I understand that showing the thought process involved in a project is equally important, if not more important, than the final design itself. However, what are your thoughts on fabricating the thought process on paper after the project is completed. I have a project that I did have a process for, but in moving to Japan and whatnot I lost most of the scraps of paper and whatnot associated with my projects...I am stuck with a lot of final images. I remember the evolution of my ideas however and how I did/would represent them on paper. Is it dishonest in a portfolio to simply recreate that process to include as preproject evolution?
you think all of those fancy little sketches published along side projects in magazines and books were part of the process? i imagine most were done after the fact, as eye candy. and besides, it's your project. you can do whatever you want with it and represent it however you wish. if anything you might learn something new from reproducing old pieces or parts.
Yes, these nice sketches you see in magazines are usually done after the completion of the main design; nonetheless, the architect usually tries to capture the original idea that was in his head when he started and put it on paper in a form that relates to the final design. And that, in part, is what makes a star architect; knowing how to present your ideas and how to capture the interest of the client or the audience.
There is nothing wrong with reworking your process but whatever you do you should base it on the original idea or feeling that pushed you in that direction in the first place; i.e. the spirit of the project!
Sounds good. Second question...and entering increasingly "dishonest" waters...is it good to sketch on some old crappy paper to make it look like you grabbed the nearest piece of scrap paper at the coffee shop when you were struck with your genius ideas?
no matter how you look at it, i don't see representing or re-representing your ideas as being wrong. it's your product and your packaging. if you think because it was drawn on some crappy piece of napkin makes it a better representation of your thought process then fine, if it is better presented on a nice piece of arches paper then so be it. when you start cataloguing this stuff in your portfolio how much of the media representation is really going to show up? your shit gets beat up over the years, lost even, it happens.
i don't think a crappy napkin makes things look better.
i think those sort of sketches look better once scanned, and reprinted, perhaps enhanced, showing that you were inspired by somthing, and still had time to make it look presented.
Actually Miyaki, as I am interviewing with firms now, Im suprised to discover how much prospective employers are concerned with media skills more so than design content. In school, my profs. almost unanimously taught to place design first, media second. I dont think they were wrong to think so, but perhaps wrong not to encourage students to develop strong "wow" factor media skills. I sure wish I had focused more on it myself, after having ben turned away a couple of times a for lack of highly rendered drawings in my portfolio.
cSquared -
I've been finding that too, part of that I think is that firms view interns as output machines (for the most part..don't crucify me here.) and when hiring one they look at how it will affect their output first and influence design later. Of course, I've also worked for firms that really push interns to be a big part of the design process and thus evaluate design thought higher. I think for awhile here while most firms and students begin to pick up on technology the "value" will be placed on technical skills.
Showing thought process for projects in Portfolio.
I understand that showing the thought process involved in a project is equally important, if not more important, than the final design itself. However, what are your thoughts on fabricating the thought process on paper after the project is completed. I have a project that I did have a process for, but in moving to Japan and whatnot I lost most of the scraps of paper and whatnot associated with my projects...I am stuck with a lot of final images. I remember the evolution of my ideas however and how I did/would represent them on paper. Is it dishonest in a portfolio to simply recreate that process to include as preproject evolution?
dont think its wrong to do so
its ok.. unless everything you did before was "perfect".. then you'll be just like the rest of us... dishonest!!!! n whats wrong with that?
you think all of those fancy little sketches published along side projects in magazines and books were part of the process? i imagine most were done after the fact, as eye candy. and besides, it's your project. you can do whatever you want with it and represent it however you wish. if anything you might learn something new from reproducing old pieces or parts.
I partially agree with ether.
Yes, these nice sketches you see in magazines are usually done after the completion of the main design; nonetheless, the architect usually tries to capture the original idea that was in his head when he started and put it on paper in a form that relates to the final design. And that, in part, is what makes a star architect; knowing how to present your ideas and how to capture the interest of the client or the audience.
There is nothing wrong with reworking your process but whatever you do you should base it on the original idea or feeling that pushed you in that direction in the first place; i.e. the spirit of the project!
Sounds good. Second question...and entering increasingly "dishonest" waters...is it good to sketch on some old crappy paper to make it look like you grabbed the nearest piece of scrap paper at the coffee shop when you were struck with your genius ideas?
no matter how you look at it, i don't see representing or re-representing your ideas as being wrong. it's your product and your packaging. if you think because it was drawn on some crappy piece of napkin makes it a better representation of your thought process then fine, if it is better presented on a nice piece of arches paper then so be it. when you start cataloguing this stuff in your portfolio how much of the media representation is really going to show up? your shit gets beat up over the years, lost even, it happens.
i don't think a crappy napkin makes things look better.
i think those sort of sketches look better once scanned, and reprinted, perhaps enhanced, showing that you were inspired by somthing, and still had time to make it look presented.
personal preference.
why worry about the media?? save your time and worry about the actual work!!!!
Actually Miyaki, as I am interviewing with firms now, Im suprised to discover how much prospective employers are concerned with media skills more so than design content. In school, my profs. almost unanimously taught to place design first, media second. I dont think they were wrong to think so, but perhaps wrong not to encourage students to develop strong "wow" factor media skills. I sure wish I had focused more on it myself, after having ben turned away a couple of times a for lack of highly rendered drawings in my portfolio.
cSquared -
I've been finding that too, part of that I think is that firms view interns as output machines (for the most part..don't crucify me here.) and when hiring one they look at how it will affect their output first and influence design later. Of course, I've also worked for firms that really push interns to be a big part of the design process and thus evaluate design thought higher. I think for awhile here while most firms and students begin to pick up on technology the "value" will be placed on technical skills.
Lies, Damn Lies, and Architecture
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