Visit to Freelon

On Wednesday we went as a class to Freelon, an architecture and design firm that completely opened my eyes to the design world! We were told about the types of projects the firm completes and how they approach their design process. So far this semester “concept” has come up quite a bit, which coincidently is something I have struggled with through my design process before. Freelon and the presentation by Paula Carr both opened my eyes that concept is important, but to not get stuck on it because ultimately worrying about your design concept can possibly break your design and can post limitations on your creativity and process.

The projects Freelon shared with us were equally interesting as well. I enjoyed how they were realistic projects but were strung together by creativity and good design, which is ultimately something I strive for as a designer. The library was a great example of narrowing down the important and less important elements in design. The fact that the library met so many needs of the client but there were still drawbacks to the design such as the copy and printing center in the middle of the library is extremely realistic and things to keep in mind when prioritizing needs and prioritizing wants.

TVS Designs was right up my alley when Paula was presenting some of her past and recent projects she was involved in. I loved the element of a group effort and how working as a team can exude intelligent design when looking at it from all angles and perspectives. One thing I really took to heart about her presentation and was more of something I like to hear is that she keeps a sketchbook and stressed the idea that she feels as though sketchbooks are such a great way to record thoughts, lists, and ideas. I like knowing that they are used even in the professional world because my sketchbook is the epitome of my design process.

I feel extremely informed about realistic problems and endeavors firms can experience with projects and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the presentation. More of these would be great!

Assignment 1:

Architecture brings size, proportion, shape, simplicity, and geometry to the art world.  In the article Vitruvius is brought up, which I have learned quite a bit about after taking a Roman Civilization class my first semester of college.  For example Vitruvius wrote the work De Architecture, being an educated man in the Roman world, the book is about Roman Building Methods, which still survive today.  Techniques such as aqueducts and roads made by layers of a variety of different sized stone.  These ancient techniques raise much inspiration in contemporary architecture.

The first acts of designing with a computer were discussed as far back as the day of Vitruvius because of the need to show others proportion and perspective.  Math and science played are large role in the creation of computer-aided design.  The need through design was for many years only done through engineering.  As the article says “the process of design was carried out in the usual manner, except that at certain points in the process quantities were taken off the drawings and fed to the computer for “crunching numbers”,”.  Architects and designers were mainly using computers to do their “dirty work”.  What didn’t need to be worked out mathematically was done through the computer.  

As CAD and other architectural programs started taking off, the use of architects and designers was becoming somewhat questionable to some.  Even though computers were not able to convey an atmosphere a space would have conceptually.  In the article it says architects were looked at as the “middle man”.  The person w\you had to go through just to get what you wanted. The computer and architect were not always cohesive until architects, being visual and mathematic, were able to use the computer programs to their advantage and make photorealistic drawings to use and show their client’s.  

As a design student, computer programs have come in great help not only with less effort on the drafting side, but you are able to see your design from all angles, and in 3-Dimensional form, which creates less obstacles in your design process.  Although the computer does benefit greatly in design, it also limits some creativity I have found, because if the computer doesn’t have it or you cannot make it using the tools provided by the program, you ultimately say “I can’t make that”.  That’s why in my design process I try to keep a balance of hand and computer drawings to help balance my design process and also help my drawing skills.