Blog post on Tips for motivation for architecture students

Hi there! I recently did a post on my blog about staying motivated in architecture school. I also mentioned your tumblr and one of your motivational posts as a reference, so I wanted to share my tips with you as well!

Thanks for your time and all of the great content! It helps me out on at least a weekly basis!

-Paige, punkrockparti.com

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Hey!! Thanks so much for the shout out!  It means so much to me! Thank you for such great information!  Everyone should check out this post for staying motivated!  And look at her blog too, pretty awesome stuff going on at punkrockparti.com!!

Thanks Paige :)

- Mark, tipsforarchitectureschool

#71 Put your name on everything you do. Your name is the most important thing you own.  When you are working on a project in school, you are thinking about the design so much and move onto other things that when it comes time to pin up, you forget (or don’t bother) to put your name on your work.  Then when people come in to see all of the work, they have no idea who you are and you could possibly be missing some important recognition. There have been many times where I have seen job offers come from the right person seeing a pin up.  Luck is when preparation meets opportunity, so make sure you are doing everything you can to stay prepared for whatever comes your way.  You never know who will be looking at your work when you are away, and something as simple as your name can make the difference between getting a job offer or just another question in the air.
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#71 Put your name on everything you do.

Your name is the most important thing you own.  When you are working on a project in school, you are thinking about the design so much and move onto other things that when it comes time to pin up, you forget (or don’t bother) to put your name on your work.  Then when people come in to see all of the work, they have no idea who you are and you could possibly be missing some important recognition. There have been many times where I have seen job offers come from the right person seeing a pin up.  Luck is when preparation meets opportunity, so make sure you are doing everything you can to stay prepared for whatever comes your way.  You never know who will be looking at your work when you are away, and something as simple as your name can make the difference between getting a job offer or just another question in the air.

#69 Make time for social interactions. You might not think this one is important, but you have to make time to mingle with friends and even strangers.  For example, I just went to a bar and chatted with a local in my downtown area.  It was really cool to hear different ideas and disciplines from someone outside of studio.  I actually used the ideas we talked about in my current project and it went over very well. Architecture is about people, so make sure you continue to sharpen your craft by surrounding yourself with a variety of them.
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#69 Make time for social interactions.

You might not think this one is important, but you have to make time to mingle with friends and even strangers.  For example, I just went to a bar and chatted with a local in my downtown area.  It was really cool to hear different ideas and disciplines from someone outside of studio.  I actually used the ideas we talked about in my current project and it went over very well. Architecture is about people, so make sure you continue to sharpen your craft by surrounding yourself with a variety of them.

So…

I GRADUATE FROM ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL TODAY!!

I will probably take this post down after this weekend, but for those of you who are interested, here is the video I made for my graduating class at the University of South Florida School of Architecture + Community Design.

This not only goes out to graduates of my school, but to all graduates from architecture schools from around the world:  

We did it!!!! And despite our inconsistencies, we loved every minute of it.  What a wild ride this has been!!  :)  Congratulations to everyone graduating this semester!!  Cheers!

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Side Notes:

Architecture Fitness Tee!

T-shirt people!  I sent out an update, but still just letting you know i’m looking at the boxes of shirts right next to me.  They will be shipped soon, I just have to get this whole graduating from school thing out of the way today.  I received numerous emails about changing addresses for leaving campus housing.  I’m on it!  Everyone will receive their shirt at the correct address. :)

USF School of Architecture + Community Design:

Anyone interested in seeing more from my school here are some links:

Tumblr: usfsacd.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/USFArchitecture

Website: arch.usf.edu

#68 Master the power to Switch Gears To “Switch Gears” is to go from one task to another.  If you are working on a drawing, then stop to study for a test, you have to “Switch Gears” and change your mindset to accommodate the next task. Multi-tasking is something that will help you tremendously while being productive, but you have to know how to multi-task correctly.  Working on many different projects at one time is great, and can save some time if properly scheduled, but you have to itemize your mindset for each activity. For example, today I am working on a Logo/Branding design for a client.  I sent the initial sketches to the client and am waiting for a reply.  Now I am working on my Thesis Document in the meantime.  If I continue to think about the logo design while working on the document, I will not be able to put my full attention into the document.  I must “Switch Gears” and put my focus for the logo design on hold until I work on it again. DO NOT GET IN YOUR OWN WAY. You have to be able to focus 100% on the task at hand, and when it is time to move on, shift that 100% to the next task.  It takes some time to get used to, but if you can focus all of your energy into shorts bursts for each project, you will be more productive. Disclaimer:  As a by-product of designing, each project you work on can and will influence others.  So I am not saying that you can’t relate projects to each other, because I actually get a lot of inspiration from mixing ideas from different projects, but you cannot dwell on previos tasks.  This is a tool to keep your mind focused and will help you from getting sidetracked.
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#68 Master the power to Switch Gears

To “Switch Gears” is to go from one task to another.  If you are working on a drawing, then stop to study for a test, you have to “Switch Gears” and change your mindset to accommodate the next task.

Multi-tasking is something that will help you tremendously while being productive, but you have to know how to multi-task correctly.  Working on many different projects at one time is great, and can save some time if properly scheduled, but you have to itemize your mindset for each activity.

For example, today I am working on a Logo/Branding design for a client.  I sent the initial sketches to the client and am waiting for a reply.  Now I am working on my Thesis Document in the meantime.  If I continue to think about the logo design while working on the document, I will not be able to put my full attention into the document.  I must “Switch Gears” and put my focus for the logo design on hold until I work on it again.

DO NOT GET IN YOUR OWN WAY.

You have to be able to focus 100% on the task at hand, and when it is time to move on, shift that 100% to the next task.  It takes some time to get used to, but if you can focus all of your energy into shorts bursts for each project, you will be more productive.

Disclaimer:  As a by-product of designing, each project you work on can and will influence others.  So I am not saying that you can’t relate projects to each other, because I actually get a lot of inspiration from mixing ideas from different projects, but you cannot dwell on previos tasks.  This is a tool to keep your mind focused and will help you from getting sidetracked.

#67 Know when to use Save, Save As, and Save for Web & Devices

Save:

When you are working on a project in Photoshop (or any program for that matter) it is important to “Save” the file IMMEDIATELY and frequently “Save” as you work over time.  I know a lot of people who just work on their project with the file un-saved and named as “Untitled” and eventually lose their file after hours of work.  One of the worst feelings in the world is to build a Masterpiece and lose it all with one quick “unexpected error.”

Get into the habit of saving your work with this method no matter how insignificant the file may be.  It is much easier to delete a file than it is to recreate one from scratch.

Save As:

“Save As” is a great tool to rename a file on the spot or keep a record of your work.  Simply put, it allows you to save your current document under a different name.  I use this as a tool when designing or rendering.  

When you reach a point in your work where you are satisfied, but would like to continue working on it to experiment or further develop it, use the “Save As” feature to keep the file “As is”.

Here is an example of file names:

Thesis Render - 1 - No Background

Thesis Render - 2 - Full Entourage

Thesis Render - 3 - FINAL (Layers)

Thesis Render - 4 - FINAL (Merged with Overlay)

Then at any point you can reference the file at a specific point in the design timeline.  You can also delete any of these at any time to save space.

Another great thing about “Save As” is that you can open a file with properties similar to a new drawing you wish to do, delete out layers you do not want, and save the document as new.  This will save a lot of time in setting up Fonts, Color Pallets, Canvas Size, Etc.

Save for Web & Devices

This feature is especially important when saving images for ONLINE use.  Any time you save an image it will use the current canvas size when it exports.  Luckily, sites like Tumblr and Facebook will automatically resize an image for you to be compatible for viewing, but the quality of the photo might get lost in transition.

When you “Save for Web & Devices” you decide what size the file is by the pixel instead of by the inch.  This is especially important in web design because the files will show up as it was exported without compression.  Anything you save in this manner will automatically look better online.  

I have gotten into the habit of only saving with this method if my work is only going to be used on the internet.  If I am physically printing my work, I will select the proper size in inches with the “save” or “save as” option so it doesn’t come out too small.

Here is a quick guide for saving:

Pixels for Internet   -   Inches for Printing

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Also reference RGB vs CMYK as this will determine the quality of your output based on use as well.

The Design Library I decided to take my “design inspiration” folder off of my desktop and into a blog.  I wanted to create a library of design inspiration to reference over time as I work on projects.  I figured other people might enjoy it too. Check it out and let me know what you think.  I want the “TAGS” page to be a helpful tool when searching for precedents. Thank you! -Mark, tipsforarchitectureschool
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The Design Library

I decided to take my “design inspiration” folder off of my desktop and into a blog.  I wanted to create a library of design inspiration to reference over time as I work on projects.  I figured other people might enjoy it too.

Check it out and let me know what you think.  I want the “TAGS” page to be a helpful tool when searching for precedents.

Thank you!

-Mark, tipsforarchitectureschool

This is a great question actually. “Do I have to start designing with hand sketches and diagrams, or can I just go directly into 3d modeling and computer programs?” The answer will really vary from person to person.  We all work in different ways, and honestly it is nice to switch things up every once and a while.  Here a few ways I begin in my design process.   1. The Hand Sketch/Diagram For me, I love hand sketching.  Any time I have an idea, I will sketch it out by hand in my sketchbook.  It is pretty effective in getting my thoughts recorded quickly.  I like to draw many iterations of the same idea and even try to make pieces of artwork and mixed media to enhance my drawings and promote divergent thinking.  I also write a lot.  I write key words and terminology into my designs to remind me what things mean, like writing — “Humility?” — next to a space that I want people to feel very humble. This is a pretty unique trait to hand drawing.  It allows you to think differently.  The words give meaning to the forms and space.  When you are designing in Sketchup, you would have to stop modeling to write those things down, and then the ideas are kept in two different places. 2. 3D Computer Modeling However, sometimes I have been thinking about my design for a week before I even start to work on it and I want to go directly into production mode.  I make a model in SketchUp to get my ideas into 3D form quickly.  I am able to get sections, plans, elevations, and perspectives from this.  The cool thing about this is that you can print out portions of your 3d model and draw over them to create hybrid drawings.  This gives you the best of both worlds. — No matter what you do, or which method you decide to begin with, the basic principals still apply.  Determine a reason for doing.  Develop a parti or concept as a main driver, and continue to work that idea throughout the entire design process.   An average project has: A Vehicle - Your process and methods of construction. Starting point - Your Parti or Concept. Journey - Your experiments, trial and error, models, drawings, etc. Pre-conceived Destination -  Idea of what you want it to be. Final Destination - Where the product is when you decide to stop.
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This is a great question actually.

“Do I have to start designing with hand sketches and diagrams, or can I just go directly into 3d modeling and computer programs?”

The answer will really vary from person to person.  We all work in different ways, and honestly it is nice to switch things up every once and a while.  Here a few ways I begin in my design process.  

1. The Hand Sketch/Diagram

For me, I love hand sketching.  Any time I have an idea, I will sketch it out by hand in my sketchbook.  It is pretty effective in getting my thoughts recorded quickly.  I like to draw many iterations of the same idea and even try to make pieces of artwork and mixed media to enhance my drawings and promote divergent thinking.  I also write a lot.  I write key words and terminology into my designs to remind me what things mean, like writing — “Humility?” — next to a space that I want people to feel very humble.

This is a pretty unique trait to hand drawing.  It allows you to think differently.  The words give meaning to the forms and space.  When you are designing in Sketchup, you would have to stop modeling to write those things down, and then the ideas are kept in two different places.

2. 3D Computer Modeling

However, sometimes I have been thinking about my design for a week before I even start to work on it and I want to go directly into production mode.  I make a model in SketchUp to get my ideas into 3D form quickly.  I am able to get sections, plans, elevations, and perspectives from this.  The cool thing about this is that you can print out portions of your 3d model and draw over them to create hybrid drawings.  This gives you the best of both worlds.

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No matter what you do, or which method you decide to begin with, the basic principals still apply.  Determine a reason for doing.  Develop a parti or concept as a main driver, and continue to work that idea throughout the entire design process.  

An average project has:

A Vehicle - Your process and methods of construction.

Starting point - Your Parti or Concept.

Journey - Your experiments, trial and error, models, drawings, etc.

Pre-conceived Destination -  Idea of what you want it to be.

Final Destination - Where the product is when you decide to stop.

#66 Always keep building your entourage file.

As you make your way through school, you will probably be making some computer renderings. ;)  In every computer rendering you will be “adding entourage” to your designs to make them more exciting/engaging/more believable/etc. (If you do not know what entourage is look HERE)

Make an entourage file on your computer and keep it organized.  You can recycle people, trees, and really anything into your designs.  

Entourage Tips:

Make sure you are smart with your entourage.  You do not want to put in people with winter clothes into a summer scene.  Also be aware of plants, especially trees, because they are region specific.  Dont put a palm tree in a rendering where palm trees do not grow.

And “Multiply” in Photoshop is your friend!  If you have an image with a background, you can blend the background into your canvas by using the “Multiply Tool”. 

** No more hours of tedious cropping. Your welcome. :) **

Here are some places on the internet to get you started!!

People

Vegetation

Skies

Vehicles

Materials

Birds

Light Fixtures

Lens Flare

Enjoy!

#65 Sometimes you must sacrifice your favorite part for the whole. This is one of the hardest things to do and is still something that I struggle with when designing.  When you come up with a concept and begin making your way towards the final product, sometimes there is a part of your design that you ABSOLUTELY FALL IN LOVE with.  Or you fall in love with a precedent study you find along the way and really try to force it into your design.  If you force something, its probably because it doesn’t fit.   You have to look at your design from many different perspectives and if that thing that you “love so much!” is getting in the way of the holistic concept, it’s gotta go.   When you get to the end of a project and that “red spiderweb looking thing” does not help your composition, you should find a way to either get rid of it or modify it to work towards a cohesive design.  Do not confuse this with getting rid of your concept though, this idea of eliminating a design element because it doesn’t fit is usually something that is an additive part of your design, not the design itself.  If the “red spiderweb looking thingy” is the driver of your design, then all of the other elements should support that move.  There is a fine line between knowing what is good for your design and what is hurting it, but that is why we have critiques. :)  Either way, you should always look at your design from different perspectives and make sure that whatever you do, you maintain hierarchy throughout the design.  Besides, you can always save that idea for later.  You don’t have to put all your good ideas into a concept all at once!
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#65 Sometimes you must sacrifice your favorite part for the whole.

This is one of the hardest things to do and is still something that I struggle with when designing.  When you come up with a concept and begin making your way towards the final product, sometimes there is a part of your design that you ABSOLUTELY FALL IN LOVE with.  Or you fall in love with a precedent study you find along the way and really try to force it into your design.  If you force something, its probably because it doesn’t fit.  

You have to look at your design from many different perspectives and if that thing that you “love so much!” is getting in the way of the holistic concept, it’s gotta go.  

When you get to the end of a project and that “red spiderweb looking thing” does not help your composition, you should find a way to either get rid of it or modify it to work towards a cohesive design.  Do not confuse this with getting rid of your concept though, this idea of eliminating a design element because it doesn’t fit is usually something that is an additive part of your design, not the design itself.  If the “red spiderweb looking thingy” is the driver of your design, then all of the other elements should support that move.  There is a fine line between knowing what is good for your design and what is hurting it, but that is why we have critiques. :)  Either way, you should always look at your design from different perspectives and make sure that whatever you do, you maintain hierarchy throughout the design.  Besides, you can always save that idea for later.  You don’t have to put all your good ideas into a concept all at once!

THE URBAN CONGA :: Here is a Kickstarter for my Thesis Project!!

I figured you all might like to see some of what I am doing in school.  Four students at my university (including myself) have come together to create an Urban Design Guerrilla Installation Team to revitalize the inactive spaces of our Downtown area in Tampa, Florida. 

We are from the University of South Florida School of Architecture + Community Design and are looking to strengthen our community through our installations. :)

If you like this project and wish to back it, you can pledge on our KICKSTARTER Page.  When you pledge you actually get some pretty freakishly amazing stuff.  So I would encourage you to check this thing out!

Thank you all!!

I know most of us are broke students on here, lol, but spreading the word about this project means just as much as a pledge.  Every little bit helps!  We are starting in Tampa, but want to grow our organization to other cities!  Let’s get this project known!!

Learn more about The Urban Conga:

Check out The URBAN CONGA Website

Like us on The URBAN CONGA Facebook

Follow us on The URBAN CONGA Tumblr Blog

MARKPERRETTDESIGNS.COM Hey Archi and Design Peeps!  I have been working on my personal website over the break and finally finished it today!  Over time I will be adding more projects and I would like to begin a vast tutorials page on there too, but for now this will have to do.   If you have any questions on how I made anything on my site, send me a message through my contact page. Check it out! markperrettdesigns.com
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MARKPERRETTDESIGNS.COM

Hey Archi and Design Peeps!  I have been working on my personal website over the break and finally finished it today!  Over time I will be adding more projects and I would like to begin a vast tutorials page on there too, but for now this will have to do.  

If you have any questions on how I made anything on my site, send me a message through my contact page.

Check it out!

markperrettdesigns.com

TUTORIALS FOR AWESOME: Ok. You’re probably not ready for this yet, but I wish I was exposed to all of this stuff much younger in my career.  Be careful.  With great renderings comes great responsibility.  And by responsibility, I mean hours of nearly unbearable frustration.   ronenbekerman.com The Shipyard / Photoshop Postwork Breakdown (Watch the video) Making of ASGVIS VRay for SketchUP Winning Render Making of GH House “Between the Rocks” by Anninos Konstantinos Rendering Tips Making of Seaside Feeling University of Michigan Taubman College Tutorials (Great for 3ds Max + Rhino) Vimeo Rhino Tutorials SketchUp.com Training Videos 5 Free SketchUP Tutorials VRay for SketchUP Tutorials VRay Youtube Video (Tells you where to download VRay for FREE) Min Lin - Pen and Ink Sketching It is important to be able to take things from other disciplines and be able to relate them to your own craft.  So here are some graphic design tutorials from the FZD Design School in Singapore that can really help with your designs even though it is not directly related: Episode 35: Digital Landscape part1 Episode 22: Sketch Painting part1 Episode 50: Bug Silhouettes Episode 44: Tannhauser Gate Episode 42: Painting Details Episode 41: Alien Spaceships — These are just a few of my favorite tutorials on the internet!  If you have any other sites that you go to send them to me and I’ll add them to the list! Have FUN!! ——————————————————————————————- and for the love of all that is holy, please Click here and VOTE for me!!
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TUTORIALS FOR AWESOME:

Ok. You’re probably not ready for this yet, but I wish I was exposed to all of this stuff much younger in my career.  Be careful.  With great renderings comes great responsibility.  And by responsibility, I mean hours of nearly unbearable frustration.  

ronenbekerman.com

The Shipyard / Photoshop Postwork Breakdown (Watch the video)

Making of ASGVIS VRay for SketchUP Winning Render

Making of GH House “Between the Rocks” by Anninos Konstantinos

Rendering Tips

Making of Seaside Feeling

University of Michigan Taubman College Tutorials (Great for 3ds Max + Rhino)

Vimeo Rhino Tutorials

SketchUp.com Training Videos

5 Free SketchUP Tutorials

VRay for SketchUP Tutorials

VRay Youtube Video (Tells you where to download VRay for FREE)

Min Lin - Pen and Ink Sketching

It is important to be able to take things from other disciplines and be able to relate them to your own craft.  So here are some graphic design tutorials from the FZD Design School in Singapore that can really help with your designs even though it is not directly related:

Episode 35: Digital Landscape part1

Episode 22: Sketch Painting part1

Episode 50: Bug Silhouettes

Episode 44: Tannhauser Gate

Episode 42: Painting Details

Episode 41: Alien Spaceships

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These are just a few of my favorite tutorials on the internet!  If you have any other sites that you go to send them to me and I’ll add them to the list!

Have FUN!!

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and for the love of all that is holy, please Click here and VOTE for me!!

#60 Don’t just go to the lectures, ENGAGE THEM! Most architecture schools have some form of lecture series.  Yes, the lectures take you away from your precious studio, but they can be very effective and great for you long term if you do it right.  Most people go to the lectures, sit there on their phone, and leave not even remembering the speakers name.   If you were smart, you would have already researched who the speaker was, what they have done, where they are from, and how many of their projects could act as a precedent for your current project before they even got there.  Then made a list of questions (even if it is just one or two) to ask them after they lecture is over.  You would be amazed at some of the answers you will get, and asking the right question could really recieve a useful answer. Another important thing to know is that the lecturer has to be picked up from the airport and sometimes even driven around for a day or two if they are doing a workshop or seminar.  YOU need to find out if you can volunteer for this and be the one who gets to hang out and personally interview all of these great people while playing chauffeur. I have been able to meet so many influential people in the architecture community from around the world such as Santiago Calatrava, Gordon Gill, and Mike Lin just to name a few.  Make sure you are taking the time to ENGAGE the lectures and use them to your full potential.   Oh yeah, and take notes too!!  But if you read this blog you know to write down everything, so I don’t have to remind you. ;)
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#60 Don’t just go to the lectures, ENGAGE THEM!

Most architecture schools have some form of lecture series.  Yes, the lectures take you away from your precious studio, but they can be very effective and great for you long term if you do it right.  Most people go to the lectures, sit there on their phone, and leave not even remembering the speakers name.  

If you were smart, you would have already researched who the speaker was, what they have done, where they are from, and how many of their projects could act as a precedent for your current project before they even got there.  Then made a list of questions (even if it is just one or two) to ask them after they lecture is over.  You would be amazed at some of the answers you will get, and asking the right question could really recieve a useful answer.

Another important thing to know is that the lecturer has to be picked up from the airport and sometimes even driven around for a day or two if they are doing a workshop or seminar.  YOU need to find out if you can volunteer for this and be the one who gets to hang out and personally interview all of these great people while playing chauffeur.

I have been able to meet so many influential people in the architecture community from around the world such as Santiago Calatrava, Gordon Gill, and Mike Lin just to name a few.  Make sure you are taking the time to ENGAGE the lectures and use them to your full potential.  

Oh yeah, and take notes too!!  But if you read this blog you know to write down everything, so I don’t have to remind you. ;)

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