make decisions faster.....

listen to binary .. just break it down to '0' and '1' and decide.

it's so simple !!

Start model production at the beginning and let it be a process model, the drawings can be more refined or detailed. Even if you have unlimited time to complete a project an owner or engineer or crit could easily take you off track. Think of the project as version 1 and after your crit the portfolio will show version 2 which you can tweak more later. Good luck with your next project - know when to say when.

I struggled with this a lot my first few years, and somewhere in year 3 things started to click, and then in year 4 it got a LOT better. Basically I began to learn how to tell when it was "good ENOUGH" instead of "as good as it could possibly be." I suppose I changed the way I looked at my work. I forced myself to acknowledge & accept it when something was good enough, and move on knowing that I was avoiding examining design issues that still nagged at me. What helps is to realize that there will ALWAYS be design issues that nag at you - so you may as well cut line earlier and at least get the project finished.

After learning how to tell GOOD ENOUGH, then I forced myself to let go of the thought that all drawings would match and all would be finished production quality. I started treating all models from day one as potential presentation models, rather than having a "final" presentation model that was started from scratch on the last day (as lazyMexican mentions). Also, don't worry if you develop an idea a little differently in a section and then it doesn't match the plan - don't waste time going back to fix the plan - it's OK.

You have to learn how much the jurors are actually going to get through in a 20 minute crit and how much will just be wasted effort. That goes for ideas, too, not just production. I know that sounds cheap & lame but in reality, that's what your presentation is for, so it helps to learn to gear your production (of thought and drawing) toward that crit. As long as you still show depth of creativity, analysis and complexity you'll be fine - you just don't need to go over the top, ideas-wise. I mean you don't need to be designing light fixtures & sofas, eh?

one other thing..... stop over designing things...... this can go towards students and firms......

I was the same way...I was a perfectionist when it came to model building and therefore had a model that was 70% done, but that 70% looked damn nice. In the end, it always upset me that I didnt have a completed model. In hindsite, I would say that getting things done to get the grade would have been a wiser decision that making beautiful model

what binary said.

Even in 'real' world, architectural firms tend to spend too much time on schematic design (that is all you are really doing at school level), and then try to recoup the lost profits by zipping through construction design and administration. Schematic design typically accounts for 15% of the overall fee, yet it takes up much higher percentage of the overall effort.

You are not alone in your inability to manage priorities. In fact, it's the way our profession works.

It comes down to baby steps. Try to identify a single inefficiency and then correct it. Then move on to the next one.

Difference between a great office and a really crappy one is surprisingly small. Constant desire to self-improve will get you far. In the meantime, don't sweat the small things.

I also struggled with this. My best projects, the models were about 60% done at the finals. Generally, my sketch models were good enough and my craft was excellent, so it never hindered my crits or grades.

I would typically spend vacation time finishing those models and drawings for my portfolio (and still have the best one, nicely collecting cobwebs at this point!).


By grad school I had figured out how to manage my time adequately and really begin to maximize it. Made life much easier!




My advice: look at your classmates with the glue guns. Everyone is different, but I'd spend a ton of time perfecting things (making the one line a perfect weight, cleaning any excess glue, etc. ). All fine and good, but for the photos and crits people are looking at things from a few feet away.

There's a balance between your perfectionism and meeting requirements. Don't be afraid to make something a little sloppy if you can convey the idea. Craft is important, but the overall design intent (and process) is more important.


Try giving yourself quick deadlines, make that sketch model in a day with cardboard and a glue gun. Make a 3D model with only masses, sketch on the prints for details - there are many ways to cut corners an still convey the idea.

Finding that balance is a good thing to work towards. It will be a part of life later on as you work for 'real' deadlines with money on the line.

These have been some very helpful comments that I will definitely think about for next semester. I guess I have to have faith in my design concept and in my self, and know that it will carry my through if I convey it in the correct manner, even if everything isn't shown.

Next semester is going to be a little tricky because we only have one project the entire semester, but they break them down into phases. How did you cope with a semester-long project?

it's like debating on building a box with butt joints or dado joints.... in the end it's still a box....

I definitely had the same problem, and was constantly hammered at by faculty. By the end of grad school I learned to focus early on diagrams (and tweaked them throughout the semester to have effective go-to drawings that explained my project and prevented most divergent crits) and have 1/2 good drawings that captured the project's main idea (section/perspectives, section elevation) and a nice detail model. I often let the overall model be more abstract and "process." Luckily our school emphasized process over presentation, but efficiency was hard to achieve.

As other posters have noted, it's important to story board your presentation so you know what drawings/model will be key to your design. I was happy neglecting some of the drawing requirements as long as I got a good crit - also collapsing elevations/sections/perspectives into one drawing helped cut out the quantity and let me fuss over a smaller number of higher quality drawings. Taking time to step back from your drawings (to see how they look from 5~10 feet away), might help reassure the perfectionist in you that corners can be cut.

Also, see how some drawing/modeling methods can help you work faster, a lot of older students helped me with advice on quicker work methods.

Semester long projects are awesome. It helps you resolve and challenge you initial designs. Keep a set of words/diagrams of key ideas you are working with to provide consistency - make them nice graphically and they can really anchor a presentation and portfolio layout.

Good luck! It does get easier over time.

architects are expected to be late

One thing I noticed what Rem koolhaas have been done for a long time for his projects. He always generate 30 like models or schemes for his big project. By using this method, it will almost guarantee he will get a pretty good solution for the project. This process could be very open minded, some schemes just solved one or two problems. I think the process is fast. It also make the idea fresh.

After selecting one scheme, you should be confident to continue to develop your schemes. Because it is one from 30 schemes, you are confident, you will finish your project in no time.

I just used this method to design a church website, pretty unusual, but the process is rather quick.

This is a very good thread which will benefit all the students and architects.