I am curious about how everyone keeps their Design Team working together on the same page. Not only in class but in the real-world as well.
I am currently working at Design Center that has had a lot of turn-over in staff recently and we are at times scrambling to figure out what is going on with a prior in-progress client project. With our lack of knowledge -the client is frustrated - makes the company look bad - etc...
Should there be a computer database of all daily customer interaction or should it be a paper copy? Ideally - it would be nice to have a tablet/iPad that we could use as a notebook to electronically keep our notes - that everyone could access at any time. But there are millions of APPS - and who has time to figure out which one is the best one, most user friendly, etc.
Good team communication is crucial for Interior Designers - I just want to find a simple way to keep everyone on the same page without taking a huge chunk of time to document notes.
Design insight, input and inspiration from a group of Purdue University Interior Design students.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Music to WORK to:
As finals projects and exams are just around the corner, I thought I'd provide a new perspective on some "push through it, drown out the world and get it done" music. I think many of us already turn to music to help us relax, focus, and get work done, but I also find that the same stuff over and over again can get old! So I turned to Songza.
Songza (if you aren't familiar) is a music site, much like Pandora, but rather than making a playlist for you there are pre-made playlists meant to fit a certain mood or activity. I found this playlist, "art school all-nighters", along with a list of similar playlists meant to help inspire and foster your creative (or desperate) efforts. NOTE-I haven't listened to all of these, but based on my previous experiences with Songza I can assure you that there's someone for everyone!
Click here to head to the playlist!
If you're new to the site, all you do is select an activity or mood (usually based on the time of day, but there is also a side menu), and then pick from a few choices that the site thinks would be appropriate (again, there is also a search bar and menu). I would also recommend "crowd-pleasing dance pop" and my personal favorite, "the perfect drive", for some good times. :)
If you're new to the site, all you do is select an activity or mood (usually based on the time of day, but there is also a side menu), and then pick from a few choices that the site thinks would be appropriate (again, there is also a search bar and menu). I would also recommend "crowd-pleasing dance pop" and my personal favorite, "the perfect drive", for some good times. :)
As you move in the final stretch, don't forget: MAKE IT COUNT AND HAVE FUN! And hopefully Songza will help you get there.
Happy listening!
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Three Famous Living Architects
In this blog I explore the careers and work of three famous architects still in practice today...

Frank Gehry
Born in Canada in 1929 , Frank Gehry is a well-known, controversial architect who currently works in Los Angeles. His style can best be described as "deconstructivism", a style characterized by distortion of shapes. Critics are quick to point out that his buildings are inefficient and sabotage cityscapes, while fans celebrate his cutting-edge designs and role as a pioneer in computer-based design.

Zaha Hadid
Born in Iraq in 1950, Zaha Hadid is an Iraqi-British architect. Critics of Gehry will likely be even more off-put by her style as she further pushes "deconstructivism" into a futuristic blend. Her work is well-regarded and she may be the most sought-after current architect around the world, but like Gehry she recieves many of the same criticisms for her standoff-ish buildings and inefficient designs. She deserves special recognition, however, for her role as a pioneer in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando, born in Japan in 1941, is everything Hadid and Gehry are not. Ando's work can best be characterized as "minimalist". His work seeks to blend in with its environment, and the beauty is often in what isn't there as much as in what is there. Ando, who taught himself architecture, still works in Japan where his buildings seem to evoke Japanese philosophical history.
What are some of your favorite works by these architects or your favorite architects still in practice today?
Frank Gehry
Born in Canada in 1929 , Frank Gehry is a well-known, controversial architect who currently works in Los Angeles. His style can best be described as "deconstructivism", a style characterized by distortion of shapes. Critics are quick to point out that his buildings are inefficient and sabotage cityscapes, while fans celebrate his cutting-edge designs and role as a pioneer in computer-based design.
Zaha Hadid
Born in Iraq in 1950, Zaha Hadid is an Iraqi-British architect. Critics of Gehry will likely be even more off-put by her style as she further pushes "deconstructivism" into a futuristic blend. Her work is well-regarded and she may be the most sought-after current architect around the world, but like Gehry she recieves many of the same criticisms for her standoff-ish buildings and inefficient designs. She deserves special recognition, however, for her role as a pioneer in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Tadao Ando
Tadao Ando, born in Japan in 1941, is everything Hadid and Gehry are not. Ando's work can best be characterized as "minimalist". His work seeks to blend in with its environment, and the beauty is often in what isn't there as much as in what is there. Ando, who taught himself architecture, still works in Japan where his buildings seem to evoke Japanese philosophical history.
What are some of your favorite works by these architects or your favorite architects still in practice today?
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