1. SKETCH BOOK
Always bring your sketchbook! Whether you’re a student, intern, or professional – a sketchbook is an important tool throughout your entire career. This is the one tool for your own freedom: you can jot down ideas for projects, take down key quotes from lectures, free-hand sketch, and so on. I recommend to invest in a sketchbook with a good protective skin. there are sketch books I’ve owned that literally fell apart because of the water or with its leather crumbling because of the humidity. A couple good one’s are: Muji (Budget Friendly), Moleskine. There are a lot of choices, so don’t be limited to the one’s I’ve mentioned. Though, if choosing leather, choose a genuine one, or else it might crumble like mine.
Takeaway: Think of a sketchbook also as a key to communication!
CATEGORY: DAILY USE, SKETCHING
2. NOTE PAD
A note pad/ note book is a preference, you do not need to follow this. For me, I like to keep my notes seperate from my sketchbook for two reasons:
#1. I like to keep my notes organized. I do not want to shuffle through my sketchbook to find important points from class. I did it multiple times after I moved from first year (a year of pure sketching) to second year architecture school (a year of digital technology and computer drawings).
#2. I like to see my sketchbook developed with my drawings and ideas, other than a bunch of notes.
Takeaway: Stay organized for maximum time efficiency.
CATEGORY: DAILY USE
3. SKETCH PENS
Honestly, sketch pens can be a bit ”pricey”, for a broke college student and for someone who needed them for a class. A pack of Micron’s ranged at my university’s bookstore from about $12-15. Though, was it worth investing in? Short answer- definitely! These pens will change your sketch game to the next level. Play with the different line weights for my depth and hierarchy in your drawings. I first started with Micron pens for my first year and loved them ever since!
Takeaway: Sketch pens will up your sketch game, and you will later understand how line weights will matter when you get into digital architecture graphics, aka doing Adobe Illustrator.
CATEGORY: DAILY USE, SKETCHING
PRODUCT IN PHOTO: Pigma Micron
4. TRACE PAPER
Honestly, sketch pens can be a bit ”pricey”, for a broke college student and for someone who needed them for a class. A pack of Micron’s ranged at my university’s bookstore from about $12-15. Though, was it worth investing in? Short answer- definitely! These pens will change your sketch game to the next level. Play with the different line weights for my depth and hierarchy in your drawings. I first started with Micron pens for my first year and loved them ever since!
Takeaway: A tool to do many overlays. I recommend to label the ends with your name – this can easily be stolen in studio.
CATEGORY: DAILY USE, SKETCHING
PRODUCT IN PHOTO: Pigma Micron
5. SILENT MOUSE
I do not control your preference for the type of mouse you prefer. Though, consider this- There are many people in your studio, and there will be people who get easily irritated by mouse clicks. Funny story – While in a lecture, I was doing studio work (do not recommend), and while I was clicking away a guy I was sitting in front of said: ” If you want to keep clicking, I prefer you go to your studio.” As sassy as he was, he was the right wrong place and time- though I should’ve at least had a silent mouse.
Takeaway: A silent mouse will make everyone happy.
CATEGORY: DAILY USE, COMPUTER USE
PRODUCT IN PHOTO: Jane Eyre Series, Amazon
6. BLUE LIGHT GLASSES
I do not know the exact science behind blue light glasses, but I can tell you that multiple people used them while working on the computer. In this day and age, you will be using the computer ALOT, so it is a healthy practice to get your eyes checked annually and to keep them protected. If you save up to get blue light protection with your glasses, or even invest in a budget-friendly pair as most people did – Please, please do so.
Takeaway: Do not strain your eyes! Take breaks in between, when you are using the computer, and be under adequate lighting.
CATEGORY: DAILY USE, COMPUTER USE
PRODUCT IN PHOTO: JINS Eyewear
7. ARCHITECT’S SCALE MEASURE
Specifically, look for an architecture’s scale, it will be helpful to check if the scale is the right size in your drawings. This will commonly occur throughout your architectural lifestyle.
Takeaway: Pocket-size architecture scales are always nice to have around!
CATEGORY: DAILY USE, SKETCHING
PRODUCT IN PHOTO: Freebie Ruler, the brand is unclear
8. MODEL TWEEZERS
These tweezers were life-changing when it came to model-making. These will keep your hands clean, and improve your model’s craft and cleanliness, and improve efficiency. There were times in undergrad when I have to use my hands to glue tiny pieces together, and I ended up gluing my fingers together. The downside is that I have to take the extra effort to clean my hands thoroughly because there are times when I have to take out my contact lenses out of my eye. Though, you can always use a contact lens applicator as a solution!
Takeaway: Avoid super gluing your fingers together, and invest in these when you do model-making for studio projects.
CATEGORY: MODEL MAKING
PRODUCT IN PHOTO: Sprung Shut (Tweezer Type)
9. ACCELERATOR
This liquid is a perfect match with super glue. For, I like to use super glue over tacky glue specifically for smaller components in my model-making. Tacky glue is a nice glue to have in hand and is also budget-friendly, though I like to use it when layering topography together.
Takeaway: Accelerator + Applicator=best combination. I highly recommend using an empty applicator, with a precision tip!
CATEGORY: MODEL MAKING
PRODUCT IN PHOTO: Sprung Shut (Tweezer Type)
10. TAPE MEASURE
A tape measure is great to have in hand when measuring space for a project. Another tool others may use is a laser pointer, though those are very pricey- remember college budget! You do not need a laser point unless requested by your professor. The laser point measure would be helpful when you are working in a firm and you have to go to a construction site! Lastly, a tape measure is helpful when dealing with large-scale models, or if you have a wood shop elective.
Takeaway: These make great gifts for friends who graduate from architecture school!
CATEGORY: GENERAL USE, MODEL MAKING
PRODUCT IN PHOTO: Craftsman
