My Strengths as a Designer

I feel that my strengths as a designer lie with graphics and digital rendering. My earlier experience with graphic programs has only expanded with the training I have received in iArc. My hand rendering skills are not as strong but taking my ideas that I sketch and putting them into a program like Illustrator or Sketch Up/Poidum helps me to create designs with my full potential. I hope that as I continue in the program my knowledge will only grow larger and larger.

My Sister's House

I feel that My Sister’s House is a successful example of fostering community among young mothers. This happens though the common situations and struggles that these women gave though and will overcome. Within the actual space, I feel that the kitchen is the most central point where everyone in the house can come together and socialize and get to know each other better. Everyone must eat so the kitchen is a natural gathering point.

Although each woman would have her own room to spend her private time with herself or her child, it still gives a places for each woman to have private conversation with another if it was needed. The common ages and situations among the woman are a unifying point that will allow the formation of community.

Makeshift Shelter Reflection

As a hands on thinker the Makeshift Shelter project allowed me to design in a way that I really enjoy and can flourish. While working with a team I was able to construct a functioning shelter which can be used as a haven for socializing while only using materials that were found. Being restricted to only using reclaimed materials helped to connect this project to the devastating situation that the earthquake in Haiti has caused as well as allow us to experience what the people of Haiti are going through. Between the beginning processes though the construction to seeing the final outcome of our project we always had Haiti in mind.

Beginning this project, my group members and I got together and came up with an initial plan for our interaction of socializing. We brainstormed what the definition of socializing would be and what kind of structure would allow for the most optimal way to invite conversation among people. After researching, we decided that a circular or many sided structure would allow for the most interaction and still enable all the participants to see each other. Once we decided on a hexagon we move on to think of what kind of materials we could use as the structure. While working with some cardboard we found a way to manipulate it into a triangle at such an angle to create a perfect hexagon. The restriction of five materials at first was a very stressful discovery but we found that it helped tremendously in the design of our shelter and created a stronger design overall.

The largest obstacles we experienced while designing and building the structure were how well the cardboard structural supports would hold up the weight of the roof and the design of the roof as whole. Instead of using glue we found that plastic write created tension in the columns and allowed for them to be more structurally sound without further adhesive. The bamboo and the left over cloth from the walls created a light weight while visually interesting roof for our structure. I realized that our design was a success when we had nine people in and around our structure socializing and having a good time. I was extremely pleased with the outcome of this project. I felt that our design was cohesive with the designs of those around us and all together formed a well composed city of shelters.

This project will always remain with me because of the large scale and how hands on it was. Also, the connection to the Haiti disaster made the end product a much more rewarding experience than had it been just to create a shelter with out significance.

Solo Reflection: The Friends and the Hut

One hot day in early summer four old friends, separated by different colleges, met up at a park to hang out and play for old times sake. After many hours of reliving childhood on the swings and merry-go-round the four friends began so seek shade to escape the midday sun. After walking down a dirt path they come upon a peculiar hut made of what looked like gray canvas and shower curtains. They first thought to stray away from the structure thinking it was a bum's hut but it's location in the middle of a field sparked too much curiosity. They cautiously ventured over to the hut and as one of the friends peered in she saw that within the structure were places to sit. As they entered, the relief from the sun relaxed them and soon they began talking about their college adventures and old memories of good times. The cross breeze from the doors on opposite walls was refreshing. The friends continued to hand out at the refuge throughout the summer as if it were their own personal oasis from life and the outside world.

Solo Reflection: The Fourth New Beginning

Our second semester of second year has begun with what I see as one of the most interesting and entertaining designs of the past 2 years. Working with Clarissa, Jeff, and Wesley we will design a shelter out of only found materials where people can socialize. After dumpster diving the first day we were able to find an abundance of cloth tarps and cardboard which can be used as walls/seating and structural support respectively. When determining how many people our shelter should hold we decided on five to allow the possible of intimate conversation among a small crowd. We are focusing on a hexagon shape for our space with two entrances to allow for circulation and light. As we move forward I am sure our design will change but as of right now we are set on having a space where everyone will be able to see and converse with each other without any obstetricals.