UBC SALA Arch 515 Fall 2010 Instructor Bryan Lemos Bea bryan@bryanbeca.ca 778.840.

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DESIGN MEDIA ONE

Design media are the tools with which designers communicate and explore ideas. They are operative tools, meaning they are essential to the creation of design concepts and not mere descriptions. Design media are not only the products of a process, but also the processes of design. In architecture we make use of common representational techniques such as photographs, sketches and diagrams, but we also use specific, measured drawings such as plans, elevations, sections and axonometric projections to describe and develop space. In this course you will be exploring these media techniques and learning how they can be used to communicate your intentions and function as tools for testing ideas. The exercises in this course will require you to measure, document, investigate, analyze and transform your subjects. You will be doing so with a high degree of precisionof measure, dimension, geometry, composition and formatin the work you produce. You will be responsible for determining the appropriate scale of your media representations, and the appropriate level of precision required for each task. There are no single, correct solutions to the exercises, but there are relationships between how you begin approaching a problem and the solutions you devise that can be critically assessed.

INTRODUCTION

INTENT

This course will equip you with basic abilities in a range of design media, but it is important to remember that you will be further developing these skills through your design studios as you progress through your education. You are encouraged to find the overlap between this course and your studio projects, cross-fertilizing what you are learning from each into the other. The field of architecture is necessarily self-reflexive. Looking at and understanding the work of others is a useful tool in developing your own skills. Accordingly, this course will introduce to you good habits of engagement with both contemporary and historical work, as well as encouraging a consistent discussion about architecture, drawing and the position of design media. Self-reflexivity is fundamental in critiquing your own work. This course is intended not only to bring you into the fold of architectural conventions, but to assist you in finding where you specifically fit into the design world. Exercises will involve elements of personal tailoring; consequently, each of you will be doing the same exercises, differently.

OBJECTIVES

This course will introduce you to a core set of tools, techniques and methods which will be developed continuously in your work. With dedicated and diligent study you should be able to: use architectural drawing conventions to describe and determine space decide which drawings are most useful to achieve specific goals make informed decisions regarding scale and precision conduct analytical study through drawing create abstract diagrams to clarify embedded information read three-dimensional space in two-dimensional drawings format and compose work in a meaningful and beautiful way charge your drawings with intention and use visual communication design to convey your messages clearly engage in dialogue surrounding design media and provide constructive feedback to your colleagues through critique and conversation Keep in mind that architecture has an inherently steep learning curve. Have patience with yourself and confidence that hard work will bring results.

TECHNIQUES

Some of the techniques we will be exploring are: Plane Projections [ Plan, Section and Elevation ] Parallel Projections [ Axonometric and Isometric ] Diagrams [ Analytical, Organizational, Relational ] Concept Sketching [ Hand Sketching, Modeling ] Presentation [ Composition and Visual Design ]

TOOLS

Some of the tools we will be employing are: Two-dimensional drawing Three-dimensional drawing 3D Modeling and basic rendering Visual communication design

REQUIRED SOFTWARE

Whether you are working on a PC or a Mac, you will need to have the following programs on your work station. If you use an Apple computer, consider creating a Windows partition to run PC-only programs. VectorWorks [ PC and Mac ] Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign) [ PC and Mac ] Rhinoceros 4 [ currently PC only ]

REQUIRED TOOLS

There are a number of tools you will be using repeatedly throughout the exercises. Have them with you at all times, and also for all classes. a good, rigid tape measure of, at minimum, 25 (consider a FatMax) a sketchbook for documentation, measurement and concept sketches scale rulers in both Imperial and Metric standards

COURSE STRUCTURE

Classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 12:20. Optional lab time will be available two nights a week, in 3-hour blocks, from the teaching assistants. The schedule of the lab times will be determined by the assistants and the class together. Classes will consist of a combination of project introductions, lectures, discussions, tutorials, in-class exercises and pin-ups. Please refer to the schedule for details. The course will consist of four main exercises, a brief presentation exercise and a final portfolio submission. As this is a three-credit course, the exercises are intended to keep you focused on particular goals. Although the established criteria of each exercise may at times feel restrictive, they are intended to constrain your work in a positive way. Accept these simple constraints and discover the ways to thoughtfully and beautifully approach the given tasks.

EVALUATION AND GRADING

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Not all of you have art or design backgrounds and will perhaps be starting this course with less developed graphic skills. Regardless, as you progress through the exercises, you will be developing a working vocabulary of drawing and representation techniques and an understanding of when and where to use them. The expectation of the course is that your abilities will improve over time. The final requirements will be a portfolio submission which documents your progress. This both facilitates the assessment of your work as a whole suite and gives you the opportunity to reflect on the development of your skills. There will be no formal mid-term assessment, however, you are encouraged to actively pursue feedback throughout the term from your peers, teaching assistants and instructor. Recognize that the design field necessitates an active contribution to dialogue and critique; understanding how to use the knowledge that surrounds you will be an essential skill throughout your academic and professional career. Participation is a critical component of your evaluation. Plagiarism of work will not be tolerated. If there are any questions regarding this issue, please review the University of British Columbias published policy in its student handbook. If you have questions or problems that cannot be addressed during regular class times, please make an appointment to discuss. At any point in the term, students with unsatisfactory progress will receive a letter of concern with recommendations for improved performance. The evaluation breakdown is as follows: Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 4 Brief Presentation Participation 20% 20% 20% 20% 5% 15%

SCHEDULE
Classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11:00 12:20 in Lasserre 202. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 6
Labour Day

TUESDAY 7
Syllabus Introduction Exercise 1 Introduction Dwell(ing) in Drawing

WEDNESDAY 8

THURSDAY 9
Lecture + Discussion Architectural Drawings In-class Exercise Arch-Ergonomics

FRIDAY 10

13

14
Tutorial Vectorworks

15

16
Exercise 1 Progress Pin-up

17

20

21
Lecture + Discussion Massaging Line Weights Consultations

22

23
Exercise 1 Final Pin-up

24

OCTOBER

27

28
Exercise 2 Introduction Trading Alter Egos

29

30
Tutorial Adobe Illustrator

5
Lecture + Discussion Reading Drawings Consultations

7
Exercise 2 Progress Pin-up

11
Thanksgiving Day

12
Tutorial Adobe Photoshop

13

14
Exercise 2 Final Pin-up

15

18

19
Exercise 3 Introduction Container City Presentations

20

21
Tutorial 4 Rhino Part 1

22

25

26
Tutorial 5 Rhino Part 2

27

28
Exercise 3 Progress Pin-up

29

MONDAY NOVEMBER 1

TUESDAY 2
Presentations Consultations

WEDNESDAY 3

THURSDAY 4
Exercise 3 Final Pin-up

FRIDAY 5

9
Exercise 4 Introduction Bodily Functions Presentations

10

11
Remembrance Day

12

15

16
Lecture + Discussion Exploding Architecture Presentations Consultations

17

18
Exercise 4 Progress Pin-up

19

22

23
Presentations Consultations

24

25
Exercise 4 Final Pin-up

26

DECEMBER

29

30
Final Introduction Portfolio Submission

2
Final Questions Optional Consultations

3
Last Day of Classes

10
Final Deadline for Coursework

16:00

A NOTE ON SCHEDULING

The schedule has been specifically created to achieve a desired pace of instruction and work. Every effort is made to avoid conflicts in the course schedule. Inevitably, overlaps will occur with projects in other courses and negotiating priorities is a fundamental aspect of architectural school. However, if there is a serious conflict, please bring this up as a class for discussion. Reasonable requests will be considered.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS

The teaching assistants will be present at many of the classes and available to you through the optional lab times twice weekly. It is in your best interest to seek their advice throughout the projects. Ariel Mieling Chad Manley Charlotte Falk arielstuermer@gmail.com bikingchads@hotmail.com charlotte.falk@gmail.com

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Looking at the work of other architects throughout the term will benefit both your coursework and your studio work. Although there is no required reading for this course, some publications you might find helpful and stimulating are listed below. Technical Drawing Browning, Hugh C Ching, Francis D.K. Ramsay & Sleeper Conceptual Balmond, Cecil Corner, James Koolhaas, Rem Lynch, Kevin Visual Design Bringhurst, Robert Tufte, Edward Tufte, Edward Wildbur & Burke The Elements of Typographic Style Envisioning Information Visual Explanations Information Graphics Informal Taking Measures Across the American Landscape S,M,L,XL. The Image of the City The Principles of Architectural Drafting Design Drawing Architectural Graphic Standards