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ARCH 121 Design & Drawing

3 Units, Required Laboratory Course, Fall Quarter

Course Linkages: None

Description

An introduction to the issues, concepts, processes and skills pertaining to two- and three-dimensional design and the freehand and constructed representation and visual communication of ideas, objects and environments. 3 Laboratories. Concurrent: EDES 101.

Objectives

The student completing this course will be able to:

  • Plan, carry out and reflect on a process for creating a design solution.
  • Generate alternatives and develop solutions to defined design problems.
  • Design things and communications that employ concepts of size, shape, surface, material, context, number, variety and relationship (pattern, hierarchy, contrast and balance) to create relationships between elements exhibiting an appropriate level of complexity.
  • Design abstract compositions and spaces that range from implied to explicit.
  • Design spaces that have clear figures and support an approach, entry, arrival sequence.
  • Develop a spatial design concept using sketch and drafted paraline drawings.
  • Design and execute two-dimensional presentations composed of drawings, images and/or text that exhibit a clear visual pattern and hierarchy and support the intended communication.
  • Utilize a range of media, tools, techniques and pictorial systems to represent existing and imagined objects and environments on two-dimensional surfaces.
  • Draw proportionally accurate one- and two-point eye-level perspectives that communicate the experience of being near things or within spaces.
  • Create the illusion of three-dimensional form and space on two-dimensional surfaces.
  • Draw both freehand gesture and carefully constructed representations of existing and imagined objects and environments on two-dimensional surfaces.
  • Incorporate people and trees into mulltiview, paraline and perspective representations to animate, give scale and enhance the illusion of form and depth.
  • Produce hand lettering that exhibits good form, consistency and alignment.

Contents

  • Projects will explore two- and three-dimensional design issues, concepts and processes through the design of things and visual communications.
  • Assignments and projects will introduce the concepts, methods and skills associated with multiview, paraline and perspective pictorial systems.
  • Projects and exercises are designed to simultaneously explore traditional freehand drawing and drafting techniques.
  • Students will use a sketchbook to record their design process and class exercises.
  • Representational Systems: Paraline (Axonometric, Plan Oblique); Orthographic (Plan, Section, Elevation); Perspective:  (One- & Two-Point direct eye level)
  • Visual Depth Cues: Light, Aerial Perspective, Size Constancy, Vertical Location, Foreshortening, Textural Gradient, Overlap, Convergence
  • Formal Concepts: Size, Shape, Material, Pattern, Hierarchy, Contrast, Balance. 
  • Key Sub-concepts: Symmetry, Asymmetry, Alignment, Proximity, Implied, Explicit
  • Architectural Concepts: Approach, Entry, Arrival, Spatial Definition, Occluding Edges
  • Design Process: Preliminaries, Design Alternatives, Design Analysis, Design Development
  • The design of two-dimensional communications
  • The design of two-dimensional compositions
  • The design of architectonic space
  • The use of value to create the illusion of light, form and space on two-dimensional surfaces

Requirements & Instructions

  • Concepts, methods and techniques are introduced through a series of in-class exercises and demonstrations.
  • Student interaction, sharing and growth are supported through peer critiques of preliminary and final work in both small and large groups.
  • Student learning is assessed through the evaluation of their solutions to the assigned design projects based on the criteria published with each project.

Studio Environment

  • Hot labs of 24 to 26 students meeting MWF—three times a week for three hours at a time
  • Introduce content (concepts, methods, skills and techniques) through in-class exercises and demonstrations.
  • Develop content understanding through its application to the design and presentation process.
  • Present a series of 2D & 3D design projects created to explore formal concepts and apply traditional and digital skills and tools and multiview, paraline and perspective pictorial systems.
  • Assess student learning by evaluating their responses to assignments based on published criteria.
  • Use small group learning techniques to promote student interaction, sharing and growth and the development of friendships and support networks.
  • Use class critiques to compare and contrast student work.
  • Scale studio pace and demands to develop a work positive ethic, support success in other courses, and foster a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Scale

  • Design of two-dimensional communications that are 11’ x 17’ or smaller
  • Design of two-dimensional compositions that are 8.5” x 11” or smaller
  • Design of a single architectonic space of about 600 sq. ft. within a 2400 sq. ft. area

Representation

The employment of plan oblique, plan, section, elevation, and perspective views to provide evidence that students have addressed course content and project goals during the design process and in final presentations.

Skills

  • Freehand Drawing & Sketching
  • Hand Drafting & Lettering
  • Computer skills

Tools

  • Traditional Drawing: drafting tools, drafting board with parallel bar
  • Traditional Media: Pencil, Pen, Marker, Art Stix, etc.
  • Sketchbook: Record design process and class exercises
  • Digital Drawing: Laptop Computer
  • Digital Media: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Ink-jet Prints

Content/Outcomes

Graphic Skills

Drawing Types

  • Gesture Drawing: Architecture & Design Ideas
  • Freehand Drawing: Things, Architecture, & Design Ideas
  • Hand Drafting: Architectonic Form

Computer Skills

  • General: File Naming, File Organization, Scanning, File Uploading
  • Page Layout: Importing, Text, Drawing, Layers, Text Styles, Printing.
  • Image Editing: Levels Adjustment, Up-Sample, Down-Sample, Cropping, Selections, Layers, Scaling, Exporting
  • 3D Modeling: Form construction, Establishing Views, Printing, Exporting Views

Representational Systems

  • Paraline: Axonometric, Plan Oblique
  • Orthographic: Plan, Section, Elevation
  • Perspective: Eye Level, Freehand Direct Perspective Construction, One & Two-Point

Freehand Lettering

  • Form, Alignment, Consistency

Concepts

  • Visual Depth Cues: Light, Aerial Perspective, Size Constancy, Vertical Location, Foreshortening, Textural Gradient, Overlap, Convergence
  • Line: Quality, Weight
  • Value: Orientation to Light, Full Range, Four Values, Three Values, Two Values
  • Composition: Point-of-View, Frame-of-Reference, Proportions, Interpretation
  • Entourage: Incorporating People & Trees
  • Light & Form

Formal Ordering Systems

  • Design Concepts: Pattern, Hierarchy, Contrast, Balance, Symmetry, Asymmetry,
    Alignment, Proximity, Positive/Negative, Repetition, Size, Shape, Implied/Open, Explicit/Closed, Point, Line, Plane, Volume
  • Architectural Concepts: Approach, Entry, Arrival, Spatial Definition, Floors. Walls, Roofs, Occluding Edges

Fundamental Design Skills

  • Process: Preliminary Designs, Design Alternatives, Analyzing Designs, Improving Designs
    Developing 3D form & space from 2D designs, Drawing as a means to design
  • 2D Projects: Application of 2D Design Concepts in the creation of abstract designs and the
    graphic design of presentations.
  • 3D Projects: Application of 3D Design Concepts in the creation of an architectonic approach,
    entry, arrival spatial sequence.  Site: 2300 sq. ft.  Structure: 600 sq. ft.
  • Design Representation: Plan Oblique, Plan, Elevation, Section, and Eye-Level Views

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