5 TIPS: TO NOTE WHEN WORKING WITH A GROUP

INTRODUCTION:

There will be a point in time when you have to work with a group in architecture school. Trust me, it can be a pain when the group is randomized, or you end up having someone you didn’t want to work with. This will happen, and sometimes you have to prepare for the worst case scenario. I hope these tips will be lessons learned for you, so that you can succeed in your group projects!

1.KNOW YOUR GROUP’S STRENGTH & WEAKNESSES

Get to know your group, and find out what their top strengths are in order to hit all of your deliverables. Try to gauge the strengths where people pick up very quickly, like the ones below:

• The 3D model individual(s) – These individuals have a good hand with general 3D modeling: Revit, Rhino, Etc.
  
• Architecture Graphics individual(s)/ The renderer – These  individuals have a good hand with doing diagrams, and they may have a good eye at deciding a perspective to choose when rendering
• The physical model individual (s) – These individuals have clean craft when putting a model together. Also, not to mention how much time it takes to put it together.
• The Presenters (s)- Tip: Do not let people in the group be just the presenter. Find the presenter’s other primary strength listed above.

Tip: To those individuals who have great concept ideas, but horrible at public speaking. It’s never wrong to have a script to help you out!

2. DO DESIGN CHARETTES

      Do not stick to just one person’s idea. Go through sheets of trace paper, and try to do at least 3 rounds of design charrettes to flush out your ideas. Try to time yourselves, for example, doing 20-30 minutes for each round of the design charette. After the time is up, present the ideas to your group.

3. SPLIT TASK

    Try to avoid the situations where you want to do the task yourself, just because your group cannot pull through. That is just a lack of communication within the group. If your group decides to have a leader to manage the group, the leader should keep the group in check on what their teammates are up to. Everyone should be doing their responsible task, in order to avoid arguments.

4. COME TO AGREEMENTS

When you’re in a group, and a conflict occurs try to settle with an agreement. Everyone has different opinions, and it may be difficult when you decide on a concept or a design style. Trust me, it can be tough when you deal with an individual who wants control of every task of the project and would want to own it. You will end up with a gutted feeling, and will not feel proud of your project. Just think about it, you will potentially have this project on display at school, want this project in your portfolio, or want to turn the project in for a competition.

5. SHARE EACH OTHER’S SCHEDULES. BE TIME EFFICIENT.

      People will not have the same schedule as you. There will be people who work during the day or night, or who may have conflicting class schedules as you. Always discuss this ahead of time, and share each other’s schedules. That way your professor will not question that ‘‘insert name here, is not pulling their weight in the group’’. When in reality they are just working or have class.