how does UPENN, CCA fit into the list and not UCB?

I'm from the bay area, went to school in LA, and now work/live in SF, so i feel like it is time for me to branch out to other parts of the country, and school seems like the best time to do so.  CCA was simply a nearby option to throw on the list, and after taking the UCB In[Arch] summer program I decided I didn't feel the school would be the best fit.

what didnt you like about the program?

cause i am thinking of applying to UCB for m.arch 1/city planning

I think your portfolio looks pretty great. You have a great graphic sense and your analysis is interesting and thoughtful.

As a general critique, I feel that students put far too many people/silhouettes in their renderings. A visualization should give a sense of scale and space, not be filled to the brim with people. Use a bit more discretion--what are the most important activities that are happening in your space, and how can you show that?

Some more color and richness in terms of hand-drawings would be a welcome addition. Any way you can work on some of your non-computerized skills?

Best of luck with your applications :)

@batman: overall i enjoyed the program, but it was rather unorganized, there were rarely enough computers/printers to use, and at times I felt the atmosphere and our projects were a bit "out there."  To save money the program had us all running a virtual copy of AutoCAD/Adobe Suite which crashed on everyone, and once it crashed we were out of luck and forced to download student trial versions.  That bugged me a bit.  BUT, don't let my experience in the 8 week long summer studio deter you (it was only the second year they offered it, thus the disorganization), supposedly the actual M. Arch program is significantly different.

@Stephanie:  I understand what you mean about the excess of figures being distracting, I appreciate the comment.  My intention in that project was to make the space feel crowded and overrun with people and commotion...thus the large number of people.  Would you still suggest taking some out?  Were you speaking of the CAD drawings, renderings, or both?  Also, I took a drawing fundamentals class in which I produced some nice pen/ink & charcoal drawings.  I was going to try and fit those in as well, though I ran out of room (20 page limit is hard, though i bet I could squeeze them in and bend the rules a bit) and figured they did not add to my theme as strongly as the rest of my work.  It would only be one spread, would that be very worth putting in, or were you speaking more in terms of sketches to projects included? Thank you very much for the input.

Hmm. I just read the project description.

I'm kind of grasping at a reason as to why you'd want to create that rather unpleasant situation you describe? Cramped... overloading...  it all sounds very architecturally fascist. Is your tunnel a punishment device? Without an extremely compelling reason for creating that condition, I think you should leave that part of your design intention out. 

The tunnel is a nice piece of work, but if I were you I would take out some of the figures before it comes fodder for portfolio review mockery. That goes for the CAD drawings and visualizations equally. You say it's part of the intention, but on the other hand you also mention that the tunnel is a gallery to be filled with 'powerful imagery'. I don't see any 'powerful imagery' in your rendering of the tunnel, and if you can selectively leave out one part, why not another?

Also... it's not a 'tunnel-like' form. There is nothing mysterious about its form. It is a tunnel.

Re: drawings. Definitely find a place! I vote your front/back cover. Speaking of the cover, there's no need to put 'portfolio'... your name and info is sufficient. [Most people can also tell it's the end when they get to the last page.] Finishing with a really nice image--i.e. one of your pen/ink/charcoal drawings--will leave a much better impression then 'portfolio/end' [gun in mouth, dying of obvious...]

Stephanie,

That is all really great advice.  I can see how the blurb may have been trying to describe too much, and its nice to get a response from someone who does not know the background of the project like I do.  I will definitely look into changing that.  I'm also going to take some people out of the drawings, don't want my work to be a source for mockery at review boards!  I also like the idea of including the pen/ink drawings in the title/end page, will be nicer than pure blank.  Again, I really appreciate your input, if there is anything else you think of just let me know.

Anyone else?  I'd appreciate any and all feedback anyone has to offer!

Looks super impressive, especially since you don't come from an arch background. Good luck!

Slightly updated version: http://issuu.com/jsnosh88/docs/portfolionew

Would still greatly appreciate any suggestions/input anyone out there has to give!

Looks clean, though if you are printing at 8x10, I'd probably bump your description body copy up 1/2 a font size or darken the grey bar jus a smidge. Also, much as it is nice to have your descriptions in perfectly squared off text fields, personally I find the hypen split text really annoying. Same goes for the few rivers you have because of the out-to-out justification.

For your photo section, I'd probably call out what type of print it is -- silver gelatin, platinum, etc.

Any reason you didn't include dates on these projects?

And have you considered UBC? Would seem right up the alley with UW, UTSOA and UO (though ughhh Eugene. That place is soooo boring) for sustainability and pragmatic design.

Byen01,

Thank you for the input, really appreciate it.  Part of me likes the text small because I feel if I make it bigger the text becomes too much of a focus.  Did you have a noticeably difficult time reading it?  I like the thought of darkening the bar as opposed to making the text bigger, just wary of it appearing too much like black.  Also, in terms of the hyphen split text, what would you consider more important, text readability or overall graphic sense on the page?  I'm with you, the hyphens are annoying, and so is the either too cramped or spaced out words, BUT, glancing at the overall page, I like the box.  Thoughts?

Only reason I didn't include dates is because it added more text to the titles, but sounds like it would be worth it, so I'll throw those in.  And will throw in some technical data for the photos as well.

Have definitely considered UBC, though I'm skeptical about opportunities in the US after vs a US school.  Have heard mixed messages.  Do you have any input on that?  And I guess just any input on the school/program in general?  Would be incredible to be up in Vancouver, such a beautiful city.  And yes, Eugene would not be the most lively of surroundings...)

Lastly, and sorry to pry so much out of you, but in terms of keeping the clean look I'm considering taking out the first charcoal drawing, and replacing it with a simple, clean band of pen sketches that relate to the projects (almost a visual table of contents/preview if you will).  I'm thinking of repeating this band of sketches on the final page as well, as a way of creating a definitive front and back page that relate to one another, and then using the pen & ink drawings currently on the back page next to my T.O.C. as opposed to the triangle pattern, just because I already have this elsewhere in the portfolio.  Thoughts?

THANK YOU!