a spine down the central hallway of the space...a display system of sorts on which the organization could proudly display its important work. given that nccj is leasing their office space, we have been cautious about suggesting permanent changes that may not be acceptable to their landlord. as result, we like the notion of a hallway expression that sort of sews together the corridor space in the building, without a significant and lasting intervention on the building envelope.

it's finished, it's finished!! the prospectus, that is...

2010-07-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

at long last, suzanne and i have rounded the bend and HAVE COMPLETED the prospectus for the COMMUNITY BY DESIGN HANDBOOK. we're going to let it "rest" a bit and come back to it with renewed eyes after july. but, we'd like to let you in on some of the contents...

... a manifesto (largely based on our iar201 manifesto where we took on the bus shelter project)

we value …

… healthy spaces, buildings, neighborhoods, and cities

… integrity, authenticity, innovation, fair exchange, and kindness

… simple responses, thoughtful actions, and grounded decisions

we believe …

… in the spirit of collaboration

… every design represents opportunities for connectivity

… that we embed stories as we do our work

we advocate …

… for good stewardship of earth’s precious resources

… celebration of deeds great and small

… that design can change the world

...the case for COMMUNITY BY DESIGN in a design program
...identifying projects + partners
...putting together the team
...seeking financial support
...managing university relations
...getting the work done
...communicating

AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, CASE STUDIES OF MORE THAN A DOZEN PROJECTS!

we'll be posting our process as we write on this blog...stay tuned....

the nccj charrette

2010-06-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

ok, so hundreds of times as a teacher, i have assigned an impossible series of tasks en charrette. (if you've not heard of that term, read all about this timed design exercise in a paper i wrote with my colleague, robert charest, for the 24th national council on the beginning design student conference in georgia).

just like in school, the community by design team tackled the nccj project (after dinner, of course) in the casa cabrera "studio." after discussing the project for a while, we divided into three teams to address different aspects of the project. from the results of our efforts last evening, i'll draft a memo to nccj, reporting on our recommendations.

i'm excited about the ideas we generated because they all, if implemented, help give life and energy to the nccj offices....the goal of the organization in getting us to help them.

newcomer's site visit

2010-06-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

edgar, debbie, suzanne, and i had a GREAT visit with victoria wreden-sadeq, the art teacher at newcomer's school. we looked around the forlorn late 1960s/1970s building that the school is reshaping into a viable learning environment. already, art has a major position in the school and the gorgeous weaving/installation in the library, as well as student projects throughout the school are testimony to victoria's steady hand and electric energy in bringing change to the environment.

we're in negotiations about how best cxd can assist in the project, fully realizing that there's a significant opportunity for students in iarc to be involved.

i should note here that victoria also has worked with faculty from uncg's department of theatre and department of art....do i smell a multi-disciplinary opportunity? i hope so.

nccj office visit

2010-05-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

we visited nccj in two stages. edgar, matt, and i went on the first true reconnaissance of the space to think through design opportunities there. we asked alison to provide some additional information about working habits and needs. (actually, it was a proud moment as an educator, as i watched two terrific designers in their element, getting at the human dimension of the design challenges that lay before us).

nccj is located in the "office wing" of the former jewish temple on north greene street. the colonial revival building, to put it mildly, is a little tired, in terms of finishes, but the bones of the building are terrific and offer the opportunity for re-invigoration of the surfaces and finishes. as is the case with many non-profits, nccj is not in a position to be able to dedicate a lot of money to the updating of its offices. it's my hope, though, that they will see the need to use the building to help share an important mission about equality, community activism, and justice in our world.

about a week after our first visit, edgar and i measured up the nccj office while debbie took notes and chatted with alison about needs. i think i impressed edgar by hand-drawing a nearly scaled floor plan of the offices. and while i can draw a darned straight line without a straight edge... i'm no CAD expert, so edgar graciously agreed to put the drawing into form for our use.

that accomplished, our next task was to set a date to work as the community by design team on potential visions for the space.

community by design dinners

2010-05-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

i don't know what i'm enjoying more, the really invigorating ideas about design or the food! for each community by design meeting, we rotate among our houses (and chef duties). claiming the idea that food helps stimulate conversation, we've certainly eaten well...and i have truly been most grateful to get to know all of these incredible people much better.

in a moment of silliness, suzanne and debbie led the charge to craft a logo out of the mexican feast. with plenty of design advice from edgar and me, their result was great...and delicious.

newcomer's school

2010-05-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

our second potential client has emerged...art teacher victoria wreden-sadeq at the newcomer's school in the guilford county system. victoria met me for coffee at the tail end of the spring semester and we brainstormed about possibilities for her classroom, in dire need of some design energy. the community by design team will schedule a visit to the school to assess opportunities in june.

nccj design intervention

2010-04-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

we have our first potential...and official....client. i talked with susan feit, executive director of nccj, at yoga saturday and our conversation meandered to the subject of their offices...and a need for a keen designer to look at the space and make some recommendations. i took the idea to the cxd meeting yesterday and we've agreed to meet susan and her assistant, alison, to look through the space.

the book proposal takes shape

2010-04-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

suzanne and i continue to polish the prose for the purpose section of our book proposal….and i think we’re getting close to a final version, well at least for this week. here it is…

THE COMMUNITY BY DESIGN HANDBOOK addresses multi-scaled design processes and outcomes for buildings, interiors, exhibits, and products, situated in the local community, and taking advantage of resources resulting from community-university collaborations.

THE COMMUNITY BY DESIGN HANDBOOK situates design at the nexus of practical strategies for identifying projects and community partners, putting together teams to undertake work, seeking financial support, managing human relations on campus and off, utilizing proven methods for achieving results, and communicating outwardly about the project to varying constituencies in the community.

THE COMMUNITY BY DESIGN HANDBOOK moves beyond existing books and handbooks by helping students, faculty, alumni, and community partners to see the good results of working together to make the world a better place. With concrete examples, demonstrable impacts, and meaningful reflections, the manuscript details successful approaches to design centered in the community with deep impact on the lives of others.

wednesday mornings

2010-03-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

...are reserved for working with Patrick on an endeavor I'm pretty darn excited about. I promise to be less cryptic, and share more details of this project as our ideas take clearer shape [fingers crossed], but in the meantime, here's some thumbnails based on our shared vision to date.

cracking open our presentation

2010-03-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

We Hatch Ideas

View more presentations from Suzanne Cabrera.

heading south this winter

2010-03-03T12:55:00.000-08:00

Debbie and I heading to Georgia tomorrow to the Gulf South Summit on Service Learning and Community Engagement where we'll be presenting about the ways in which design thinking applies to all community-based projects. We're hoping the presentation we make can turn into a series of workshops to share with schools, non-profits and community organizations elsewhere. Do you represent one of these groups? Have any interest in learning more?

It's all very exciting...so let's see!

partners in change

2010-02-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

Sounds familiar doesn't it?

I encourage you to take a look at the thoughtful work and ideas behind Design Corps. Design Corps' focus is on architecture and planning. In contrast, I would describe ours as interiors, products and graphics. As such, I think it's safe to say that Design Corps is a natural partner in the design community.

centering what we do

2010-02-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

Patrick and I are on the search for authors/texts that address issues of design and community. I look forward to reading these books and anticipate this list getting much longer...

Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism (Edited by Bryan Bell + Katie Wakeford)
Good Deeds, Good Design: Community Service Through Architecture (Edited by Bryan Bell)
Studio at Large: Architecture in Service of Global Communities (Sergio Palleroni + Christine Merkelbach)
Design Like You Give a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises (Architecture for Humanity)
Design for the Other 90% (Cynthia E. Smith)
Light Imprint Handbook: Integrating Sustainability and Community Design (Thomas E. Low)

We're also interested in design handbooks:

Information Design Workbook: Graphic Approaches, Solutions, and Inspiration + 300 Case Studies (Kim Baer)
The Information Design Workbook (Jenn + Ken Visocky O'Grady)
Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors & Students (Ellen Lupton)
D.I.Y.: Design it Yourself (Ellen Lupton)

And books on community:

Creative Community Builder's Handbook: How to Transform Communities Using Local Assets, Arts and Culture (Tom Borrup)

the wheels on the logo go round and round

2010-02-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

This turned out to be a fun task. Designing is much easier when you have a solid foundation of ideas by a talented group to build on: that means you!

logo schematic

2010-02-23T08:52:00.001-08:00

I hope these sketches may spark some inspiration to complete our logo design.

an unfinished premise

2010-02-17T18:09:00.000-08:00

at our meeting last week, we agreed to each post a stamp like version of the logo. the only decent idea here is that there could be a stamp with the greensboro postmark. not my area of strength...so here's hoping others have met with greater success.

pencils, paper + ACTION-- let the logo draw off begin..

2010-02-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

over the past month-- addie and i have been brainstorming, doodling, + creating ideas for our logo to establish a brand for ourselves. as you see below- we have gone through a few revisions once getting comments and suggestions from the collective group. upon take 3-- we issued a 'draw-off' amongst the group to take our logo a step further into ONE direction not three or four like we previously did. the direction we all agreed to continue with is shown in take 2- option 2: a stamp or postmark quality.

take 1:

take 2:

take 3:

communities within communities

2010-02-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

our studio 'synchronized swimming' outside Gateway Plaza on a cold, cold day

So excited by the great work being generated by my studio class this semester. Right now we are exploring multiple-family housing, looking at what works and what doesn't. Here are some of the students' thoughts:

“This chapter has taught me to consider the residence, work with the governing body throughout my process, and pray to God for a good design.” – Clairissa Anderson

“If these cookie cutter homes with community pools are suppose to be a way to bring people together, why is that, that's not always the situation?” – Tracey Wright

“We need to research why certain communities work, so that we can better design for the future. Let’s bring everyone together as one big positive community.” – Hope Talley

“It is necessary to cooperate with a design itself and its given surroundings to fulfill the designer's duties.” – Young Moon

“Altogether, I want to learn how to be more thoughtful in my design so that I don’t create places that ignore the people, but rather embrace them.”- Kelsey Rhodes

“If structures are built solely for the purpose of sheltering humans or building eye-catching homes, they are not answering all the needs of a neighborhood’s community.” – Felicia Dean

Learn more about this studio here.

challenging design opportunity

2010-02-05T07:33:00.001-08:00

sterling ridge, florida, 2009
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/02/01/opinion/space1/custom3.jpg

i don't quite know where i'm going with this, but i was struck by the content of this blogpost via the NEW YORK TIMES opinionator that speaks of the over-abundance of space in our homes + cities. something to consider as we ponder directions for design interventions...

they sat so we can stand

2010-02-01T16:01:00.001-08:00

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum opened its doors today in Greensboro, and I could not miss being a part of the crowd that honored it with a visit. As I entered the Center, I had to make a huge effort not to let a tear run down my face. I was deeply moved as I witnessed that many of the visitors were people who had lived those years of uncertainty and drastic social changes.

Another thought came to my mind. I don't think the four young men who walked in Woolworth's 50 years ago today, sat down and requested service had any idea that their courageous act would contribute in changing an entire nation. And I don't think they ever suspected that the place from which they were kicked out would today become a landmark for social justice. These young men simply sat down, so we can stand.

-Edgar

the arts + design for social justice conference

2010-01-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

suzanne + patrick presented a talk-about at the ARTS + DESIGN FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE conference in tallahassee on martin luther king day. with nearly two dozen participants in the session from universities and colleges around the united states, they posed a series of prompts about social justice design projects to which participants. this post summarizes the responses from participants....with gracious thanks to those who attended and participated. in the end, all agreed that the conversations had been valuable...with an email list circulated for us to be in contact...if you'd like to be on that email list, drop us a line and let us know and we'll add you.

FINDING COMMUNITY PARTNERS + PROJECTS

one of the most challenging aspects of doing design projects for the community is finding a good partner for student-based projects in a university setting. some of the issues relate to outcomes for the community partner that equate with student learning goals, the actual act of finding the partners, and challenging issues about what designers do and how.

PARTICIPANTS in the session noted that contacts with well known non-profit groups and non-profit consortiums (collectives of groups banded together for some purpose) represented two pathways to likely community partners. importantly, PARTICIPANTS stated that local government resources and the students themselves provided additional avenues for finding both partners + processes. PARTICIPANTS suggested that the strongest projects were those that contained the most emotional connection, with clearly articulated (and desired) outcomes for both students + partners. in the matter of partner participation, PARTICIPANTS identified programming, fundraising, and actual construction/build/installation as key moments where students + community partners come together. PARTICIPANTS identified a challenge in the perceptions of roles + capabilities for both students + partners by each other.

IDENTIFYING FINANCIAL SUPPORT

another obstacle to community-based research and projects falls under the realm of financial support. PARTICIPANTS began their discussion noting university and community resources for key projects on which they worked, noting popular options of trading goods + services, as well as at-cost contract work negotiated with community contractors as ways of reducing overall costs. in identifying ready sources of financial support, PARTICIPANTS suggested that those connected to a social concern or issue were most likely to support it with money and other services. PARTICIPANTS articulated that marketing services and press releases were easy avenues to give credit to financial sponsors, while liability and insurance issues prevailed as the largest challenge in linking partners. with the goal of achieving as much as possible on a limited budget, PARTICIPANTS pointed out that smaller projects in scale sometimes were the most successful approach to community-university collaborations.

GETTING THE WORD OUT

we think that often great projects are overlooked by media sources, and sometimes the universities for which we work. PARTICIPANTS concurred that this was an issue but suggested that being constantly visible, making photographs, pushing students to the forefront, and having an explainable project all were keys to maximizing visibility for community-based work. often PARTICIPANTS suggested that timing of events in the news cycle, having (and using) appropriate contacts at the right time, and succinctly delivering + managing the message were ways to counter some of the challenges.

MANAGING UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

sometimes managing university relations -- in terms of promotion + tenure expectations, getting credit for community-based work, and sharing news of the project internally are the most difficult pieces of a community based project. PARTICIPANTS recognized that many university have vastly different opinions about the value of community-based project, with that low value placed reflecting on the perceptions of students, faculty, and administrators. these projects are often not part and parcel of design department curricula, but PARTICIPANTS suggested that they should be.

MOBILIZING STUDENTS

students are a key factor in the equation to successful projects + outcomes. in identifying student attitudes toward community-based projects, PARTICIPANTS characterized tremendous buy-in and excitement, though some admitted confusion as to what exactly these projects might be. the key factor in success, PARTICIPANTS believed, was in achieving buy-in by making the project personal, reaching the student/designer with the realities of human beings + their lives. in doing so, PARTICIPANTS asserted that students come away with a greater responsibility in design as a social act, thus showing that students often do make a difference in these kinds of community-based approaches.

thinking point

2010-01-19T08:11:00.000-08:00

Patrick and I just returned from ADSJ where we were able to discuss with other art and design educators and students the opportunities and obstacles inherent in community-based projects. We look forward to sharing more details from these conversations soon. In the meantime I thought I'd share the central question of the symposium:

I look forward to the ways we can explore answers to this question in our work this year.

-Suzanne

our portfolio of projects

2010-01-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

reaching the end of 2009 gave us the opportunity to look back and see the wonderful work--and people--that has shaped our agenda the last couple of years. here is our portfolio of projects:

suzanne and patrick are headed off to tallahassee to the art + design for social justice conference where they will present this portfolio and brainstorm with smart people from around the country about community based research challenges and opportunities. here's a slide from their presentation summarizing the specific topics they will talk about. watch this blog for a full report.

the next project...

2010-01-17T07:55:00.001-08:00

for our next undertaking, we see a project that involves...

...students, professionals, local manufacturers, community members...
...each of our talent sets and a variety of community members to "grow" the community and inspire understanding. students receive hands on design opportunities..
...showcasing the talents of the community , highlighting the arts/organizations that give greensboro life...
....design challenges we haven't yet faced and one that pushes us to learn new things about ourselves as designers
...playing on our individual collective strengths..
....defying convention + the expected
...multi-faceted approaches and many people
...making a positive change in the community

project roles + responsibilities...

...addie : collect, craft, curate
...debbie : brainstorm + outreach
...edgar : ideate, explore, make, build
...matt : build things + help others do the same
...patrick : connect people + tell stories
...suzanne : draw + document

should we REALLY tackle a book?

2009-12-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

suzanne came by my office yesterday and pitched the idea of a book centered around community-based design. the more we talked about sharing outwardly our successes as faculty members in the studio and beyond, the more i became convinced that we should at least attempt to put together a proposal. so we've committed to meeting for one morning each week next semester to flesh out the idea. stay tuned to see the process unfolding.

mission/vision statement : revised

2009-10-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

we just finished a most exhilarating meeting and looked at the previous mission/vision statement...here's the final version. if you'd like to comment, please feel free to do so.

we see COMMUNITY BY DESIGN as...

...a CATALYST for change at multiple scales
...an ADVOCATE for results-oriented, responsive design
...an INCUBATOR for good ideas + thoughtful outcomes
...a community-centered NETWORK of people who embrace design opportunities

we aim to...

...DREAM + DO in all we undertake relying on our individual + collective experience
...WELCOME conversations + REALIZE connections to bring about amazing projects
...FOSTER the value of thinking + making in populations young + old
...ENRICH + ENLIVEN the community in elevating quality design in the Triad + beyond

we value...

...the POWER OF DESIGN to address issues of SOCIAL CONCERN
...inclusive community DIALOGUE with many different types of people
...UNEXPECTED projects in UNEXPECTED places
...LOCAL + GLOBAL sharing
...SUBSTANCE that lies beyond surface

OUR VISION : we see communities TRANSFORMED as places where people value good design and recognize the social responsibility inherent in the re-allocation of resources to meet human needs.

setting the frame

2009-09-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

several of us gathered a week ago to brainstorm a bit about future directions for COMMUNITY BY DESIGN. since that time, suzanne + patrick have met several times to further polish + embellish the ideas that everyone had. the result : a bit of a muddle...so we decided to move the "conversation" on line....thus this blog post.

we see COMMUNITY BY DESIGN as...

...a CATALYST for change at multiple sclaes
...an ADVOCATE for results-oriented, responsive design
...an INCUBATOR for good ideas + thoughtful outcomes
...a community-centered NETWORK of people who overcome design challenges

we aim to...

...DREAM + DO in all we undertake relying on our individual + collective experience
...FACILITATE human + resource connections to bring about amazing projects
...FOSTER the value of thinking + making in populations young + old
...ENRICH + ENLIVEN the community in elevating the quality of design in the Triad

we value...

the POWER OF DESIGN to address issues of SOCIAL CONCERN
inclusive community DIALOGUE with many different types of people
UNEXPECTED projects in UNEXPECTED places
LOCAL + GLOBAL sharing
SUBSTANCE that lies beyond surface

OUR VISION : we see communities TRANSFORMED as places where people value good design and recognize the social responsibility inherent in the re-allocation of resources to meet human needs.

so, there we are....let us know what you think.

the project update

2009-02-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

photograph courtesy edgar a. cabrera

now that the new semester has begun, the bus | shelter remains in our lobby, providing seating for those in the space. it's interesting to note that those sitting in the lobby far prefer the shelter over the excruciatingly uncomfortable concrete and metal benches usually encountered there. a small group of students met with the greensboro transit authority board in january in an effort to maximize the impact of their work. the shelter will be used as an exhibit for the regional design, arts + technology symposium in high point at the beginning of march. we hope that the project lives on in future years as a reminder to the community about the power of change in the face of adversity. in this way, the bus | shelter serves as a symbol linking past to present in our community. thanks for following this project.

12 | 12 @ 12

2008-12-14T13:29:00.000-08:00

after working all week, the class has finally arrived at the moment of truth -- the bus shelter's unveiling before a public audience. in the last week, the class came to the realization that the hard-packed soil on site, and the windy conditions of the last several days would prevent them from revealing the design for the shelter outdoors. as a result, the community was invited into the lobby of the gatewood building.

all of the second year students stood proudly as tommy lambeth, department chair, congratulated them on tackling such a tough issue in studio. students gave an overview of the design process and uncg's female a cappella group, the sapphires, sang in celebration of a long semester's worth of hard work.

in the end, students realized that their work, while not sited at a bus stop, had truly brought a greater awareness of the woeful shortage of bus shelters in greensboro (64 shelters currently....1100 stops). read more about news coverage online....or better yet, stop by and see the shelter in the lobby, accessed off highland avenue.

Ooops!!

2008-12-11T06:46:00.000-08:00

This is an example why Patrick's chair cards are SO important.

A day of process [timeline]

2008-12-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

photos taken by:: sara zales + kevin lahti + morgan bodford

More Process Photos

2008-12-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

photos taken by:: sara zales

Press Release + News

2008-12-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

Be sure you check these links out!!

http://www.uncg.edu/ure/news/stories/2008/dec/seeds120808.htm

http://news14.com/content/top_stories/602299/uncg-students-build-better-bus-shelter/Default.aspx

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=115502&catid=57

Natty Greene's

2008-12-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

Come out and join us tonight[December 8] at Natty Greene's. It will start at 7:00pm and end at 11:00pm. This is a time to hang out together and help promote our bus shelter. Hope to see you there!

Important Reminders

2008-12-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

A few important reminders::

In order to buy more materials everyone must bring $15.00 on Monday December 8. Please hand money to Laura Dipasquale!

If you have taken any photos of the bus shelter project, please post them to your blog.

Don't forget to pass out flyers to your family + friends!

Process, Process, + more Process

2008-12-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

We are finally moving along with our bus shelter project [yay]!! We have completed both of our moment benches, which one is located at The Green Bean and the other at Edward McKay--go and check them out! Please keep checking the blog:: lots more updates + pictures to be uploaded!!

Just a few important reminders!!

2008-12-04T05:33:00.000-08:00

Please don't forget to come out to The Green Bean located on Elm Street to help get the word out about our bus shelter!! It goes from 3:00-7:00pm today [December 4]. One of our moment benches will be placed here and there will also be half priced lattes! Please come out and support us as a class!

Friday [tomorrow] and Monday [December 8] all students will be working in the wood shop. Prepare to dress appropriately! **Keep in mind that you may be working outside

It is important that we all come together [as a class] to build the bus shelter [121212 is right around the corner]. Even if you are not scheduled to work--please consider coming out to help build anyways [not only is this helping get the shelter built, but it could also boost your grade]

overall comments on shelter|bus reviews

2008-12-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

Another milestone passed!!!!

We have assessed all of the shelter|bus projects and that will be factored into your final grade for the course. Please pick up all your materials from the critique room no later than noon tomorrow. As part of our ongoing effort to provide feedback, critique sheets from jurors will be distributed at the end of class on Friday. We remind you to fill out online course evaluations.

We would appreciate it if the following students would deliver their boards and models to Suzanne's office sometime this week: Meg McMillan, Sara Zales, Michelle Bodon, Kevin Lahti and Maiken Schoenleber. These materials will be retained for the CIDA review in Fall 2009 and then they will be returned to you.

We have the following observations to make for the class as a whole:

Many jurors commented that the strengths of the projects rested in the stories you wove to explain concepts and design process.
Students need to observe better time management with their studio projects. We believe this to be a high priority in the coming semester. Though some students put in a lot of hours, their time in the studio resulted in low-quality drawings and models or emphasis on the deliverables that did not maximize sharing information about the project --- in other words, the focus was misdirected. Other students failed to put in the necessary energy and time to fully investigate the design opportunity.
In the future be sure to recognize the value of planning well in advance for your visual presentation. Too many students made last minute decisions in layout, composition and craft which adversely affected the positive perception of their projects.
Successful projects included diagrams that helped explain the complexities of the shelter|buses.
Use models more through the design process.
Draw! Draw! Draw!
Experiment with presentation techniques earlier in the design process. This includes color choices, lighting effects, textures, scale figures, entourage...
Continue to experiment with how your board layout can bolster your concept and approach to the project.
You've come a long way in your speaking abilities this semester. Continue to practice the craft of oral presentation supplemented by visual material. Without doubt the more organized verbal presentations led to a greater comprehension of design intentions.

Again, we look forward to your engagement over the next 9 days for the bus|shelter! With your active contributions and commitment to the process we are quite confident that the 12|12 event will be a great success and be a seed for change. Be sure to invite friends and family to the unveiling so they can see the results of your hard work this semester.

Design Team Process

2008-11-22T11:50:00.000-08:00

Design team process::

photos taken by:: leah petriccione

Hardworking In The Woodshop

2008-11-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

The building process has now begun!
As of now, we are working on building our moment benches which will be placed among the following places::

Downtown depot
UNCG library [near rotunda]

UNCG Clock Tower

By placing these benches here, we are hoping to advertise our bus shelter, which will be opened on 12/12 at 12:00pm.

Here are a few pictures that show our building process::

Finalized bench [sketch model]

photos taken by:: sara zales + josie mckinney

adventures in board layout

2008-11-18T10:15:00.000-08:00

I know you've seen this before...but let it serve as a reminder that it is always a good idea to map out your presentation board[s] (to scale) prior to gluing anything down. To avoid surprises, why not propose some different board layouts in your sketchbook for us to look at in class this week?

Reminder

2008-11-17T16:06:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder for all students to bring $20.00 cash this coming Wednesday [November 19] in order to get started with our bus shelter!!

President elect wannabe architect and russian style bus shelters

2008-11-15T21:16:00.001-08:00

Architecturally relevant facts about President Elect Barack Obama from 50 facts you might not know:
He would have liked to have been an architect if he were not a politician
His house in Chicago has four fire places
He plans to install a basketball court in the White House grounds
His favourite artist is Pablo Picasso

Someone left a comment on this blog post about Obama designing soviet style fortressess which lead me to search for what "soviet style" actually looked like. Ironically, I came across soviet style bus stops in Armenia, courtesy of photographer Ursula Schulz-Dornburg. Other notable comments include:
1) "Barack-the-architect would be much more likely to design some kind of self-building-kit, whereby ordinary people could assemble their own houses working together with other like-minded folks."
2) "Barack Obama community architecture"

Its amazing what a little snooping around can produce....

-Jimmy

Materials

2008-11-14T08:08:00.001-08:00

The following is a list of materials that will be used for the bus shelter:

all wood: cedar
burnt orange paint
natural stain, dark stain
a large assortment of building grade screws, bolts, etc.
main column:
seven 2x12's at 8'6” long (all spaced out to 3') (dark stain)
one 3' long 'H' shaped metal base to anchor to ground
three 1x3 dowels at 3' long (going through slats) (burnt orange paint)
four 1x3's bracing roof on column (two at 1' long, two at 3' long) (dark stain)
supporting columns (upside down 'U' shaped):
eight 2x6's at 8'6” long (natural stain)
four 2x6's at 7'6” long (natural stain)
six 2x6's at 5'4” long (crossbeams) (natural stain)
six 2x8's at 5'6” long (ajustable, go into ground) (burnt orange paint)
six 2x6's at 8” long (middle of crossbeams) (burnt orange paint)
three 2x6's at 6'2” long (middle of crossbeams) (burnt orange paint)
plexiglass walls:
back wall glass: 2' x 5'6”
side wall glass: 2' x 5'0”
four 1x3's at 5'6” long, two are grooved out to hold glass (natural stain)
four 1x3's at 5'0” long, two are grooved out to hold glass (natural stain)
roofs:
roof over bench: 13' x 7' made up of about 32 1x3's (natural stain)
covered with stretched canvas: 13' x 7'
roof over sidewalk: 12' x 7' made up of 35 1x3's (natural stain)
benches:
seat: 18” high & deep (natural stain)
bench length: 6'
six 18” horizontal braces (dark stain)
three 12” vertical braces (dark stain)

What's Going On??

2008-11-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

Are you wondering what is happening within each busshelter group?? Here's a quick update:

design group:: the final design of bus shelter...good job design team!!

presentation group:: will be conducting a seminar for the class on Friday November 14 on speaking skills

moments group:: finalizing a design to advertise our bus shelter. Thinking of placing the design piece at the Depot, Clock Tower, and library [near rotunda]

events group:: got in touch with The Green Bean coffee shop downtown and The Green Bean said they would be happy to sponsor us. They also thought it would be nice if the moments design could be placed within the shop. Also, still trying to get things moving with EUC so that we can set up a table.

progess group:: as of now, we do not have a set budget

donations group:: hoping to send out letters to the following businesses by Friday or Monday once proposal letter is finalized by Patrick and Suzanne-

Guilford Builders Supply Co
MSC Industrial Supply Co.
Brooks Lumber
AP Hubbard Wholesale Lumber
Home Depot
Lumber Liquidators
Lowes
Stock Building Supply
Allied Building Products Co.
GTA
Tate St. Coffee
Solaris
Brixx
Jimmy Johns
Teresa Bodford
Piedmont Plastics
AIA NC
Association of Interior Designers- Cathy Rothey
Diane Picciuto- UNCG Development Office

postcard group:: postcard design is still being finalized

graphics group:: the following font and colors will be used-
font- to be determined
colors- burnt orange and brown- waiting on RGB...will post asap

communication group:: contacting local news to get coverage by sending out a press release on our busshelter. thinking about Guerilla Marketing ideas..possible ideas include rubber wristbands, seed packets, bumper stickers, toilet talk, seed paper, and t-shirts

master plan group:: writing a paper about the necessities that are involved in having a bus shelter

documentation group:: documenting progress of each group's work

photos taken by:: leah petriccione

report: graphics

2008-11-02T14:56:00.001-08:00

the following are the font types and RGB color points for the logo:

community: R 207, G 36, B 45-- font type: helvetica neue in condensed black

blue box: R 111, G 171, B 205

by: white-- font type: palatino in bold italic

design: R 249, G 133, B 30-- font type: helvetica neue in condensed black

please place any process work your group many have generated throughout this design process into the digital drop box. this information is crucial along the way so everyone can stay up to date with the work being produced in the class--also, the documentation group will need that information towards the end of the semester for presentation purposes.

report: go design team go

2008-11-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

CONCEPT:: statement

germination
the awakening of a seed and the subsequent growth process

a seed alone is not self-sustaining: it requires a balance of elements to not only initiate growth, but succeed as a prosperous plant,

concept through form
-our bus shelter represents the germination process: the main vertical element representing the seed, accompanied by necessary supporting structures
-connections and joinery of the supporting structures are hidden, eluding to potential growth with a sturdy root
-the bus shelter would flourish, thriving off a communal effort and outreach
-the success of our bus shelter project relies on a holistic effort by all involved

goals
we hope that by planting the seed, as well as the means for growth, our efforts will flourish, spreading not only to the local objective, but will spark consideration in the unanticipated

sketch model 1

sketch model 2

sketch model 3

it was decided as a class that the best designs to move forward with are sketch models 2+3-- both expressing qualities of germination. until next update....

a matter of scale

2008-10-31T16:04:00.001-07:00

we keep forgetting to announce that the scale for the long section and cross section should be 1/2"=1'0" for your submissions at the end of the semester. you may find it most convenient to be working at that scale.

expanding upon a brand

2008-10-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

No matter your political leanings, the designers whose work is featured on Design for Obama, offer many lessons in how to take a brand and manipulate it to communicate a variety of messages. The site, designed to prove that "poster art is not a dead medium", hints at the impact your efforts (especially those of the postcard and communication groups) can have within our community.

stains for obama by dumbrobot

something is stirring by Dylan Lindstadt

States United for Obama by renee823

Polar Bears for Obama by craftysquid

In an effort to remain non-partisan, we searched for Designers for McCain but didn't find a site featuring this work.

design spotlight: i.arc

2008-10-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

follow the links below to learn how other disciplines within the interior architecture department are impacting the community through design:

[us] urban s t u d i o -a design/build studio- broke ground this past tuesday on a project that will house five underage mothers who are in need for a shelter to live.

the uncg IIDA campus center was involved with an all night design charrette this past friday to develop design ideas for the renovation of the local salvation army family store on lee street. click here to read more from news + record.

group photo taken at 3am after stomachs were filled courtesy of steak and shake!

students hard at work developing design ideas for the interiors of the salvation army store

design spotlight: greensboro 10-year plan

2008-10-30T15:16:00.001-07:00

sara easterling has found a direct example on how greensboro is impacting the community through design. read below to read the explanation of greensboro's 10-year plan to end homelessness:

design spotlight: greensboro october exhibit

2008-10-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

thanks to lily glover for the find - look whats happening in october in greensboro,nc:

"There is an exhibit at the Blue Diamond Gallery on Elm Street this month that would be worth seeing. I feel that art and design are very closely related. Art galleries, like the Blue Diamond Gallery, are full of inspiration for designers. This particular exhibit will be lasting until the 31st of October and will feature the art of five local artists, Sterling Edwards, Vicki Johnson, Scott Harris, Ken Hobbson and Windy Lampson as well as the international artist Michelle Courier. Designers can pull inspiration from color, texture, composition, subject, and meaning of the artwork. I especially enjoyed the work of Scott Harris through his use of unique compositions as well as geometric forms, like in the image shown above. Sterling Edwards was also noteworthy with her use of texture, creating blurred landscape paintings with her short brush strokes. The use of repetition in Windy Lampson’s Sugar Packets is a common theme in many furniture, graphic, product and architectural designs seen today. Both artists and designers alike take inspiration from the environment surrounding us, why not get inspiration from each other?"

If you can't explain your ideas to your grandmother in terms that she understands,you don't know your subject well enough.

2008-10-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Some architects, instructors, and students use overly complex (and often meaningless!) language in an attempt to gain recognition and respect. You might have to let some of them get away with it, but don't imitate them. professionals who know their subject area well know how to communicate their knowledge to others in everyday language.

101 Things I Learned in Architecture School

-Matthew Fredrick

A good designer isn't afraid to throw away a good idea

2008-10-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Just because an interesting idea occurs to you doesn't mean it belongs in the building you are designing. Subject every idea, brainstorm, random musing, and helpful suggestion to careful, critical consideration. Your goal as a designer should be to create an integrated whole, not to incorporate all the best features in your building whether or not they work together.

Think of a parti as an author employs a thesis, or as a composer employs a musical theme: not every idea a creator conjures up belongs in the hand! Save your good but ill-fitting ideas for another time and project- and with the knowledge that they might not work then, either.

101 things I learned in architecture school

-Matthew Fredrick

Good designers are fast on their feet

2008-10-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

As the design process advances, complications inevitably arise- structural problems, fluctuating client requests, difficulties in resolving fire egress, pieces of the program forgotten and rediscovered, new understandings of old information, and much more. Your parti-once a wondrous prodigy-will suddenly face failure.

A poor designer will attempt to hold onto a failed parti and patch local fixes onto the problem areas, thus losing the integrity of the of the whole . Others may feel defeated and abondon the pursuit of an integrated whole. But a good designer understands the erosion of a parti as a helpful indication of where a project needs to go next.

When complications in the design process ruin your scheme, change-or if necessary, abandon-your parti. But don't abandon having a parti, and don't dig in tenaciously in defense of a scheme that no longer works. Create another parti that holistically incorporates all that you now know about the building.

101 things I learned in architecture school

- Matthew Fredrick

Improved design process,not a perfectly realized building, is the most valuable thing you gain from one design studio and take with you to the next.

2008-10-22T16:26:00.001-07:00

Design studio instructors, above all else, want their students to develop good process. If an instructor gives a good grade to what appears to you to be a poor project, it is probably because the student has demonstrated good process. Likewise, you may see an apparently good project receive a mediocre grade.Why? Because a project doesn't deserve a good grade if the process that led to it was sloppy, ill-structured, or the result of hit-and miss good luck.

101 things I learned in architecture school

-Matthew Fredrick

design spotlight

2008-10-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

research. explore. discover

travel outside of studio and find a design project, event, place or person [associated with any design field] that is currently taking place within Greensboro. write a succinct 150 word narrative describing and explaining its importance to Greensboro and the design world. submit your narrative -along with a visual[s] supporting your narrative- to the design drop box [under the community by design folder] by 4pm Friday October 24th.

never fear, maiken and jimmy are here!

2008-10-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

compliments of Leah and Sara

student spotlight : sara easterling

2008-10-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

During the analysis of the semester, thus far, the class requested feedback about projects that could be used as examples for students to follow. We believe that Sara Easterling's bus | shelter project illustrates: clarity of writing and drawing; well-rendered sections; useful diagrams; informative details; and appropriate sheet composition. Sara had some challenges with the concept and title congealing with the graphics...in other words, some of what she wrote did not appear in what she drew. Because second-year studio is about learning how to communicate in writing, speaking and drawing, we feel Sara's work exemplifies a good place to be as we continue forward in the semester. Well done, Sara!

detailing details

2008-10-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

Earlier this semester I stumbled upon the website of Greneker Solutions, a company that's mission is to provide retail clients with "exciting solutions, conceptual ideas and manufactured products." While it appears that Greneker is most known for it's production of mannequins, I enjoyed looking through it's portfolio of "thematic presentations." What was most impressive to me were the drawings used to illustrate some of their themed fixtures and interactive displays.

Look how clearly the designers' ideas come across. These are the quality of drawings we should all attempt to produce in order to explain the details behind our ideas this semester. Bear in mind, however, that the designs presented here are examples of "themes" not "concepts."

design with conscience

2008-10-07T11:03:00.001-07:00

in architectural record this month, i discovered an interesting article i found about students making an impact in society while they are still learning in school. well worth a read. i have posted it in the documents section of blackboard for studio. --april

spinning around connections

2008-10-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

as we continue making connections within the community this semester it might be helpful to explore the linkages among people and groups using diagrams similar to this one found in a recent issue of Spin Magazine. while the relationships we are searching for may be of a different sort (in that they are likely to not include rock stars and models) this example reveals how degrees of separation can be illustrated in a manner legible to all.

Thinking outside of the card deck

2008-10-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

So here is a page from the book ecoDesign: the source book by Alastair Faud-Luke. In it there was this example of various approaches to bus stops. Hope this inspires you to mix it up.

evaluation + more evaluation

2008-10-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.cs.duke.edu/courses/spring02/cps100/assign/yahtzee/yahtzee.jpg

after reading the class evaluations from last week, the teaching team has a few observations for you:
[1] most students saw great value in working in teams, though some expressed concern about group dynamics and the ability to find time to meet as particular challenges of this group work...one student remarked "before this charrette, i considered myself a loner; now i think that working with people opens you up to new ideas." another student suggested that letting go and being open to the ideas of others represented a strategy for group work. finally, some students expressed concern their frustration at establishing a meeting schedule for the group only to show up at the appointed time and have others in the group show up late or not at all. in the end, all of these group dynamics are about communication and the spirit of inquiry, both foundations for this studio...and the practice of design.
[2] in thinking about what types of information students wished to hear more about, they noted that explicit information on public speaking would be good as well as how to get our work into the community. both of these issues raised will be addressed explicitly in the coming weeks.
[3] students had many ideas about changes they would propose in the world including something as vague and important as world peace, but also broad topics of sustainability, equality, and integration were mentioned. moreover, students suggested that water provision systems, transportation systems, and university/community relations illuminated other areas of work about social change through design. one student summed it up by writing: "we are a generation of great thinkers but lazy people and it is up to us to actively engage the world around."
[4] students identified the wealth of resources around them (peers, teaching team, clients, human beings) as their greatest surprise, as well as shock and concern over the quality of public transportation and the number of people who rely on it as a sole mode of transportation.
[5] on this issue of the class blog and individual blogs, all students (except one) believed the process of sharing information outward in the digital realm through the blogs to be a significant positive for the studio. some queried about the audience for the blogs beyond faculty and students, many noted challenges technically in getting information up in a timely way. some students requested more analysis of student work, more summary comments as a way to recognize relevant and engaging work in the studio and the community. importantly, one student noted that one's world should be balanced from this digital realm by looking at physical work in the studio. the teaching team believes this to be an exemplary practice.

shelter : shipping container

2008-10-01T05:43:00.000-07:00

FYI : you might find this link of interest.

in the mail

2008-09-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

Postcards by (clockwise from the top): Laura Snoderly, Sara Easterling, Mira Eng-Goetz, Brittany Dasso and Erin Marshall.

Here's a small sampling of the many beautifully crafted postcards the class produced in response to John Linn and Jay Lennartson's lectures. Nice job!

process makes "perfect"

2008-09-28T19:21:00.001-07:00

process is the key in carrying a project from conception to completion. in order to understand the whole problem and situation of the project-- while leaving individual beliefs and presumptions out-- is follow a two stage method: analysis + synthesis. analysis is the identification and dissecting of the problem while synthesis is putting together the parts to make a whole in order to apply the solution. within this two-stage process—there are eight steps to guide you in solving the design solution for the project. commit with the project, state the problem, collect information through precedents + research, analyze through conceptual diagrams + sketches, ideate to form a concept, choose those ideas in which are creative, implement the ideas, and then evaluate the outcome.

this is an example of a design sequence for developing a plan from the conceptual stage onto the final stage. [see those bubble diagrams do come in handy] it is clear that each step is equally important as the next because it allows you to learn what is successful to incorporate into the final design. [take note on the comments listed below each diagram-- it clearly defines the details associated with each step.]

the following information and diagrams came from --the design process: the sequential steps.

Concepts for Dummies

2008-09-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

After reading Rengel this weekend you all should have a general idea of what concepts are and some of the ways a designer goes about attaining the most appropriate one for their project. I refrained from using the word "selecting" in the previous sentence because attaining a concept goes beyond a situation similar to picking which laundry detergent you want to buy at the grocery store. I will be the first to admit that Chapter 6 is a lot to take in one reading (it still hurts my brain when I look at it in one sitting), especially the varying ways in which the word "concept" is used. I recommend reading it over several times and taking notes each time. It also might help to look at some of your previous projects to see where you might have already used some of the criteria mentioned in the chapter to help your understanding.

It should be noted that this chapter is not the golden rule of concepts and that there is no golden rule. I know, its frustrating..."...but I want structure and strict guidelines to follow so I know if I'm doing it right!" Rengel is a very good starting place for understanding them but it is one of [many] approaches. Explore elsewhere and everywhere.

Unfortunately, you will also find that people will sometimes disagree with your interpretations, peers and instructors alike, usually in a mixed and confusing way (even more frustrating). Don't be offended and don't be afraid to have a productive conversation with your dissenters as this will only help you in your journey. I like to think that the more people who are able to understand your concept, usually a direct result of your articulation audibly and visibly, the more successful the concept is. Like anything else, it takes practice.

As for myself, I associate conceptualization with design process because it is my belief that they drive each other simultaneously. My process might be comparable to a combination of natural/unnatural disasters or maybe even Stephen Hawking's theory of what a person would experience if they were sucked into a blackhole (kudos for whoever looks that up and emails one of us). Look at the name of my blog (and the header for a description) and you will get an idea of how I view things. The thought of having a linear process might be appealing to others but it scares me to think that some people view it as a check list. I am constantly looking to be influenced by everything around me, regardless of how far into a project I'm in, and reconnecting, merging, or scrapping new ideation and old ideation. While that might not necessarily be appropriate for someone in the real world, we are students and we can afford to do things like this. I can attest to the mental growth that will occur if you are always open and not afraid to toss something you like for something that you can convey better conceptually...and to repeat the process until you've exhausted all avenues.

This is an example of my own work from a project last year when I was a third year in Stoel's studio. We were charged with picking a location in the building and coming up with a way to make that location better for student presentations. My concept was "[end/ex]ogenous influence" and my location was the lobby. It started with analysis ( light, circulation, use, sound, problems for presenting in the lobby, etc) and progressed to ideation with different media usage (3-d modeling, painting, sketching, photography, etc). I spent a lot of time looking at books, magazines, the internet, inside and outside Gatewood, our campus, Greensboro- everywhere. I crossed analytical process with ideation and external influences (precedents) constantly throughout the project. Though I changed concepts many times in between the beginning and end, my final concept was born from my design process as a whole. Its difficult to explain on a blog but if you are interested, feel free to come and talk to me about it.

A little cheat sheet...
"Concept" defined, via google, as:
1. comprehensive or organizing idea (strategy)
2. unit of knowledge abstracted from a set of characteristics attributed to a class of objects, relations, or entities
3. abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances

From Rengel:
types: philisophical, thematic, functional, mood-related, stylistic
main concept: helps to tie the entire project together by providing a dominant structure or idea that all other design ideas adhere to
organizational concept: guides arrangment or order, placement, divisions, and relationships helping to establish a scheme(s) for the project
character concept: style, image, theme helping to give personality(ies) to the project as a whole

section cut

2008-09-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

section cuts are one of the many ways designers can show and study spatial relationships, details, connections and other important design features. the key to a successful and informative section cut relies on the designer's ability to cut through the spaces that reveal the most. moreover, a section cut must show your design concept in a clearly legible manner. these sections might help you understand how useful and informative a section can be.

-edgar

resources for investigation

2008-09-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Good resources are a great way to researching for inspiration, precedents or understanding for this project or projects in the future. The most obvious tools would be the research library or the uncg library and its extensive database. Here are some others to add to your bag or tricks.

chicago tribune ( key word architecture/ blair kamin)
norman foster
ny times
stutchbury and pape
dwell blog ( or for sections examples)
durbach block
design boom
denton cocker marshall (+1 )
architectural record( and project examples)
shuhei endo
metropolis
niall mclaughlin (+1)
I.D.
santiago calatrava
FJMT

constructive criticism and ll cool j

2008-09-27T16:24:00.001-07:00

who says watching reality television is a waste of time?

here's a lesson in how NOT to take criticism via this week's Project Runway, where the designers were given the challenge of designing for one another, taking cues from a variety of music genres.

the truly awkward action begins approximately 4 and a half minutes in.

-suzanne

the rest of the semester...

2008-09-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

well gang, it's time for another big transition and the image here, dubbed a "squbble" by debbie nestvogel, lays out our time together. a copy of this same graphic can be found on blackboard.

and the academy award for...

2008-09-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

the client charrette documentary goes to....
camacho + easterling + jackson + schwarz
for best special effects
eng-goetz + hall + lessane
for best screenplay
farley + giles + stanisic + stokes
for best editing
brown + dipasquale + neitzel + takeda
for best voice over
the results for these special awards have been verified by the accounting firm of pike+rowland.

six thumbs down

2008-09-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

today, we reviewed all the blogs in the class. disheartened by the lack of care in the quality of the blogs, in the style of movie-reviewers siskel and ebert, we gave your blogs a RESOUNDING six thumbs down!!! Y-I-K-E-S! next reviews in a week: do better.

six thumbs up

2008-09-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

thanks to the following students for taking care in their craft and content of the blogs at this point in the semester. all class members should look at these nine blogs and leave a substantive comment that speaks to the information contained there AND the way it was represented.

anna will
emme zheng
heather link
katrina fischer
laura dipasquale
laura snoderly
monique farley
nacarra lessane
sara easterling

we encourage all members of the communitybydesign studio (iar201) to redouble their efforts with these nine blogs as the "thumbs up" standard for the class. remember that these blogs are your own outward link to the world about the work you do as designers. they should be your best work always. moreover, we utilize your blog as a means to assess your effots and performance in this course.

playful spaces.

2008-09-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

to aid your ongoing research on bus|shelter + shelter|bus, check out this VIDEO on youtube to observe the ways in which humans interact with one another in relationship to a given shelter. great design by bruno taylor.

thanks to edgar for finding the video!

finding a way

2008-09-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

community by design

we like pie too.

iida perspective magazine cover

19 thumb[nails]s up

streamlining + storyboarding

asheville design center

get the facts, jack!

transformation at work

it's in the mail!

exploring the neighborhood

newcomer's update

nccj process

it's finished, it's finished!! the prospectus, that is...

the nccj charrette

newcomer's site visit

nccj office visit

community by design dinners

newcomer's school

nccj design intervention

the book proposal takes shape

wednesday mornings

cracking open our presentation

heading south this winter

partners in change

centering what we do

the wheels on the logo go round and round

logo schematic

an unfinished premise

pencils, paper + ACTION-- let the logo draw off begin..

communities within communities

challenging design opportunity

they sat so we can stand

the arts + design for social justice conference

thinking point

our portfolio of projects

the next project...

should we REALLY tackle a book?

mission/vision statement : revised

setting the frame

the project update

12 | 12 @ 12

Ooops!!

A day of process [timeline]

More Process Photos

Press Release + News

Natty Greene's

Important Reminders

Process, Process, + more Process

Just a few important reminders!!

overall comments on shelter|bus reviews

Design Team Process

Hardworking In The Woodshop

adventures in board layout

Reminder

President elect wannabe architect and russian style bus shelters

Materials

What's Going On??

report: graphics

report: go design team go

more concept reading?

a matter of scale

expanding upon a brand

design spotlight: i.arc

design spotlight: greensboro 10-year plan

design spotlight: greensboro october exhibit

If you can't explain your ideas to your grandmother in terms that she understands,you don't know your subject well enough.

A good designer isn't afraid to throw away a good idea

Good designers are fast on their feet

Improved design process,not a perfectly realized building, is the most valuable thing you gain from one design studio and take with you to the next.

design spotlight

never fear, maiken and jimmy are here!

student spotlight : sara easterling

detailing details

design with conscience

spinning around connections

Thinking outside of the card deck

evaluation + more evaluation

shelter : shipping container

in the mail

process makes "perfect"