GLOBAL DESIGN PRACTICE WEEK 8: FINAL PROJECT INTRODUCTION
Lauren Mathias, ARCH 576 final project / Fall 2018
SCHEDULE
Wednesday 3/8 Final project introduction, with time for initial brainstorming
FINAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
In the context of 21st-century philosophies, identities, economies, global linkages, and communication channels, design practice faces a certain kind of crisis. How do we respond to the issues of our time using the tools and frameworks of design? How do we balance public need with private investment? What kinds of business structures are sustainable in super-saturated markets? What can design practice offer that other types of labor cannot?
For your final project, you will propose a design practice with the following components:
• Design philosophy/mission statement: Identify why your practice is critical at this moment, and highlight the issues you want to address through the built environment. You audience should be able to answer the question, “Why are you a designer?” after reading this statement. Your first draft of this component is part of your Week 7 assignment; see the Week 7 webpage for more information.
• 1-2 design process diagrams: What are the steps you take to develop a design? Are they sequential, simultaneous, or both? What forms of research do you embed in your work, and at what point along the process? What kinds of representation methods do you use? At what scale and through what medium do you produce work? Are your projects built to completion, or are they purely speculative, or some combination of the two?
• 1-2 financial flow diagrams: Identify whether your practice is for-profit or non-profit. Based on that overall structure, show how money moves from, to, and through the different entities involved in a typical project for your firm.
• Desired client list: Select at least 3 specific clients (or types of clients, human or non-human) you would work with and explain your relationship to each in detail.
• Typical project description: Do you have specific sites, scales, materials, processes, or time frames you want to work within? What kinds of people work on your projects? How do you assemble a team, and what is the distribution of labor, design output, and decision-making?
• Visual branding strategy: This can include a logo, website home page mock-up, graphic guidelines, videos, or any other visual elements that express your identity as a practice. It’s up to you how to build this portion of the presentation.
DEADLINES AND PRESENTATIONS
Workshop 1: Wednesday 3/22
Bring your design philosophy statement to workshop as a group. Upload to Box for instructor comments by the end of the workday.
Zoom Information: Link; Meeting ID: 813 2322 1599; Password: 261396