DESIGN COMMUNICATION
PROJECT 1 : Starchitect
Through this task I was instructed to create a poster of a selected architect with his/her famous creations. The purpose of this project was to allow the students to develop their drawing skills as well as architectural lettering, and to be able to use the suitable color palette to express the genre of their chosen drawings.
My Experience
I started off with a background research on my chosen architect which was Zaha Hadid and her creations. I had learned a lot about her and her architecture style and was in awe with her designs and I do aspire to be like her someday. I then created a draft for the poster and suited it with my tutors recommendations. I then proceeded to created the final poster. Personally I struggled with deciding the color palette that would suit the poster and to be able to execute the coloring part nicely due to my lack of knowledge in the area. However, I will continue to improve these skills along my way in my journey as an architecture student.
PROJECT 2 : Farnsworth House
Brought to life by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Farnsworth House is an open and free space representing his intepretation of the modern epoch. In this task, we were required to produce drawings of the house such as orthographic drawings, axonometric drawings and perspective drawings.
The goal of this project was to help students to develop skills in producing these drawings which are crucial in the architectural field. We were given references to refer to and were required to allow our tutors to monitor our progress and give us feedback.
My Experience
This was a very fun task for me and I enjoyed it a lot. I understood how to create a plan, sections, elevation drawings, axonometric drawings and as well as perspective drawings. I also appreciated the freedom given to us as we were allowed to decorate the design of our drawings to our liking. Though simple, I felt that i learned much from this task. However I did face one major challenge which was not having enough time due to contracting Covid-19 a week right before the deadline which caused me to have to rush the parts that I was not done with in a short amount of time while feeling unwell. This taught me a lesson where I should try my best to complete as much of each assignment as I can once given and not to procastinate to start working on it.
PROJECT 3 :Presentation Board and Model Making Process
Integrated with Project 3 of the Architectural Design 1 Module, this task strives to allow us to familiarize ourselves with creating 3D models as well as to acquire the abilities needed for analyzing, imaging and expressing architectural concepts. This was carried out through the making of the 3D model and presentation boards for project 3 of the module. The task further required us to capture images of us holding the presentation boards as well as pictures of our models from various angles, and finally a reflection of the task carried out.
My Experience
My overall experience with attempting Project 3 of the Architectural Design 1 Module was a tough but satisfying process. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience from this task not only in terms of creating a model and making suitable presentation boards but also time management skills, productivity and determination .
The model making process was still one of my firsts as I am new to architecture in general. I enjoyed the process as it required me to constantly challenge myself by developing and enhancing my ideas to become better. It also taught me how to express my ideas and thoughts into a 3D architectural model while following the requirements of the project. and the bits and pieces of craftsmanship. However, I did face some difficulties throughout the process with one of them being choosing the appropriate materials to make the model look sturdy and neat. My craftsmanship was also not the neatest as some of the components of the model were not as straight and neat as I had imagined them to be. Despite facing those difficulties, it was through experiencing it that I was able to gain knowledge for my future projects. I had also faced another challenge when I contracted Covid-19 nearing the end of the project which prevented me from attending my classes to meet my tutor which was crucial in enhancing and improving my idea for the project. This caused me to also experience a sense of demotivation and panic during the time as I did feel a little lost. Nevertheless, it took me a while but I did manage to motivate myself to keep going and to complete the project on time. I am incredibly grateful to my tutor who was understanding and offered to provide guidance while i was sick. She also often gave constructive feedback which effectively assisted me throughout the model making process.
Furthermore as this was my first time creating a presentation board, I was initially very nervous and worried due to having no experience on the task. I was worried as to how my drawings will turn out to be, and how should I compose my board so that it will look attractive, not plain and boring. I was also concerned due to the potential time constraint I would have to face due to getting ill at the time. Luckily, I was able to complete the boards right before the presentation but had to work on it while rushing it for an unhealthy amount of time at once. To overcome my concerns on being able to create beautiful drawings and having a nice arrangement, I did a lot of research using google and mainly Pinterest. Through those places, I managed to get inspirations and tips on how to approach my work.
Finally arrived the presentation day where I was required to present my model and boards to external evaluators. I was also incredibly anxious as it was my first time presenting not only a model with boards but also presenting to outsiders whom I've never seen before. To reduce this feeling I ended up preparing a script to list down important points that I would be mentioning to the evaluators. This, for me had worked very well as I felt less nervous during the presentation due to knowing what to present.
To sum it up, this task provided me a proper insight for my future semester and prepared me for it. I felt that I have grew and have learned many useful skills to be brought forward for the future assessments and that would also aid me in my daily life. I am grateful to have been able to attempt and complete this project and thankful for the support and guidance given to me from my tutor, other tutors and my external evaluators who gave me proper feedback.
Image Gallery of the task
OVERALL PERSPECTIVE OF THE MODULE
The lectures and tutorials were delivered through a face to face mode which I enjoyed and appreciated. Lectures were also sometimes conducted through an online basis which allowed a more flexible time arrangement for me. Tutorials and assessments were submitted through the Taylor's applications which allowed me to submit the work quickly and compile it properly as compared to a face to face submission. My tutors and module coordinators ensured that I was properly guided and provided assistance when needed which I am fully grateful for. Overall I had a pleasant learning experience throughout the module and gained much knowledge.