So we just finshed our small office project, the one that we used Massimo Vignelli as inspiration for. Now it is off to the large office project. I do not think I have ever been so intimidated receiving a program sheet for a project before. A program sheet basically lists everything that needs to be included in your design. This sheet contained over 10 different areas. Each area having about 10-15 components to it. Then at the bottom on the second page there was a long list of miscellaneous rooms that we needed to include as well.

When you first see the space we are using it looked absolutely huge. Then little by little as you start adding parts of your program and you panic because you are running out of room so quickly. I have a new found respect for office designers. It is truly a gift to organize so many things to fit into one space and on top of that make it accessible. I have ran into many problems thus far and can only imagine what problems I will run into soon. This project is really challenging me as a designer. I love challenges and can wait to see what is the end result of this project.

Yesterday we had a speaker from Mancini Duffy Architectural firm. He graduated from the Architectural program Cornell University and taught a Syracuse University for a while as well. He was very intriguing because he is an architect that fell in love with interior design. I really enjoyed his presentation because he explained it two different ways. He showed a building floor plan that needed office space planning. First he went through the entire process and explained how an architecture would approach this situation. Then he started from the beginning and explained how an interior designer would approach the same situation. He explained how each one thinks. For example, an architect thinks in terms of grid patterns, straight lines, geometric shapes... designers think more about the needs of the clients, materials and atmosphere. I really appreciated this lecture. It was very informative and it gave me another way to think about approaching designing.

Yesterday we finally handed in our second project for one of my studio classes. I really enjoyed this project and am almost sad that it has come to a close. This project was our small office project, with inspiration from Massimo Vignelli a world renown designer. I was fortunate enough to attend two of his presentations while he was on campus. They were extremely interesting, he showed and explained multiple projects throughout his life. I always knew he was a very important designer, however, after attending these presentations I left in pure shock. I never knew someone could design so many different things. Everything from plates, coffee mugs, fashion, furniture, studio art and the New York Subway System. You name it he probably has designed it. I really enjoyed how he explained his process in the design. It was interesting to see his take on design. His designs are timeless, they do not follow trends. This prevents them from ever having to be redesigned. Most of his designs are very clean and simple. One would think that creating a simple clean design is easy, however, it is extremely difficult. It is a lot easier to just fill a space.

On Thursday Massimo and his wife, Lella, came to our studio to view the progress of our project. In addition, Lella gave a presentation of her interior design work. It was interesting to see her take on interior design. In her presentation she showed us the showrooms she has designed. Her use of light in her interior space was very intriguing. The way she used light created it to look like it was part of the architecture, not just an after thought. Overall, this was a great experience and I am glad I was able to take advantage. This experience has not only taught me a different way to design but it also challenges the way I think about design.

massimo

So we received a new project about a week ago and now we are finally making progress on it. In the Warehouse we have a gallery space. We had to measure the dimensions and draw up our own floor plan. This task was a lot harder than I thought it would be, especially when you only have a 20 ft measuring tape.

Anyways, that was the annoying part... then each person in the class was given one of three projects. There were three different offices that had to be designed for this project. For example, I got the Office of Sustainability, while others might have received the Office of Syracuse Abroad Program. Each design is different in what they require for the space. My design for example, requires multiple work pod (work stations) about 8-10 of them. While other designs only require 2-3 work stations. The gallery space is not huge, however, it is not a small space either. This project just requires smart planning.

The key component in this project is our inspiration. The world renown designer, Massimo Vignelli serves as our inspiration for this project. He has designed the New York City Subway system to interior spaces and products. We are also privileged enough to have him come to speak at the Warehouse. We are hoping to have progressed far enough on this project so when he comes to our school we can show him how he inspired our new space designs.

Another week of school about to wrap up. How time flies.... I handed in my first project of the semester yesterday and it was good to finish it. Now that the first project has been completed I am back into "work" mode. The first project is always the hardest because you are getting back in the swing of things. You want to delay reality as long as possible. You procrastinate as long as you can until there is just no way of denying it anymore. Now that reality has set in it is easier to get started on my other projects and except the fact that I am officially back in school.

first projects

The start of another week of school. I cannot believe that it is only the second week, I feel as though I have been here for at least a month. This feeling is good however. It means that I am back in the groove of things and I am ready to work. My brain has been shut off all summer and now I am ready to challenge myself and create amazing designs.

We have already been assigned two projects. Even though they are both my studio class projects, they are completely different. In my first studio we have to renovate my professor's office building. We have to design it in such a fashion as to create pathways that direct traffic in the right way. What I have enjoyed so far about this project is that the space is real. A couple of my classmates and I actually went to his office and took pictures of it. It was really important to see it because the space, in reality, is a lot smaller than it looks on the floor plan. Also, it was good to see how I moved around in the space and what I could add or subtract from the space to make it more accessible.

The second project, I enjoy even more. In this project we are to create our own office. There are no boundaries when it comes to materials, location, or even the function. The only limitation is the amount of space. To explain further, my office space has a place where I can do my work, relax, meditate and go outside. The space is supposed to define how you as a designer functions. I am looking forward as to how my design will alter as the project progresses.

The first day of school is done and over with. A very stressful day, but also exciting. I had my first classes down in our new building, The Warehouse. It was sad leaving our home at Smith, (our studio on campus) but I am looking forward to new adventures.

The space is very open in the warehouse. At Smith we had separate studios. There are going to be some problems that we face with this open space, for example, the level of noise. However, now instead of being isolated from the different years (sophomore. junior, seniors) we are all together. This will allow us to be able to look at work from our fellow design majors. It allows easy access to the upperclassmen if there are question about a project when the professors are not around. Now students will not be as hesitant to ask upperclassman as they were in years prior.

To continue talking about the space, it is pretty bare a.k.a. it has potential. Students are already starting to bring their own flavor to their studio desks. We are design students the possibilities for this space are endless. I know the final result of our studio will amaze me.

One thing I am really looking for in this semester is our emphasis on sustainability. When we moved to the warehouse we did not take our materials library with us. Instead we are starting from scratch and only using sustainable materials. Over the past years, sustainability has really struck my interest. I am very excited to explore the endless ideas of green design.

While on the topic of green design, our new work shop at the warehouse is made from recycled materials. It is just one of the many steps we are taking as a program to make a difference. It is inspirational to students as well. When you are surrounded by sustainable designs it shows you the reality of it. It is not just a fantasy and it challenges you as a student to think outside the box and create something you never deemed possible.

Now to step away from the academic side for a moment, my practices for softball are about to being this week. I truly love being on a sports team at Syracuse. In being a design major it is very difficult but I look at this challenge as an aid for reality. There will be very stressful times and there will be a struggle to meet due dates, however pushing through these times will assist my growth as a designer. Being on a sports team obliges me to manage my time wisely. It does not always happen but I sincerely try my best. Well thats all so far. I can only imagine what the rest of this week has in store. Until then