HOW TO MANAGE YOUR WORKFLOW AS A DESIGNER

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Is your workflow in studio doing you good? Are you having trouble being stuck at a point for your project? Do you feel like you don’t know where your project is taking you? No worries – I gotchu! Below are tips that can help you improve your work flow in studio, especially when you’re feeling stuck and you want to enhance your project’s intent/goals. These tips will not only help you as a student but will help when you go into practice. 

1. GATHER YOUR RESEARCH

Research is extremely important for your project, as it will be a driving force of who you are designing for. Usually, these are what you should research on:

– SITE CONTEXT: Site Analysis, Demographics, Travel/Commute, & Foot Travel

– ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS: General Climate Analysis (Sun, Wind, Season Change, & Temperature Range) & Site Topography (change in elevation). 

– CULTURAL & SOCIAL ANALYSIS: Historical significance, existing community social issues or current engagement

– SITE ISSUES: Existing site issues (Ex: Issues with community safety, health, economic stance) 

2. CONCEPT MAPPING & SKETCHING

Yes! You’ve done your research – but now what? This can be the most difficult part, especially since the concept is what will drive the next steps of your design. Some people want to take artistic license of what they want their concept to be- some may take their concept abstractly. Though, some people may not have the ability to think that way. A simple approach to your concept could be comparing the issues, the demographics, and the historical significance. A good way to develop your concept is to break it down to three main focuses. Remember architects are not designing buildings, we are enhancing the lives of people who occupy them! 

3. PRECENDENT STUDIES

Precedent studies is a great way to contribute to your research, and can help you get inspire for your design. If you have drafted your ideas and you are curious if there is a project that has created solutions through the power of design – research precedence! Look through blogs, architecture magazines (use the school’s library), it could be what you see that is successful, or an architect that specializes on the topic.

4. 3D MODEL THE IDEA (RHINO 3D, REVIT)

Architecture school really does celebrate the students freedom in design and their decision making. Though, when going from concept sketches to modeling. You really have to think how you’re able to model this and which modelling tool would be the most efficient and what you have a good hand on. 

RHINOCEROS 3D:
Is an excellent tool to create a lot of organic and rectilinear shapes. A really great tool to give students more freedom to the students designs. Though, remember it is not a BIM program. It is possible to import a Rhino model to Revit, and vice versa.  Though it may get difficult when you try to resize the object to the exact size and placement you want. This really depends on your skill with both programs.

REVIT: 
Is definitely a faster way to get the basic layout of your building, fast to label rooms, and you can easily adjust to an exact dimension.
The cons of using Revit in studio: If your design introduces curves – that will eat a lot of your time if curves are done in Revit, and if you do not know how to use the program that well. 

5. DIAGRAMMING TO ENHANCE LINEWEIGHT (ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR)

SITE PLANS:
Adobe illustrator is a perfect tool to use, when you want to control the line weights you exported from Rhino to Adobe Illustrator. Generally, it’s a great program to create and enhance your site plan and maps! The program has a variety of tools to choose from – such as creating line weights, line patterns, add color, patterns, and texture. 

DIAGRAMMING – FROM RHINO TO ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR: 
Exploding diagrams they are possible in both Adobe Illustrator AND in Revit.An exploding axonometric is a great way to break down the design of building (ex: the structural elements, material use, floor programs, etc. of your building. 

6. FINAL PACAKAGE (ADOBE INDESIGN OR POWERPOINT)

FOR DESIGN PRESENTATIONS:
ADOBE INDESIGN: Gather your final exported images, renderings, diagrams, floor plans, site plans, and site analysis in a presentation format. A great way to have more flexibility with the format is through Adobe Indesign.

GOOGLE POWERPOINT: A good way to have everyone in the group contribute to the powerpoint presentation is through google presentation. Though, I recommend to have one designated person to look through the presentation so that it has consistency on the format (Headers, Fonts, Etc).

FOR PIN-UP/BOARD PRESENTATIONS:
ADOBE INDESIGN: This program is excellent when you need to create a custom format for your presentation boards. Adobe Indesign has a lot more flexible tools to easily blend, layer, and create a hierarchy for your architecture boards.  

                                                                                                                                     With Care,
                                                                                                                                      Vheonix – Introvert Designer

Hi! I'm Vheonix

The intent for this blog is to guide, inspire, & achieve as aspiring designers. I am an introverted individual in a field that involves social & interpersonal skills. Though, I want you to gain the confidence you need to succeed as a designer. 

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