5 Tips for balancing the technical

and theoretical part of any design

process
5 MINS READ

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Approach towards any design process initially involves primary research based on the
problem, where both the technical and theoretical part must be worked out hand – in –
hand. There are various approaches towards any design process. Such as –

Concept :
Usually design process under this category emphasizes on one single concept be it any
regardless of its topic. The process and the final outcome of the design will majorly
reciprocate the concept in all the way possible.

Issue based :
The issue based design process will address a major threat / problem that the outcome
is designed for. Hence, they’re usually problem solving techniques which are more
practical and applicable in real life.

Design theory :
Design theories will importantly talk about the theories involved behind any design
process or the design itself. Theory can involve any characters of the design say it –
colour, geometry, alignment etc.,

Hence, for any design process the information and ideas must be worked out
simultaneously.

There are few simple steps to be followed to balance the technical and theoretical part
of any design process. They are,

1. OBSERVE :
In order to design a space one must observe and interpret an existing space much
related to it. This will help in analysing the problem and solving it in a simple way.
Usually, one must observe the basic standards that are required to achieve a functional
space, and see how each element is used and designed. By observing, one can
understand the basic ergonomic condition of any space easily. It is one of the basic
skills that every Architect must possess.
2. READ :
Reading is one of the best ways to brainstorm any design process. By reading a book, it
can give a number of inspirations which will help in building the theoretical part of the
design process. Reading can change the approach, representation and data collection
of the process. There are plenty of books to get inspired from. Not only reading books
written by architects is required but also reading architectural blog and articles can also
help, in order to be updated with the conventional design approaches.

Few basic references :

101 things I Learned in Architecture by Mathew Fedrick

BLDGBLOG BOOK BY Geoff Manaugh
Translation by Aaron Betsky
The architecture of Happiness by Alain de botton
Thinking Architecture by Peter Zumthor
Either they can be referred from books or by observing from the existing
condition.

3. SKETCH SKETCH SKECTH ! :

One of the basic skill-set to communicate with one another is sketching. The initial step
to any design process starts with sketching. Different possibilities and solutions can be
attempted through rough sketches which can be scaled out later. Though they are not
precise and clear, sketching allows one to freely try various possibilities. These initial
sketches need not be neat and beautiful, sometimes it can only have few lines and
scribbling which can easily portray an idea. The more spontaneous the sketch the more
interesting will be the ideas.

4. WORKING OUT THE ISSUE :

It is always the design process that is more concentrated and has value than the final
design. The result of any design can easily be rated through the steps involved in
design process. There is always an issue to be solved or identified in a design which is
achieved through attempting various steps of design process like sketching , reading ,
model making etc.,

The solution to any problem cannot be achieved in a single process; it will involve
number of failures and attempts to figure it out. It is better to try out various possibilities
before sticking to one.
5. PRACTICALLY RELATE :
Unless and until a problem is related to reality it can never be solved. Another important
technique is to relate the problem practically with day – to –day life, which can result in
much better solutions. This can be achieved by making a workable small scale models
that will replicate the functional and structural purpose of the design. They can either be
physical handmade ones or the digital ones. These models need not be to detail but an
abstract which will deliver the meaning and profile of the design.

Every design has a unique problem to be solved. Though the approach and wireframes
are same, the solution and design process for each design is unique. It is never too late
to try and explore the solutions. Technical part of a design process can be developed by
dealing a number of projects. On the other hand the theoretical part involves plenty of
reading and observation, which will obviously take much more time to achieve. By
balancing these two parts of a design process can result in finding an appropriate
solution to any design problem.
Presentation Sheets – How Much
is Enough
6 MINS READ

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Architectural design juries are the life and soul of architecture school. As a student, one
tends to work on a project being aware of the final output they wish to achieve. This
often leads to a fantastical architectural form with impressive elevations, often lacking
the clarity of thought and a rigorous process. We are inherently aware of the importance
of process to justify the final design outcome, however, such shortcut methods are
rather often praised and get highlighted in the juries because of their dramatic
appearance setting them apart from the rest of the student’s work.

The architecture project presentation might not be the core of the project, but it surely
influences the viewer – i.e. the jurors who will not spend more than half an hour
reviewing a student’s work with often no knowledge of their process through the
semester. Presentations can also be considered as an indicator of your artistic skills
and sense as a designer, which gives the reviewer an impression at first glance.

With the commencement of digital media, architecture and design education as well as
practices have seen a big change in presentation methods, with digital media allowing a
plethora of methods to work on achieving graphically and aesthetically pleasing, or
rather extraordinary presentation drawings. Whether it be clients or jurors, this age of
digital media has given rise to huge competition and expectation in terms of graphically
remarkable sheets and presentations, therefore often reducing the hype to be more
about the presentation performance than the design quality itself.

In a way it’s like a sales pitch- you are selling your design, ideas, concepts, and
solutions. Your presentation of drawings can assist a client’s imagination, or help win a
commission, they should clearly communicate the three dimensional elements and
experience of your design. The drawings, graphics and presentation boards have one
main purpose – to communicate your design, and if your presentation looks good, but
doesn’t do its job – you may be successful for some clients but may lack in effectively
communicating what you have to offer as a designer.

However, how much of impressive flair is enough to communicate the idea and when
does it become redundant?

We know text-heavy slides look bad, and deep down we probably all know that
presentations like that are doing more harm than good to our sales prospects. But it’s
difficult to put your finger on what is bad about the presentation design, or to know how
to make the design more effective.

A good presentation, in most cases, is as simplistic and minimal as possible. Less but
better, because it concentrates on the essential aspects and the products are not
burdened with non-essentials.
Image Source www.arch2o.com
We often come across presentation sheets like such, where on the first glance, one is
highly impressed by the stunning and aesthetically pleasing 3d renders, which more
often than not, actually convey nothing. It is important to know what you wish to convey
with your sheet, how to smoothly communicate the design strategies and choices, with
the use of our standard tools – plans and sections. Not only do plans and sections
convey the scale of design with respect to a human scale, but it also helps to give an
idea of the individual space-making elements.

This can then be supported by 3d renders of the various space qualities that have been
tried to achieve, rather than an overly zoomed out or weirdly angled dramatic scene
which conveys almost nothing to the viewer.

It is also more appreciable to show the correct color scheme, lighting, materials and
textures to truly talk about the design and the real experience of a visitor in your space
than a cinematically heightened presentation that gives the wrong impression of reality.
Image Source archinect.com
Image Source www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk
Less is more. This kind of presentation technique which does not fear white spaces,
rather uses it to place the drawings and scenes meticulously, is what gives the viewer
an easy and less intimidating method to read the sheet. Using just two tones and a grid
system can create hierarchy and order to your sheet.

Use of diagrams/illustrations, sectional perspectives and clear plans along with renders
to support the visualization of space, provides an overall effective visual communication.
Source-www.arch2o.com
Image Source-personal
Dramatic yet effective. Certain projects might demand a certain emotion from the first
glance of the viewer to quickly realize the standpoint and experience desired. It is
understandable to have intentional elements such as dark colors, high contrast, loud
background, etc. to communicate highly evocative and dramatic projects such as
Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind, where the project itself demands a certain desired
emotion by the designer. In such cases, graphically loud and perhaps little abstract
drawings can actually help in bringing out the project’s inherently different vibe.

When creating presentations it can be easy to go a little overboard. We often feel the
need to cram in as much information as possible, creating slides with barely any blank
space left bombarded with long texts, images and drawings. While all three of these
visual tools are important, it is crucial we use them sparingly and in the right manner to
invite the viewer in.

To conclude, it is fair to say that unless the project itself is dramatic and demands to
shout a certain emotion to the viewer, it is advisable to stick to the idea of Less Is
More – to communicate the design effectively, sticking to the point and highlighting the
elements of design, plans and 3d-experience should be more appreciated than loud
trendy presentations showing off the less essential aspect (graphical skills) of your role
as a designer.