        1011 leeRichard Campana 1. I find my reflections on exercise 1 to be very interesting. Because the questions asked of us for those reflections ask directly about the specific content of exercise 1, my responses contain a lot of information about all the types of drawings we did for that exercise. I have realized that, through our exercise 1 reflections, that we went further into the drawing techniques that we would need for exercise 2. Although I do feel like I have gained new skills throughout this course, I do feel somewhat setback as well. Because my group struggled on exercise 2 and I had trouble finding interesting riffs for exercise 3, I feel like I did not improve in terms of creating higher quality projects. I also felt setback in exercise 3 because it involved very little actual drawing. 2. I feel like I have gained a better eye for looking for descriptive and interesting aspects to things assigned to us. I hope that, in 1012, I will be able to better keep up with my assignments and that I will be able to further work on thinking in more new and ingenious ways. 3. Our instructor serves to guide us along with our projects, particularly when things go wrong. By helping us to review our progress many times over, we can hopefully continually fix problems so as to obtain a better product for the reviews. The handouts are there to tell us what is expected of us for each exercise. In exercise 3 for example, the instructions gave us criteria on how the boards would be judged and what you expected of us for the exercise. The review process gives us a chance to explain our ideas to our classmates while also giving us another perspective on our ideas by having people review it. Through these reviews, we will hopefully make progress with each exercise. The inquiry books give us individually an overall look at each of our exercises. Although the pinup is a presentation to everyone else, it somewhat lacks in allowing yourself to review your exercise. Our classmates serve not only to help in making class more enjoyable, but also give us another perspective on our own projects. I know that most of my D1 classmates would gladly help others in our group if help was asked for. The studio spaces serves to give us a place where we can all work on our projects while allowing us to communicate to each other about our projects and ideas. The studio experience is different from most other learning experiences by that it is totally hands on. All of my other classes just require learning of material through lectures and than being tested on it. Studio actually involves creating physical things that allow you to grow and develop through their creation process. 4. Exercise 1 served to teach us basic techniques that we would need for the semester as well as for our future studio assignments past CFY. Exercise 2 took an industrial design approach that would likely help in determining those who may be cut out for that major. It also trained us to look at the world in a different and interesting manner. Exercise 3 trained us to thick more abstractly so that we can take the things we notice about the world and change them to find new ideas. My favorite exercise was exercise 1 simply because I prefer actually drawing over using photoshop and building models. I also was not to keen to thinking abstractly enough for exercise 3. Brad Raber 1. At the beginning of the semester, I was warned about the course load of studio, and although I was told, I still did not expect what was given. From what I can tell, I learned the most from exercise one because there was a) much more instruction and b) more direction. One the same note however, I remember being the most frustrated and felt inadequate during this first exercise, although my frustration was not lost. I think my best work was produced in Exercise 2, yet because of timing with other things in my life, I was generally late on those assignments. For example, while doing a preliminary layout, a graduate student came up and told me that one of my exploded axonometric drawings was on par with graduate level work, which really felt good to hear. My way of thinking about drawing has changed a good bit from my previous ideology. First off, I have realized that although I may not have the best grade in the class, I know that I have worked really hard and have improved significantly from the beginning of the semester. I have always been told that the harder you work, the more it pays off, but did not really believe it, instead believing the people born with the talent will always have a decided edge over every one else. Although that may be true to some extent, as Daniel will most likely always produce better work than me, I have made a lot of progress, and if I continued I have no doubt in my mind that I could continue to make gains as long as I put in the long hard hours. Having not been much into art before starting 1011, I cant say that my way of thinking in has changed much, as there wasn’t anything to begin with. 2. I think my learning in 1011 stemmed from a repetitive process with instruction, production, critique, and reproduction. This iterative process lets you listen, apply, learn, and adapt, producing works that are both improved and more conscious. More specifically, my attention to detail and seeing things not for what I think they should be, but as they are exactly, has increased significantly, especially after Exercise 1. So in 1012, I see no reason for this conscious attention to detail to increase and expand to other aspects of production that require precise and creative notions. 3. In Ex. 1 the instruction plays a huge role, perhaps more than in the other two projects combined. It was here that she would guide us and critique on a daily basis and provide meaningful feedback. Then in next exercises the instructor played a fading role in what was being learned and produced, and by the third exercise I was getting one on one time only once a week. The handouts were really just a jumping off point, to put the idea on paper, and then the instructor would take over. As opposed to the instructor, these handouts increased in importance with the last two exercises. The second exercise described almost everything in detail exactly the way it was meant to be presented. The review process in the first exercise was wonderful and the most helpful. It was interesting to choice our best work and see it presented. The second review was one of the more painful experiences of my life as being the only two person group, we were doomed to have it harder, and my partner was less than stellar on the professional side. The third review was silent, but still beneficial as we only covered the top six works, and I learned a great deal hearing how those students thought and worked. I had a great class both from personality side and as a place to bounce ideas and see other students work; it was a group of very talented people. When I first came to Tech, I despised the Architecture buildings. Since, I have come to find the studio a fantastic space to work; from the dynamic concrete structures, to the bright lighting, to the distinct enjoyable smell that permeates the studio space. My only complaint here is the habit of studio students to play music through their laptops at full blast, much to the enjoyment, or in my case, chagrin of fellow students. Overall, studio is a very unique place and learning experience. It puts a lot of emphasis on creativity of the student, but does not neglect the relationship with the instructor. It is rather specific to the type of learning going on, and thus in very necessary. 4. I can’t say that I see the application of Exercise 1 in the real life sequences of the Architect, Designer, or Constructor, yet the concepts and points that it highlights are crucial. The main pedagogical goals of this first exercise were not to measure ability to transcribe, but to measure the ability of the student to see. It was an act of shaping the eye to find what is not found to the untrained. This was played out first as the others are useless to the ‘blind’ and thus it had to come first. The second exercise was done because we had to expand the concept of design to the thousands of thoughts and ideas that go in to the modern product. This intense fascination with a singular object forced the students to look, and look, and look some more to become intimate with the object. The final exercise was to explore creativity unrestricted. To take the ideas and concepts learned in the first two exercises and then explode on to them with creative passion. Although hard to pick a favorite, I would say exercise 2 because of the concrete direction, interesting subject matter, and the quality of work that I produced. For about a day I considered dropping to Industrial Design. Michael Ray Part I One common trend in all my reflections seems to be sleep deprivation. In each exercise I was learning, mainly because I have never seen any of this stuff before. So every exercise was a huge learning experience. I noticed a great deal of learning, but the more learning I did, the less confident I seemed to be. I suppose It can be directly related to the people around me, seeing other students in class try a fraction as hard as I did and produced twice the quality of work. One girl in my studio even boasted about how her work was perfect an needed no other additions. She also received praise from other critics, but her work honestly wasn’t great and to be honest looked very similar to another person in studio who came up with the idea for her views. The further I went with the first studio the less and less I felt like my work was sufficient. In a way that paid off though because even though, some of the reviewers didn’t think so, one student in my class enjoyed my final piece from ex 3. Her text message after the final postings turned me from lack of confidence to a feeling that I might have produced something worth looking at. Turns out I even received a vote from someone in my class on the quality of my work. The biggest change in the way I thought was to break me out of my concrete ways of looking at an item and to look at the underlying ideas, and ideas that are not represented. I then realized that drawings don’t always have to be practical because it’s just a way of getting ideas on paper. Eventually the ideas will form into a final product or design. Part II The learning that I will take with me to the second studio and beyond is the way that I look at an object or space. Before I just saw a building as a building, a space for people to utilize as stated on the sign to the entrance. Now I view buildings as much more, and the space as a place to elaborate. I work for a general contractor, and this week my project is a small yet important one. He wants me to design and renovate his back porch, taking the existing and making it a more relaxing and useful place. The point is for me to be able to see all the parts of construction from designing, to permits, to overseeing construction and estimating, all under his supervision. My boss actually commented to me today as I was proposing the changes on the existing building, how much I focus on utilizing the space and making the new design aesthetically pleasing. I stepped back and looked and felt as if I was turning into an architect with my thought and analysis of the existing space and what it can become. I suppose in 1012 and beyond I will focus on what I just stated, in utilizing space and making it aesthetically pleasing, but also on a more basic level, noting ever detail and seeing how it could be better. Part III What was the best aspect of the studio process? To me the most beneficial aspect of the studio process were the peers in my class. The really blessed students’ work pushed me to be better, while Jordan Leary, Melinda Ellington, and Heather Eierman encouraged me in my times of frustration and guided me to understanding. As peers we bounced ideas off of each other and joked to relieve the frustration that comes from the studio. When confused we relied on each other to explain what the others didn’t understand and we reviewed with each other our products, searching for ways to make them better. What could be improved in the studio processes? I feel that the pin ups wasted more time than I wanted to. I feel that we could have utilized the time more if we focused on having a set schedule in the pin ups. If we had some organization and structure to the pin up we could have used it to a better advantage. Part IV I believe the exercises were organized for our learning. Each exercise was geared to train us to be better prepared for the next step. A great example of this was the gesture drawings with the charcoal to get us used to charcoal before we drew the glass and drapes. But all the things from exercise one honed our skills so that we could develop our ideas in exercise two. Then the sustained looking drawings from exercise two allowed us to view the ideas and geometries better. My favorite was the second exercise. There was a lot of work, but it was fun and the group helped to develop ideas and keep us all entertained and on task. Ryan Schuster One • I have always struggled with communication and I tend to discount the opinions of others, particularly reviewers. I also get defensive sometimes. Other than the bad side, though, I am opening up to the world around me and I am learning to express myself in more effective ways. • Yes. I learned more each time, particularly about observing the world around me. With each exercise, I started looking outward more and more. • I feel that I have slightly more confidence and I am gleaning a better idea of what design really is. I feel that with time, I can learn to design and present much more effectively. • A. Drawings and models now seem like very efficient objects, especially if done correctly. They can express in one image what an hour long presentation cannot. B. As far as formulating ideas, I’ve learned that it’s much better to take the time to think about them then to rush into it and have to fix them later. C. I’ve found that analysis takes time and that objects have much more to them than meets the eye. Each little part on an object has a purpose D. Designing is much more complicated than I previously thought. Not only do we have to take into account what the client wants, but we have to go above and beyond that to design something which also positively affects the area in and around it. Two • Observing, considering all possible angles, taking the time to analyze, and carrying through with final ideas will carry on to 1012 • I want to focus on carrying through ideas and analyzing objects. I think that these are some of my weaknesses and I wish to fix them. Three • The role of the instructor in exercise 1 was to teach us the basic techniques which will allow us to see and express. In two, she was supposed to teach us how to analyze objects and present certain characteristics. In 3, she was supposed to show us how to take some simple characteristic, explore it, and combine it with other characteristics for a final analysis. • In 1, the handout was supposed to give us examples and show us concrete steps on what to do. In 2, it was supposed to get us thinking about how to analyze an object and what to look for. In 3, it was supposed to show us what exactly our riffs needed to contain and what each exploration needed to have in order to be successful. • The reviewers were supposed to critique our use of techniques learned in exercise 1, and to let us know what basic presentation skills we need to work on. In 2, they were supposed to look at our presentation layout (which was challenging due to a cramped board) and our ability to express explorations neatly. In 3, they were supposed to tell us how our ideas carried over and how much potential we did/did not meet. • In each exercise, the inquiry book was there simply to let us reflect on why we did each sub exercise and how each affected our knowledge of design. It allows us to look back and remember/learn. • Fellow students were there to help each other with new techniques in exercise 1, to help with analysis and give tips on neater presentations on exercise 2, and to help with brainstorming and carrying through new ideas in exercise 3. They allowed me to take an outside look at my ideas without getting caught up in them. Such a non-biased view really helped in learning what I needed to learn. • The studio space provided plenty of light and space to work by, but it was generally outdated and uncomfortable. I don’t know where my $75 lab fee went to considering the fact that I still had to pay for every kind of printing and artistic material used for every project. I believe that we were robbed when it comes to paying an obscene amount of money for nothing and until someone shows me where it went to, I will remain suspicious. The studio learning experience was much more informal and much more interactive than any other experience. It allowed us plenty of face time with our instructors and helped us to gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing us. Four Exercise one taught us the basics of how to draw and how to use different mediums. It also showed us how to observe the surrounding world and to represent its characteristics on paper. Considering, however, that exercise two required us to use completely different mediums, I would suggest that exercise one also include a way for students to learn about usage of creative mediums in order to provide a better transition into the next exercise. 2 taught us how to analyze an object and look at its characteristics and how they might imply to its users. It allowed us to see design details and why they matter. It also showed us new, more detailed methods of presentation, as well as ways of looking not only at form and shape, but also operation, assembly, and similar objects. This helped us in 3 when we had to look at certain characteristics and then analyze those in terms of different categories. We had to expand our analysis and create new ideas and designs based off of an original. Our basic skills from 1 helped us to present this and represent it in creative ways. Exercise 1 was my favorite because it was more straightforward and had more to do with the actual technical skills that we will need in the real world. Although good design is of the utmost importance, it cannot always be taught, and I believe that more focus should be put on technical drafting skills. Architects do not use Photoshop to present their ideas, but instead use more advanced rendering software. They also must draft their work, something we were not taught how to do. Design ideas are important, but if we are unable to present them to manufacturers, there is no point in having them. I do, however, appreciate the emphasis placed on design, I just wish that we were taught more technical skills along with that. Erin West ONE: I noticed that I was really conscientious of what was meant to be learned in each exercise. I think it’s interesting how we used different materials to begin the process of not only thinking critically through sight but to think critically through a specific material. I think it’s funny how I didn’t like the amount of work we were given then, but it only got more strenuous as time went on. Ultimately, the amount of work was not the problem as long as I continued to learn new things while working. Once I grasped the ideas of the assignment, I began to get bored of it and that’s when I realized how much work we were doing. In Exercise 1, I learned how to use different materials and the basics of drawing. In Exercise 2, I learned more about observation but also a lot about working in groups and the different aspects that combine to create a product. In Exercise 3, I learned to think abstractly and how to organize my work in a thoughtful, cohesive manner. I have progressively grown more confident in my abilities. I am not longer just doing something because I was told, but now I’m looking for justification for every action that I undertake. I am looking into the reasoning behind my ideas and challenging myself to defend my actions. This ability has definitely been a learned process from the beginning when I was drawing blindly both figuratively and literally to now when I am beginning to peak at what I’m doing. Now, I take more time to look at drawings. I observe the material qualities of the drawings as well as the compositional qualities. Pre 1011, I didn’t know exactly how many different types of drawings exist, but now, I am noticing that artists and designers strategically chose how to best convey their ideas through their choice of drawing type or modeling type. I also now realize that the process of formulating and exploring ideas is far more extensive that I had previously imagined. Every decision is justified and every idea is fully explored. 1011 has taught me that analysis and inquiry are two very involved processes. There are many different ways to observe a single object. It has also taught me that designing is extremely involved as well. I realize now that every part of an object is thought up and justified through extensive inquiry and exploration. The entire design process requires extensive patience and thought. TWO: I think I’ll continue to learn to think critically. I’ll learn to analyze the world around me, how I fit into it, and how it shapes human interaction. I hope to also learn more about architecture in 1012 because I felt that this semester in 1011 was highly focused on Industrial Design. I plan to pay special attention to the processes learned in 1012. I will hopefully be able to manage my time better so that my projects finish as strong, if not stronger than they began. THREE: The instructor is a facilitator for growth and development. The instructor helps you to develop your own ideas, not to create the ideas for you. The instructor is there to help you to discover your own justification and thought processes for everything that you do. They also provide a sense of reason that keeps your ideas grounded and balanced. The handout is a guideline for the activities. It shows you examples of what you are to develop by yourself. Towards the end of the semester, the handout became a concrete way to push abstract thought. It wasn’t so much informative as it was motivational for inquiry. The review process pushes you to focus your actions. Through critiques, one gains constructive criticism from professionals and peers. The feedback helps to make you a stronger designer as well as helps prepare you for future client interaction. The inquiry book helps you to organize your ideas. It shows the entire process and growth from beginning to end. Your fellow students provide a support group as well as a basis for competition. Peers help motivate you and push you even further. They also provide a different perspective by bringing their own ideas and experiences to the work. The studio space, large and open, provides a collaborative workplace. Because we don’t have assigned desks, you are given more opportunity to interact with more people. The single room for the entire CFY means that multiple people are working in the same space yet producing very different results. I did, however, hate how dirty and unorganized the space became towards the end of the semester. It didn’t provide the best working environment for many people. I began to work in my room instead of working at studio despite the desks and open space because I couldn’t stand the mess and distractions. The studio learning experience is definitely unique. It is unlike any other classes I’ve taken. For example, we are working for the entire time from the beginning of class to the end. Also, we are not only listening to lectures, but we are required to react to the lectures through our work in our studio as well as through basic summaries. The lecture class and the studio classes are far more interactive than any other classes I’ve taken. FOUR Exercise one was about discovery through materials. We were taught how to look at the world around us and different ways to express what we saw. Exercise two required more thought. We were no longer just looking at the world, instead we were making inferences and analyzing different set aspects of the world. We were no longer told to take things at face value, but now we’re looking deeper into the reasoning of why things are the way they are. Exercise three taught us to further dissect what we knew about an object. We were required to now take what we already knew about the object and transform it into the basics or complexities the qualities present. We no longer thought about the object but instead went with whatever fascinated us. We did these exercises in this order because we must first learn to see the world, then we must learn to interact with the world, and finally we must learn to challenge the world. My favorite part was the first exercise. I liked looking critically at the stapler, but I disliked the abstractions we were required to make. I understand the necessity of the process, however, I can’t say I enjoyed it. I would have liked to have seen more structure in the third exercise. I liked the first exercise best because it was the most structured. I like using the different materials and learning the different drawing Heather Eierman ONE It really surprises me how much every exercise built off of the previous one. I didn’t realize that I was truly gaining knowledge throughout each one and actually was actually putting this data to use in the exercises following. I feel so much more confident in my skills and myself after this semester, but most of all, I feel like I have the ability to learn so much more. I am finally beginning to understand the intention of each assignment and I am so excited to see what is to come. I always thought that drawings and models should be thought out and then created, but through this class I realized that creating these representations is how you UNDERSTAND and LEARN. Learning through experience rather than memorizing facts is what this class is about. TWO The most important thing I will remember from my experience in 1011 is how important it is to understand WHY you are doing a certain exercise and not just getting through it the easiest way you can– even if you don’t understand why you did it until the final pin-up when you step back and say “OH! I get it now!” Otherwise, what’s the purpose of staying up hours on end making meticulous models and drawing detailed drawings of flashlights? Even though the environment of studio is sometimes stressful and harsh, it has really changed my thinking process in a very positive way. THREE The role of the instructor is to guide our processes of data gathering. The role of the handout/exercise brief is to give us proper criteria of what the process and final outcome should be. The purpose of the jury/pinup is to make us take a step back and learn from our successes and mistakes so that we might improve upon them in later exercises. The role of the inquiry book is to organize our processes and data. The role of fellow students is to give appropriate critiquing and advice in order to improve the work of others and build ideas off of each other. The role of the studio space is to inspire us to work in a common environment and depend on the help and advice of others. The hands-on learning experience of studio is so much different than any other learning environment I have been in before. It is open to such a broad possibility of investigations—the only hard part is pulling this information out of the depths of your brain. There is not much specific guidance, but rather the openness to make us think for ourselves, which is probably the best way of learning out there. FOUR Exercise one introduced us to a variety of mediums and showed us various ways in which to use them to manipulate the outcome. Exercise two allowed us to use these mediums and manipulations to investigate the enormous realm of the data that can be derived from a single object. Exercise three took these investigations and defamiliarized them from the object, therefore leaving the initial data and components that are factors of design. I think that exercise one started as a basic data discovery, exercise two became a lot more detailed and investigative, and then exercise three unfolded these details into “basic data” that really isn’t as basic as it seemed. My favorite exercise was probably 3 because I loved the open-endedness of it. It allowed me to come up with my own discoveries and in the end, made me feel the most accomplished of all of the exercises because I came up with it all on my own. Nina Perala ONE One of the biggest things that I've learned so far this semester is learning to deal with the fact that I will always be busy and I will never get enough sleep. That was a really hard concept for me to grasp at the beginning of the semester. In order to curb this problem, I've learned to work more efficiently while I'm in studio. I don't waste as much time as I used to, in hopes that I might get a good night's sleep. I'm also learning the quality of work that I should be producing. I didn't take it very seriously at the beginning, but I've continued to step it up over the past few months. Another big change is the fact that I trust my instructor's opinion much more. She is there to help us, not hurt us. Towards the end, whether I wanted to or not, I took her thoughts into much more consideration. I'm really pleased with my final products and she had a lot to do with it. I'm glad I made this realization before it was too late. I haven't drawn in such a long time and I also haven't made any models so I don't have much to say about that. I still think that my ability to formulate ideas is weak but I'm getting better at exploring. My analysis of my work is also improving. I'm also not sure about my design abilities. I feel like we haven't been tested much on that yet. TWO Most of the learning doesn't have to do much with the actual work that we did in studio. A lot of it has to do with my attitude adjustment since I've been in studio. I will go into 1012 with experience and I think that will help more than anything else. I plan on paying special attention to small details in 1012. I want to be able to answer any and every question about my product or project. THREE The instructor is the one we go to when we're not sure what to do. I can't even count how many times I asked for help. She pushed me in the right direction, even when I resisted. She kept all of us motivated until the very end of each project. The handouts I feel were a backup in case we were still unclear about what we should be doing. The review process allowed us to see our peers' work and also to get feedback on our own work. I haven't done an inquiry book since Ex1, but I think the purpose of it is to have something to look back on when all is said and done. My fellow students served as critiques and as competition. I think we all played off of each other's ideas and emotions. The studio space was our home. We spent nights there working on our projects. Because it was in an open area, we could see what everyone else was doing. We could collaborate and compare. This is better than a classroom setting because we were all together. FOUR The first exercise was a warm-up. We were just getting used to being in studio and learning what was expected of us. Exercise 2 was our first real test, to see what we could do. We were also tested on teamwork and how well we could play off of each other to reach a common goal. Exercise 3 was to see how well we could think and design. My favorite exercise was the 2nd one. I loved working in a group. I thought the assignment was really interesting. I liked all of the explorations that we did. It most related to my major (ID) so I actually saw a purpose for it. Melinda Ellington ONE To help you take stock, please review your reflection postings for exercises 1, 2, and 3. Re-read yours (and others' as well, if you want) in one sitting. Then respond to the following: 0. As you re-read them now – with the advantage of distance, experience, and hindsight – what strikes you as worth noting and commenting upon? The fact that at the time, we weren’t really all too aware of what it was that we had learned, but the skills we were able to pick up made the whole experience of studio much better. 0. Are there any patterns that you can discern in the learning that occurred in each exercise? I noticed that when one person pointed out what they had learned to the group, we all had a ‘lightbulb moment’ in which we all realized that we had learned the same thing, but only one person had the ability to recognize what it actually was that we had learned. And it was never the same person either; we went through all of the group members realizing some profound piece of wisdom, which was subconsciously shared by all of us. 0. Do you discern a cumulative growth in learning (in confidence, in skills, in understanding etc.), in yourself? I certainly see an increase in confidence in myself after going through 1011, but also I notice an increase in curiosity on my part concerning my surroundings. Whenever I’m intrigued by an object or building, I can pull out different aspects of it, just like I learned to do during this course and analyze it. 0. Can you characterize the change, from pre 1011 to post-1011, that has occurred in the way you think/thought about: a) drawings, modelling and other types of representations; b) the process of formulating and exploring ideas; c) analysis and inquiry; d) designing. A) For drawing and modeling, I realize that for quality, it is much more of a process than I had originally thought and takes much more dedication than I had thought. B) When formulating ideas, I have found that it’s SO crucial to be able to brainstorm with group members or friends; half of the ideas that were praised at final review came from group brainstorming and multi-person input. Without the other group members, none of us would have been able to produce anything worthy of attention. C) Post 1011, I have a much more methodical way of analyzing and looking into details of a subject, and have learned what to look for to make the study itself successful. D) With designing, I’ve discovered that instead of JUST being creative, which I originally thought was the core of the exercise and design process, there also has to be a logical flow of ideas that will not only help to explain how you got from one place to another, but it will also help to form the object itself. TWO In order to encourage you to play an active part in your own learning, we would like you to think about and respond to the following: 0. Identify the 'learning' in 1011 that you think you will carry forward to 1012 I think that the main thing I wish to carry forward with me is the method of analyzing and looking at problems, trying to see what exactly is the main idea I’m looking at, and if possible, how can I improve that idea. 0. What do you plan to pay special attention to in 1012? In 1012, I will definitely be looking at improving the basic execution of building and designing models, but I’m also looking to learn the differences between the fields of architecture and industrial design. THREE Finally two questions about the studio workshop process. Think back through the 3 exercises and tell us what are the 'roles' of EACH of the following in the studio process: 0. the instructor – she helped us to identify and expound upon our problems and taught us how she prefers to set up presentations. 0. the project or exercise brief/handout – was the main explanation of what we were doing and what our goals were in the class. 0. the review process (pinup, final jury) – taught us how to formulate and present our ideas in a manner that almost represented salesmanship to me. 0. the inquiry book – helped us to document our work and summarize what we had learned 0. your fellow students – helped with brainstorming and developing ideas, and most importantly, were moral support in this very challenging and often harsh environment. 0. the studio space itself – methods of organization and flexibility were definitely taught in this space, as well as learning to make do with what we have present. How would you describe the studio learning experience compared to other learning situations and experiences: for example the classroom, the seminar, the lab, the workshop, the tutorial, the internship, the job. The studio process gave us a very hands on learning experience, with a great deal of responsibility laid upon us, but less than if we had actually been put into the working world. It however helped us all branch out from where we have already developed our skills to much more capable and creative men and women, ready to enter the working world, and prepared to face it’s challenges with a smile. Daniel Chaney- I. A. As I look back I see that I learned a lot of valuable things which I then applied in future exercises. A lot of these observations were very insightful and the results were very helpful. B. In each exercise I would try something which was based on the way I understood the instructions, and end up changing it based on my instructor’s comments. This was frustrating at times, but I did learn from it. C. I do see a cumulative growth. The things I noticed in each exercise were applied to future ones. My confidence also increased, though as the year progressed I ended up redoing more and more exercises. D. a. Now, when I hear the word drawing I think about creative expression, but I also think about representing the real world. I also think of a useful tool which is extremely adaptable. When I hear the word model I cringe. But then I remember that not all models are meant to be redone over and over. I remember that they are a great way to take an idea from paper to a 3d environment and by doing so realize new things about it. b. My process of formulating and exploring ideas has gone from a system governed my vague or nonexistent rules to a system of logical proceedings. This was a big realization in the last exercise. c. The above also applies to analysis and inquiry. As the year went on I became better and better at analyzing and asking questions. The improvement was based on the application of a logical procedure and a set goal. d. Designing has undergone a similar change. I take ideas from everywhere but the way I alter and combine them follows a specific logic. Imagination still plays a big part but a method has been introduced. II. A. I think all the drawing skills will carry over as well as photoshop, composition, looking, and computer modeling. Based on the assumption that 1012 will be very similar to 1011 I think that almost everything I learned will carry over, especially things like investigative skills, creating procedures for questioning and analyzing. B. I plan to pay attention to the way we use the things we learned in 1011. It will be interesting to see how those things continue to develop or fade away or become second nature. III. A. Obviously the instructor is there to teach. The instructor also helps by offering criticism based on lots of experience. Sometimes I got frustrated with my instructor because she would make me redo things over and over but all of the things she told me were helpful and I learned a lot. B. The handout serves as a reference to look back on throughout the exercise. It also introduces the exercise. C. The review process is a way in which you show off your work to both others and to yourself. It also is a chance to get criticism from people much more experienced than yourself. This is the most important part. The review also serves as a rewarding way to look back on all your hard work. D. The inquiry book is a way to summarize your process throughout the exercise. It allows you to look back and realize what each part taught you and how you applied that. E. My fellow students are a huge benefit because, not only are they great friends, but I can also learn from their work. It is almost as though I had done 12 times the work because at the review I learn from not only my own methods but also from each of theirs. I love them. F. The studio space provides a central place where all the students can come and work. It creates a greater sense of comradeship. It is also the only place I know of where we can make a huge mess while being creative. It provides a convenient place to do the massive amounts of work we are required to do. It also serves as a symbol of our lives. When our non-arch friends ask each other where we are, it’s not long before one says “studio” and they all nod with recollection. I would describe the studio learning experience as much more personal than any of my other classes. You have close contact with instructors and friends. IV. The first exercise was designed to teach us basic skills for representing our thoughts on paper as well as investigating a subject. The second exercise was designed to show us how to take what we learned in the first and apply it to an investigation. It was also supposed to teach us how to present that information to an audience. I’m tempted to say that the point of the third exercise was to frustrate us but I know that’s not true. I’M JOKING. I know that we were supposed to learn how to take an idea and expand it, then expand it more and then combine it with other ideas. It also was supposed to teach us how to make an effective presentation board though I feel that we ended up learning what little we did about that through a big game of trial and error. I say this because some instructors told their students to do it one way while others told theirs something else. The winners were the ones who were told what the judges wanted to see. This exercise would have been my favorite had it given us a little more direction. The instructions could have said “pass through this town and this city and use this road” but not actually said “go to this continent.” I think this would have been just as effective if not more so and much less frustrating. As it stands, the second exercise was my favorite because it was great to work with such a great team and the focused investigation was rewarding. Tony Zhang 1. Looking back at exercise one; I mentioned that blind contour helped me see things differently, as in more in detail. Then I started getting into new media and which to use for different types of drawings. Since I’ve learned to draw before, it didn’t really occur to me that there would be challenges, except for the time issue. In exercise two, however, I was having a lot problem because it was not just about bringing an object and draws it. We had to dissect an object and find a lot of information from just a simple object that it may get boring at some points. I think I was just used to follow exact directions and found it difficult to explore on my own. However, I can see the progress I’ve came to in exercise three, which was all about riffing and having your own creative ideas. It seems that time has always been the biggest issue through all three exercises. Sometimes, it was confusing when we first get into the exercise. However, when I finally understood the basic concepts, I’ve lost a lot of time to put into the work. The work I finished would be really good, but I would lack quantity in the number of works. I think that the pattern is to increasingly discover what is in your mind and to express your own ideas. From the learning, I was able to realize that there is more to just drawing something. The idea is much more important and I never could have though I could think of some great ideas such as in exercise three. From the change in 1011, I made a lot of models but I realize drawings are still the most important representation. Using the computer programs is something I did not like in the past, but now when I’m used to it, it is actually sort of fun. I used to get one idea and stick with it, but I realize that ideas are spontaneous and you have to think about the topic constantly to get better ideas. Analysis is a tool to get more ideas and to turn existing ideas by altering them. Designing, which I thought at first was just have an empty sheet of paper and think of an idea and draw it out, was much more complicated and has to go through series of drawings, but to insure the best design. 2. I’m not exactly sure what is to be expected in 1012. There is one exercise that deals with morphing a cube, and another exercise that explores the characteristics of a building. From 1011, I think the correlation is that the riffing learning of exercise 3 will be applied to the cube and change it in many different ways and dimensions. Exercise two, which explores every aspect of an object through a series of investigation, will be applied to 1012 except this time it is architectural. In 1012, I will definitely try to make better time management. From 1011, I learned a lot about using programs like Photoshop and Illustrator so I think that in 1012, I will continue to use those skills to make computer generated drawings. Most important, I learned to have more of my own ideas through just thoughtful thinking. I learned that I have sort of a mechanical way of thinking, such as of an engineer. If that is what is unique about my ideas, I should carry that into future assignments. In 1012, I will try to not use models too often even though I like making them. It is also important to create a large amount of drawings. From exercise three, I learned to make abstractions but also have a process through which the object was changed and not just by random scaling and moving. I think in 1012, I would pay special attention to the relevance of my design or inquiry process so I don’t lose time by going in the wrong direction. 3. The instructor is there to help you brainstorm on the assignment. However, they are only guides who will offer their idea. Even though it is more reliable to trust the opinion of someone with more knowledge on the subject, you still have to develop your own ideas. You also have to decide whether you want to take the instructor’s advice or maybe that you came up with something better from their advice. The instructor is also there to give you support and make sure you are on track of what you are doing and not straying away from the goals of the exercise. The exercise itself with the handouts offers examples from the previous students. Again, they are just there to give a brief introduction to the exercise and a general idea to guide you. The review process is important because you will hear the criticisms from people who are experts in the subject and will give you feedbacks. Sometimes you might think that your finished work is flawless but through the eyes of someone else, they might notice something that is questionable. During the review process, everyone can share their opinions on your work so you will make sure to apply that learning to the next exercise. The inquiry book, I thought, was not that helpful when you finish the inquiry book. It is most helpful during when you are making your inquiry book and you can look back on the exercise and try to make the most concise description of it to show your full understanding of what you just did. The fellow students share ideas and provide support. I have met a lot of great people while in studio and we all share a similar objective and process. In the beginning, I did not like working in the studio. I usually take the work back to my dorm and do it because I did not want to keep going to studio everyday. However, the place provides a common ground for everyone as a social place, where words and ideas are exchanged. I can learn a lot by going there to see other people at work and get more ideas from what I have observed. Overall, the studio is definitely an interesting place and different from other classes. In my other classes, I hardly socialize much because we are just there to hear the lecture and assignments and then leave. Studio has a very active feel to it, both exciting and hectic. 4. The three exercises began with the learning about basic drawing types. Then, it was breaking down an object and in the last exercise, changing it through abstraction and putting it back together. I believe the first exercise had to be first because when people think about the art majors, there has to be drawing involved using different media. It was a brief introduction to the materials we bought and slowly allow us to develop our own ideas, as even though we were drawing the same things, they had different compositions. With each exercise, we had less directions and guidelines. It was the process of thinking creatively in that sequence. It was good that the third exercise was an extension of the second exercise. If we did the cube, it would not have flowed as well as it did. The first two exercises were about making us see in detail. A lot of us came here with the idea that we will just look at something and draw it. However, we discover a lot more if we look it more closely. More importantly, we look closely into our own minds and see what we can create from that. The pedagogical goals for exercise one was to see things in different ways and just learning the basics. The second exercise was to analyze something simple and expand it to a complicated series of investigations, like taking almost nothing and turn it into many things. That also played well in exercise three, which I did not have many drawings from exercise two but came up with many drawings through riffing and combinations. The goal for exercise three was to expand and learn to alter things, which is seen such as in designs of cars, which does not change drastically but are different by switching up a few characteristics. My favorite exercise was number three because I was able to express my own ideas entirely and feel good that other people accept them. I think I also learned the most from that exercise and put in the most work and time comparing to the previous two exercises. Mainly, I was just surprised with the final idea I’ve created. In the beginning, I mostly just draw and sketch and I did not like the processes in exercise two and three where we create diagrams and use computer programs. But after I was used to it, I realize it was a really good tool and very easy to change and transfer. Joe Dembowski PART ONE Looking back on my work in the CFY, I have realized that I wasn’t really looking. I think that reading back on my old meditations, I really wasn’t looking for what I was supposed to. I was just writing to get the job done and made sure that I said some good things to make it sound good. I now know that I can’t go through the COA and life in general with that kind of attitude. If I could go back and reo it, I think that I would try spending more time with my thoughts and work more to make sure that what I was saying, I really meant. I think that the patterns that I saw were that the learning also involved looking at our own pieces, and also the pieces of other students in other studios. The learning process does not just involve me, but it involves everyone else in the studio class. Each individual looks at everything differently. I now see that the learning was not supposed to be just with me, but with me observing other student’s work and seeing the process and the ideas that they came up with for the same project. Comparing these ideas, I could take them and make a better, more efficient work the next time I have an assignment. I definitely saw an increase in my skills. I started off the class with little true experience in art and after Exercise One, I felt that I had grown into not only a better artist, but someone who could look at something and really know how to capture its presence. I also saw my skills grow in using the technology needed to succeed in this industry and work. I really learned a lot about using new programs and solving problems with this technology. I feel more confident in my own work because I have had to understand what I am doing and then explain it to another group of people who have not seen my process. The reviews and the jury really helped me in my presentation skills. The jury came into the review not knowing anything about me or my project that I was presenting, but I had to show them what I was doing and how I did it. I really feel more confident in my work and my understanding of my work through these reviews and presentations. Before I took Studio, I had taken an art class or two through middle school and high school. I really thought that artwork and all forms were just made because someone was good at it and they wanted to express an idea. I did not understand how that could totally change my outlook on how I would express my ideas. I have learned that there are many ways to show ideas and concept through drawings and models and I feel comfortable in sharing my ideas with others through drawing and modeling. The process of formulating ideas was only a little different than I expected. I knew that I would have to show my thoughts and ideas in one way or another. I did not know that we would have to change the way that we look at objects and come up with abstract thinking regarding them. I have a new and more appreciative understanding of the people who have to design and create new object and ideas from the work that I did in Exercise Three. I did not think that I would have to look critically at such ordinary objects and then make a whole report on them in only a few weeks. I think that my analyzing skills have become better and more honed to the ideas that were brought up in the exercises that really tested the way with looked and thought about our objects. Coming into Studio I did not think that we would have to design so much based on our own thoughts. All of the work that we did regarding the third exercise really came as a shock to me because I did not expect that I would have to make 20 inch by 30 inch boards for a final presentation and then explain and describe my thoughts using just pictures, words, and the technology that we learned. PART TWO I think that the most important learning that I will take with me to 1012 is that I really need to keep an open mind and I need to look at a project with at all the possible angles. All the exercises that we did in 1011 showed me that there is more than one way of looking at a particular object or concept, and that everyone can see something different in that idea. Taking in other examples from the other students, and having a more open mind to learning new technologies and new styles of designing and explaining will help me become a better CFY student in the next semester. In 1012, I will pay closer attention to the details of the work. I realized in Exercise Two especially that there is more than meets the eye with everything. I learned that I need to make sure that I understand every part of an object or idea to fully understand it and then grasp it to make something more out of it. In the future, I hope to be able to make highly detailed work after looking at everything that goes into making the object and the concept. PART THREE The instructor is the person who initially gives out the new idea and explains the concept that the student is supposed to follow and the ideal goal that the student will meet. The project handout is there to explain again what the instructor is saying. The handout will explain in another way what the teacher wants. It shows examples and methods that can be used to get to this new goal. The review and the jury are there to make sure that your idea really is a good idea and to see if you, the student, fully understand the concept that you are trying to reach, and if you really understand your own work. The inquiry book is there to make sure that the other part of the presentation is also there. The inquiry book has the same effect as the review except that with the inquiry book, you, the student, are not there to sell your ideas, however you must let words and picture alone sell your concept. The other students in the class are there to help give you more ideas. They help encourage you to find new ways to explore your thoughts and help you by showing off other examples to look at the same idea. The studio space is there to bring together all of the above people and things into one. In the studio everything can happen and everything gets done. The studio space provides a “haven” for the student to help them with their projects to make them their absolute best. I think that the studio experience was a good one because it incorporated everything into one space. The studio brought everyone together and all the work could get done in that one area. Unlike in a classroom or a lab, the work could get accomplished at another place or at another time. In the studio, all the people and all of the resources are put together in the same place and it is open all day every day. The studio experience was helpful for me during my first semester of college. PART FOUR The goals of the first exercise were to learn how to see and object and capture it through different media. I think that this was the first exercise because it was the easiest to understand and develop. This exercise showed the different ways of looking at an object and then how to make the object our own. The second exercise took the skills dealing with seeing the object and taking them a step further. Now we had to completely analyze and focus on an object and then describe it in different ways. This was the second exercise because it required us to look more at the object and its “inner” qualities and look less at the object as just and object. The third exercise was there to show us how to take a real and rational object and make it into something that is abstract and is completely different from the original object. This was the last exercise because it brought together everything that we have learned from the studio experience and put it all together. It was the most difficult for many students because the clear thoughts were not useful in this exercise, and the riffing really tested the boundaries of our mental grasps. Part 1 a) What stikes me most is that I could relate everything together. My knowledge was vague at first, where at the end, I could explain everything much better and understand much better. b) There is a pattern in the learning that occurred in each exercise. The learning process is studying the object very carefully and providing drawings so the object could be represented without looking at the object–expressing the object through drawings. Also, keep learning from your mistakes and keep making it better until you have is as your best. c) yes, i learned a lot. I have never taken an art class before, but through the studio class, I learned basic media, drawing techniques, and computer software such as photoshop and illustrator, modeling, presentation methods, but most importantly, learning how to learn from your mistakes and making it better and expressing my thought process on paper. d) I used to think modeling was much better way to represent an object; however I found out that drawings could be much more useful and probably a better way to represent something.Pre 1011, I used to think about ideas, put it on the paper, but post 1011, I ask more questions to myself, then think, then put it down on the paper, then look back at the paper, and then ask why, and if it made sense I would go forward, otherwise revise it. I expanded on my thinking process post 1011. Part 2 a) Everything learned in 1011 will get carried over to 1012- uses of different media, differenent drawing techniques, modeling techniques, photoshop, illustrator, sketch-up, inquiry book pages, b) I plan to pay special attection to turn in my work on time and most imporatanty, the presentation I provide at the final review. Part 3 a) Roles: Instructor is there to teach and provide feedback to the work done in class so it could be made better. The exercise bried/handout is there to introduce the exercise and proejct is there to teach you the methods you came to learn The review process is there to provide feedback and criticism on the work done for the exercise so you could know what can be done to make it better next time because the feedback provided is not just by instructors, but other professors, former sudents, and fellow classmates from your class. It also lets you view your classmates work which provides other way to know how to make it better also you could provide criticism to your classmates so they could make it better. The review process is the most important part of the exercises. The inquiry book shows you the process you followed to reach to the end of the exercise and it shows ideas used in the exercise put together with your drawings in several pages. Fellow students are your friends so they could provide you with feedback on the work you do so it is your best work before you go to your instructor and then instructor provides criticism and later the juries at the final review. The studio space is a place provided to do your work where everything comes together–the instructor, project, students, and exercieses. b) Studio learning experience is very personal compared to other learning situations. Students are allowed to listen to music, work on computers, work alone, or work in groups. Students are to interact with fellow classmates to provice feedback. More importantly, students are to work in a way which helps them provide a unique idea. Part 4 The first exercise started out with learning basic media and different drawing techniques. The second exercise was there to dissect the object and provide many different drawings that represented our object. The third exercise was the extension of the second exercise where we did not look at our objects but had to change our drawings to come up with new drawing. I think it makes sense for the exercises to be in that order. Every art class starts with basic introduction of course which familiarizes you with differnt materials you have and shows you basic drawing techniques. For the drapes and lights, we studied how did the object look in different ways and put together a good composition for the final drawings. The studying of the object technique was used in exercise 2 to study our object as a group which provided us with different experience. We studied the object very carefully to povide detail drawings of the object so we could represent the object to someone without showing them the object. The third exercise was the extension of exercise two to make all of our drawings from exerciese 2 more abstract by the rffing process. We had to alter our drawings in a way so we could come up with a different object from our original object or drawings. For each exercise, in the beginning we had nothing, but we studied the object and drrawings very carefully until we came up with a final product. Exercise 3 was my favorite because I was able to come up with a different object from basically nothing but just couple of drawings I had. I was surprised at that fact. Kian Sadri ONE One thing that I discussed in my reflections was the development of seeing and perceiving. In each exercise we are charged with the task of perception, however in different aspects and roles. With such exercises, we are able to become better “seers” and “visualizers”, being able to view one thing or object from different perspective and develop a cohesive and well-developed response to our seeing thereof. This also plays as a pattern which can be seen developed throughout each exercise. We practice seeing in order to analyze and develop responses to a certain question or to a certain object. With this practice we learn to become critical seers and thinkers which we can relate to the design and aesthetic processes. I can distinguish a cumulative growth which has expanded beyond that of studio. I now critically examine most objects which I come into contact with. The process began as a simple form of practicing seeing, with contour, blind contour, light and dark, etc. It developed into the physical and theoretical breakdown of an object and was then moved to the development of the breakdown of an object into something new. The seeing process goes from simple to complex to reconstruction. I now look at drawings and models to see accurate representations and well-developed explorations. Drawings and models are best for this process and easily portray the thoughts of the seer. For the process of formulating and exploring ideas, I have left the mindset of general visualization (what you see is what you get), it becomes important to have a good overview of the idea at hand. To see how it is developed, the texture, form, composition, materials used, operative processes, etc. Once a grasp on these is found a person can explore further. Now, it is important to have general knowledge of object/idea before analysis and inquiry. To go along with that, both analysis and inquiry should delve into more than who’s and what’s, they should expand on the why’s, and the how’s. My mind on design has only recently been molded from exercise 3 and 1060. The concept on design expands on the object in relation to its surroundings. From its impact on people, to people’s impact on it, viability, usability, aesthetic quality, and so forth, design relies on many factors which affect it and vice versa. TWO The learning that will carry forth in 1012 has a lot to do with seeing, perception, analysis and breakdown. What we have essentially learned through 1011 is the thought process and experimental process of taking an object, breaking it apart; building it back together and using the technical skills we have learned thus far to portray such expansions. In 1012 is plan to pay special attention to the object as a whole, in parts and what basically “makes it tic”. With these things in mind, the perceiver is able to develop a good amount of knowledge regarding the object before the exercise is complete, helping to develop cohesive and well developed conclusions. THREE The instructor – The instructor is there to guide us, show us the door and occasionally help push us through as we grab unto the door and walls for dear life before being on the other side. They help expand our minds and give advice on how things should be/work. The brief – The brief is like the arsenal of the instructor. This aide helps the instructor better portray his goals for us and gives us a better idea of what exactly needs to be done, the purpose, etc. The review process – This process is helpful in completion of the project. The student is able to get constructive criticism which is valuable to development within the next exercise. The inquiry book – This book is like a journal of all our work for an exercise. It is helpful in organizing your thoughts and developing a strong and organized conclusion. My peers – My peers are here for many reasons, to keep each other sane, to give positive feedback and criticism and to pose as an obstacle; a challenge to develop something just as good if not better than your neighbor. The Studio – The studio space is a great environment to work in, develop ideas and serves as a common gathering ground for all. The studio learning experience is the definition of “hands on”. There is nothing that is impossible to try or work on. It is the best place for creative encouragement and inspiration. It is loud, bright, and fun yet at the same time forces you to work, however at your own pace. This type of setting I feel is better than an classroom or office space because it requires everyone to share creativity, workspace and develop ideas thereof. FOUR The entire semester followed a building block schedule from exercise 1 to 3. We started with the basics, the technical skills which helped us to develop our drawing skills, gain a sense of perception and learn to shade. This was an essential building block to the rest of the exercises. As we moved towards exercise 2, we began the process of examination and breakdown. This in turn developed our pedagogical goals of seeing in a new way, developing off of one object and analysis and comprehension. Exercise 3’s pedagogical goals were to familiarize us with the exhibition process at Georgia Tech along with developing and breaking down an object from one point to another, and then redeveloping in your own sense. This was important in many senses including the fact that it challenged creativity, and made you explore your object on a whole new level, bringing out new aspects never seen before. My favorite exercise was exercise 1 because it involved a lot of the technical skills which I enjoy doing. It also challenged me into developing accurate representation of my objects being examined and helped me developed new and better skills within the process. Jordan Leary ONE One thing I have noticed is the timing. At first we were given a lot of time for not too much work (I am gauging this on the number of all-nighters I pulled). I also noticed that I have an affinity to working with what I already know, but I am willing to branch out and learn new things and apply them later all. I may not have been able to reapply every single thing I learned but I still have them as resources. Drawings now are more than just pictures, but should have some sort of meaning beyond what is seen. The process is important to cover everything you should cover and then some and it gives you a way of exploring many options or focusing in on one. The analysis and inquiry was new and so now I can apply that to later projects and in different subjects. In design, there wasn’t too much except that I need to keep in mind the different aspects of exploration. TWO The learning that occurred in 1011 was focused on relearning how to look at things and how to express the new things I see with different materials. I bring those experiences and lessons to 1012. For 1012 I want to focus less on details and more on macro design. THREE The instructor guides the students in how to best tackle the assignment. They also explain the terms that may be unfamiliar in this situation. The handouts give us the new terms that we are expected to learn and use and explain to up the goals of the project. The review process allows us to look at each other’s and our own work and to criticize in an effort to become better. It allows us to see what we might have missed from the exercise. The inquiry book allows us to look back at our process. Fellow students may offer different insight that we might have missed because we were working too close to the project. The studio space allows room to work and the tools very handy so that you can get the maximum result out of what you were working on. The studio experience is like a cross between work and a classroom because the pressures to create some sort of product but it has the forgiveness of a classroom. FOUR Exercise one was about learning a new way to look at things and show different details through different media. The process of using those different medias in exploration leads to exercise two. Exercise two was the exploration of one object as far as you could along several different trains of thought trying to explain the design. This exploration of details is continued in exercise three as we take those details in a new direction and then bring them back together in a final design. The third was my favorite of the exercises because it brought everything I had put into studio together. I just wish I had more time and fewer all-nighters. Link to this Page
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