Educational Positions

All educational programs are based on some underlying implicit and explicit values, positions, and beliefs. Within each program they reflect a specific and unique synthesis of social, professional, institutional, educational, and personal values. For second year, I believe that the most important lessons you can learn are: facility with a design process, principles of composition, communication, three-dimensional thinking, expressive design [meaning], and team-work. 251 is focused on design process and the principles of composition (Order, Harmony, Balance, Unity, and Contrast). 252 is focused on the elements of architecture (floors, walls, roofs) and space definition. 253 is focused teamwork, full-sized construction (3-D), expanding your own design process, context, clients (communication), expression (meaning), materials, and structure. I believe that the very most important parts are process, communication, and team work - so that we are educated for a life of problem solving - no matter what our final career choices might be. I also believe that design education imparts an appreciation for beauty and excellence at a much deeper level than, "I like it!"

A summation of many of the above-mentioned skills is a meta-skill called critical thinking. Critical thinking is one of the most important abilities you can learn. It is logic and analysis, understanding priorities and values, creating alternatives to get the job done, understanding the factors contributing to the final effect, and thinking things through rather than being gullible.

We architectural designers are a part of the building industry - jobs are changing and good ones are harder to find than ten years ago. Computers are making part of the change - doing many things that people used to do. Service is now the key word rather than product. Specialization seems to be the name of the game and you might need to be a specialist in several areas. Either way, you will need a very high level of skill. Careers used to be "for life" - now, someone like me has changed careers once or twice in a lifetime - you can expect to change careers four or five times in your life-time . . . not jobs - careers! Therefore you must always be learning the next new thing. One of the most important skills requested in interviews these days is the ability to work in teams and the ability to get along with clients to create the kinds of environments that they need. Process, communication, and teamwork are indeed the professional skills of the future!

From my point of view, architecture is a subset of design. Design is a purposeful, intentional activity with the focus of making the quality of life better. Therefore, architecture is the design of objects, structures, and land forms that are for the purpose of enhancing our lives and the lives of those for whom we design - from the pandas in the zoo to the general public in the park. My personal concerns are centered around the connections between the environment and human behavior and how each influences and interacts with the other. For each quarter we will work using the following assumptions:

That all architectural design is based on some common fundamental processes, elements, principles, and issues.

That sequentially focusing on selected elements is a stimulating approach to beginning to understand and learn about architecture.

That the processes, elements, principles, and issues learned in isolated, abstract projects will be transferred by the students to later more specific projects.

That design is fun and is an integral part of our lives - from dressing ourselves every morning to creating the environments in which we live and work.

That increasing the quality of life calls for a level of excellence beyond the ordinary.

ORDER

The recognizeable relationship between the parts.

Exercise: Name the elements and describe the relationships between them that illustrate ORDER.