Archive for November, 2010

Nov
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DIY Design – Pen Holder

DIY Design – Pen Holder

I love designing things, any ‘things’. Now that we are approaching the Holiday Season, I was reminded of gifts that would find there way to family when I was first starting out in my career. With a tool arsenal comprised of a cordless drill and jig saw, and a wallet filled with, well, not much, homemade gifts became the yearly tradition.

With the ability to drill holes, tighten bolts, do minor metal cutting and push a button on a spray can, visions of knick-knacks danced in my head. Using off-the-shelf items from the local home improvement center, I created a series of pen holders.  Hey, who doesn’t have a pen and need a place to put it?

I didn’t have a specific idea when digging in.  It was more of a ‘what if I do this or that’.  It reminded me of when we used to do ‘rip and tear’ models in architecture school -just let your thoughts become fluid and not get caught up in perfection.  You are looking for the idea, the direction, that leads to a solution.  The process was cathartic and relaxing.  I am a big believer that everyday objects should have beauty and meaning.  Why not?  As you can tell by these examples, it does not take a lot of skill or know-how to come up with something unique and fun.

The gifts were a hit -at least that is what my brother in California told me.  I probably could have bought a descent gift card for the price of shipping a heavy metal object across the country but it’s the thought that counts…right?

Nov
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Looking for a Job? Set yourself apart.

Like most businesses during this tough economic time, our office gets resumes from recent graduates to those with years of experience. It amazes me that most of them arrive via email in what appears to be a blast to everybody under the sun.

When I graduated college in the late 80’s, it was a similar rough time to find a job. We did things the ‘old fashioned’ way of mailing resumes or actually hand delivering them. I put my line in the water like everyone else. After getting nowhere in my quest for a job, I realized I had to somehow set myself apart –be a shiny lure to at least get a nibble.

I took out my trusty X-Acto knife and went about making a pop-up introduction card. The images on the left are early prototypes I actually found in an old file folder –amazing what you keep! The final design was a bit more detailed with the prospective employer’s name cleverly typed on the building and a figure of me standing in front along with cut and paste text expounding my credentials. Needless to say, it was time consuming to make but it showed creativity and a seriousness that ended up sparking interest.

I made about a dozen of these and was called to 4 interviews. Not too bad! Most of them told me, when I walked in the door, that they weren’t hiring but wanted to meet the person who made such a great card. One of those interviews however happened to pay off. I was hired by RRTL Architects and began a 40 mile one-way commute to my new job! A friend of mine and I talk about those days often saying ‘You did whatever it took.’ So true. I painted toilet rooms, changed light bulbs, ran errands and blueprints that first year and rarely touched pencil to paper but I didn’t care. I knew I was lucky, I was happy and more importantly, I was learning.

That little pop-up card got me in the door and made me stand out compared to all of those others fishing for work. I got some nibbles and then a bite. They saw that I would ‘do whatever it takes’ to be the best light bulb changer, errand runner and eventually an architect. I will be forever grateful. This is a lesson I try to teach my children and that you need to be proactive in everything you want to achieve.

Here is an example of a student being creative trying to find an apartment in New York – Wanted: NYC Studio
If you are more handy then I am with an X-Acto knife, here is another way to set yourself apart with a pop-up business card. Amazing.

Nov
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First Snow

Heck of a day on Saturday. A wet and heavy snow fell continuously. We had to go to several basketball tournaments and were out and about with a few brave (or foolish) souls. Woke up Sunday morning seeing a clean blanket of white. There is always a feeling of calmness, along with a need for hot chocolate and a roaring fire, after that first snow fall. Instead, I grabbed my camera and assembled this short video. Stay warm!

Nov
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Working with an Architect Series – Part 1

Working with an Architect Series – Part 1

Why hire an Architect? I could list all kinds of facts such as:

  • To become an Architect it takes 6 plus years of College, 3 plus years of Internship,  must complete a 7 part Registration Exam (typically 35% pass rate),  are required to have Annual Continuing Education focusing on Health, Safety & Welfare, Code/Zoning expertise, etc.
  • We are trained in understanding Integrated Systems, Scale, Color, Proportion, Materials and Constructability

Or appeal to the financial benefits:

  • Quality design can increase staff productivity, minimize utility usage and strengthen a corporate identity. On the residential side, a home’s value can increase by up to 50% -all things equal to a typical spec-built house.   When selling, Realtors will market as ‘Architect Designed Home’ -knowing that implies something special
  • Architects know the efficiencies in selections of materials, structural and mechanical systems, electrical equipment/fixtures
  • We understand and can help streamline City/state requirement/processes

But I won’t discuss these and other facts…anymore…at least for now.

Every building project is a major and nerve racking commitment.  Not unlike other professionals such as an accountant who helps you manage your money or a doctor that aids in your wellbeing, an Architect assists you in making appropriate and advantageous decisions related to your construction project.  The physiological impact of the built environment in which we live and work helps to define our productivity let alone our happiness.  The simple choice of a paint color, materials, window size/placement, flow in and around the space will effect how you feel and function.

Our real ability lies in helping to interpret your goals and dreams into a project that exceeds your original vision. We understand site, planning, and construction issues.  We know the latest materials and finishes. We are artists and sculptors, puzzle and problem solvers.  We are mindful of the impact that design decisions can have on the project’s function, it’s environment and your pocketbook. Our value goes beyond drawing ‘pretty sketches’.   We will be your advocate and maximize your resources to far exceed what would have been done without teaming with an Architect.