Previous Posts
5/17/2015
Upon the completion of the Johnson County Sunset Office Building Pavilion installation, we have had some time to reflect on our process. More specifically, I have thought a lot about how we approach finding the best possible solution, especially in the small details. The design process, as defined by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, looks something like the image below.
As you can see in the diagram, the process is not linear. There is no clear shot from start to finish and you... (more)
5/17/2015
All things eventually come to an end. As we wrapped up the semester and prepared to head into the next chapter of our lives, Design+Make was faced with one final task. How do we tell our story? With Wendy Lai, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to represent the studio in final Kremer Award Presentation, an award given to the best group project for graduate students within the College of Architecture at Kansas State. This meant that we had to find a compelling way to share the story of two semesters of intensive work in a condensed and striking manner. Furthermore, we had to do it in such a way to sway the distinguished jury... (more)
One specific expectation I remember having before coming to architecture school is that we would be doing a lot of hands on work. I figured we would build many models and go through large amounts of sketch books and trace paper rolls. In the past year, I have put in more work in the shop than ever before building for Design+Make studio projects and other class work. However, an element I did not expect in my earlier years was the use of a CNC router. A CNC (computer numerical control) router is a computer controlled cutting machine used for cutting various hard materials, such as wood, composites, aluminum, steel, plastics, and foams. Last... (more)
5/18/2015
5/18/2015
Recently I came across an article that discussed the skills gap of today’s architecture student, and its conclusion began to make me think about my college experience and upcoming graduation. After an industry wide survey in the UK, 80 percent of employers and 75 percent of students agreed that they received an education that put theory above feasibility. Simply put, recent graduates seemed to lack the knowledge to build anything they designed. This article took me back at first as the problem was much larger than I initially perceived. However, after... (more)
5/17/2015
Social Media has become an integral part of our lives in the 21st century. In fact you are reading this on a social media platform, and you were more than likely directed here by another platform. Your daily news, your updates from family, your updates from friends, all come from one form of social media or another. And all of this is merely second nature. However, less than ten years ago this was not the case. Facebook was still in its infancy, only beginning to be discovered by those outside of college circles. Likewise many individuals within the design field were only beginning to discover the untapped potential of social media outlets... (more)
