IONIC: Manage Your Day 1.3.14

 Architecture has it's way of allowing you to always work in the creative realm. Everything we do or work on we are creating something. Sure there are times where we really get to express our design skills and show off our talents on some pretty interesting projects. But there is creativity in even the smallest of details. Creating solutions .....often times better solutions....within the construction details.

Sometimes creativity comes in the form of redefining those details that save the contractor some time. Or even the owner some money. But still getting the same results. That is an everyday problem solving issue for Architects. Those creative solutions may not be seen on the outside but certainly effect the outcome of a project.

I have worked with some great well known 'starchitects', that can produce the most beautiful designs, but they cannot create the solutions to properly construct them within budget. There is a word for designing without regards for a budget......it's called SCHOOL! Most schools don't want to stifle creativity so they don't restrict design students to a budget. I respect that.....unfortunately for most of us we will always work within a budget during our careers.

Come let us share our work with you. 

Ionic DeZign Studios - Where Art and Architecture Come Together

Eugene Thompson

www.ionicdezigns.com

Virginia Beach the NBA and IONIC

News from the report about the findings for the new sports arena in Virginia Beach. For a small firm like IONIC it would be difficult to be too involved however our office and designers have worked on multiple sports facilities in different capacities.  IONIC would offer our services to work on all the signage and graphics packages that would be involved with such a facility.  That would be an excellent design project. We can dream can't we?

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/new-study-impact-arena-va-beach-released

www.ionicdezigns.com

Digital Pedagogy

Digital Foundations in the New World of Architecture Production


 Ped.a.go.gy ( /ˈpɛdəɡɒdʒi/ or /ˈpɛdəɡoʊdʒi/[1][2]) is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction.


Has “the digital” been absorbed by the discipline or has “the digital” absorbed the discipline?Depending on your perspective, Architecture either continues to disintegrate (or has reformed) around a new definition of “the master builder”. Digital technology has opened a variety of new career opportunities for the graduates of a digitally advanced architectural education. Some depictions of this trend have the discipline of architecture continuing to fragment into specialties. However, software has established platforms from which the activity surrounding a design project can be directed, managed, and built. But, does the capacity of software to re-center what is required to make a built environment mean that the design and making of such will fall to the historic notion of “master builder” or “the architect”?


I remember when I graduated college at Oklahoma State University in 1989 (yeah I know seems like a life time go and no....don't call me an old man....at least until you hear the rest of the story). Everything we did was on the boards. There was the beginning of a "computer studio" that maybe 6 or 8 computers squeezed in it.  I remember the other students that took the class claimed that this was the way of the future and if you didn't prepare....you wouldn't be ready for the job market! Yeah, well I didn't see that staying up all night trying to figure out how to make the less-than-superior computer crank out.....A LINE! No thanks. Computers in the schools were up to snuff back then like they are now. The businesses were leading the technology. (I feel that roll has reversed in today's market.) Today, as well as yesterday, we have different avenues that we can become an "expert" within the architectural world. Vendors, signage, Specification writer, Inspectors, Hospital Designers, School Designers, Construction Managers and on and on.  Those opportunities are still there today and more. The technology has opened more doors for more people to specialize in a field but also allows the everyday Architect to become a bit more versed in MORE of the architecture. Maybe not the "Master Builder" any more, but a "Master Builder Manager".


Much of what applies to the general education of an architect can also be said for the digital portion of architectural curricula. Some students come to the university with digital media skills, some are autodidactic, a large number are waiting to be taught and some either struggle to absorb digital skills or probably do not fit a life in architecture. In the midst of this new landscape, sketching and drawing freehand has become more important and necessary. Ironically, less time is provided to build these “old” skills because more time goes to learning a variety of digital skills.


Do you remember in "drafting class" they would make you handwriting in Drafting style lettering over and over and over. It was like you were in first grade again. Reading Writing and Arithmetic. Those skills I learned make my handwriting an art....still to this day.  Some of those I have encountered even within our office has terrible handwriting skills. Just different era that was taught to them. They grew up on the computer.  I can still (and do often) crank out a quick sketch that is presentable to the client for  preliminary idea or even for detail needed in the field for a contractor.  This skill has been one that the newer generation of architects have not acquired and has been lost by many.


Synthesizing digital media training and tool use into an already demanding professional curriculum along with the financial demands of upgrading and absorbing changes in this technology is, overwhelming for students, faculty, pedagogy, and the institution not to mention the real world office environment. Small businesses cannot afford the newest software (that used to produce a new version version other year, now produces one every 6 months or so.) School have the opportunity to obtain grants, scholarships etc. for these capabilities....the work force has only their client to BILL OVERHEAD to hopefully upgrade their systems. I will be the first to say that the newer technology is a blessing for production purposes....but Architecture still needs to be taught! We all just need to  reorganize to accommodate this paradigm shift.

In regards to Pedagogy.....Ionic DeZign Studios does consider itself a "teaching work environment". You cannot learn all the things you need to about the world of architecture in school.  It takes real life, real time experience to understand all the "practices" of architecture. Yes, practice until we get it right....and then practice some more...isn't that what your football coach used to tell you all the time? I can teach architecture to these new aspiring architects...but they certainly teach me about the new computer technology. Together we make a great team!

Adapted and edited from George Proctor's writing submitted the the white paper report by ACADIA 2003

Ask and you shall receive....

Sometimes you actually get what you ask for....or believe in. I am a firm believer in positive thoughts will effect your outcome in a positive manner. If you think negative, more than likely bad things or nothing will happen in your life. However, thoughts that focus on the positive dreams and desires can and will become a reality. Now you cannot just wish it like a Jennie in a lamp and it will happen, I also believe that you need to be working towards that goal you envisioned.

With that said, last week on Monday morning I was so tired. Just fatigued. Even though work was good....it always seems to be something that needs attention or just when you get ahead, something breaks down and you have to spend money....$$$$....never can seem to get ahead. But rather than being drained and starting off the week in an "out of gas" mode. I said, and even posted on my FACEBOOK, that it was going to be a fantastic week! Even tired, I believed that good would develop this week. It started off with a proposal for a new retail project sent off just afternoon.....it was signed before the end of the day. Then there was a call for a meeting with a client for development on their large "plantation" for lack of a better description. Expanded work for another client came next and then the Grandaddy of them all.....Phone call received while I was still at the house on Friday morning asking if I could meet in 45 minutes at a contractor's office for discussion with the developer for the first LEED Retail development in the area!

Well 45 minutes later it is no longer a proposal but an actual job. We are directed to begin development on the concept and plan for a cost analysis. To top that, when asked of the developer what he envisioned the style or look of the structure to appear as, his response was, "You know, when I visit a restaurant, I don't tell the chef how to prepare my food; so I don't tell my architect how to design my buildings." WOW WOW and DOUBLE WOW!

It all started with a positive thought that Monday morning. Of course I had to present the proposals, I had to do the marketing it didn't just fall in my lap. There was work upfront that had to take place. But the seed was planted. God tells us that "he can provide for us abundantly more than we can imagine"......and I can imagine a lot! We feel really blessed.

WARNING: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR! If you ask for all these blessings....be prepared to get busy. This week I said on Monday morning that since last week was fantastic....this week would be AMAZING......define amazing? All week I was up until 1:00 or 2:00 getting presentations completed. Three marina projects needed presentation by Thursday afternoon, job site visit at the plantation that took 7.5 hours out of the day with travel. AIA meetings on Wednesday and Thursday evening, still working on three other projects getting them ready for city submission or bidding and oh yeah....remember that LEED Retail. Tuesday morning the contractor called and asked if I had anything yet? AHHHHH Thursday afternoon we had a rough concept model. Friday we were figuring out how quickly we could get the project through construction documents. Don't forget about the other calls for some new smaller projects.......all I can say is GOD IS GOOD....ALL THE TIME & ALL THE TIME......GOD IS GOOD...or maybe even FANTASTIC!

My friends, enjoy the day and be thankful of your blessings.

and remember....Be careful what you ask for.....it just might happen.

THINK POSITIVE!